Money Belt or Purse

Laura, the choice is up to you. No one can tell you what to do. There are people here who will tell you they never wear a moneybelt and they've never had problems. And there are those who didn't wear a moneybelt their first trip and wound up wasting a day either at a police station or a U.S. consulate getting their passport replaced because they were victims of pickpockets.

I would never think of traveling in Europe without wearing a moneybelt. A thief might take my day bag with camera cellphone, umbrella, and a bunch of other easy replaceable things. But my passport, money, credit cards, debit cards, tickets, railpasses, and the like are safely tucked away in my moneybelt.

The pickpockets in Europe are pros. They work in teams. They have scams and tricks you can't even imagine. And they target tourists. Why, for two main reasons: Tourists carry money and other goodies, and because if caught, it's doubtful a tourist will return for the trial.

Frank, I am going to get the silk neck wallet and the purse/daypack that I posted. My husband thinks he will prefer the money belt and a slim wallet for easy cash. After watching the video and looking online we will keep large sums of money, our passports, and other important documents in the money belt/neck wallet and we will each keep 50 euros in a slim wallet/purse. I just want to have a place to store all my junk instead of keeping things in 100 pockets in my jacket.

I guess I was under the impression that all anyone wore was a money pouch and I thought that was like a fanny pack (exposed and bulky). Now I understand thanks to all you nice folks:)

Laura there are so many posts and opinions on this.

First, of course neck pouch and money belt are worn under clothes. Wearing them exposed just makes you a target since thieves know that valuables are in them. Most women seem to prefer money belt as the neck pouch falls awkardly between the "girls", but its personal taste.
Most people do not use these to assess daily spending, but keep CC , Passport and major cash in them and a days worth of cash in their purse or wallet for daily expenses( no point digging under your clothing for ice cream money) .

Many people swear by and wear their moneybelt daily. I never have. I wear it only when travelling. When I am set in a place I use hotel safe and leave valuables in it and just use my purse daily. I wear it messenger bag style( across chest) in busy or crowded areas. I also keep camera in a zipped inner pocket, under zipped top and buckled flap ,, with my hand on top of it all in metro.. I feel very safe and have never had a problem.

So do you need a moneybelt. Yes, I would say so , but do you need to wear it daily , well that is personal taste and comfort level.

The standard answer is...yes you need a moneybelt.

There are three main types:

1)The type worn around your waist
2)The type worn around your neck
3) The hidden pocket type that has belt loops and attaches to your belt.

All of these money belts are worn UNDER your clothes and out of sight. This way, no one knows you have it. You only keep a small amount of cash in your pocket, wallet, purse each day so you don't have to keep pulling out your moneybelt.

Rick Steves Travel Store sells them as does Eagle Creek.

Go to this webpage, scroll down to "moneybelts"and you can watch a short video on why you should wear a moneybelt:

Moneybelt video

This is what I was thinking about getting. It attaches to your belt loop for extra security.

http://www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/pouches_waistpacks/Simple-Pouch-40447/

The reasons you need to be so guarded away from home are that [1] you are carrying important documents and a lot of cash, that you would not carry at home, [2] if you lose all your id, plastic and most of your cash in a foreign country, it will cause you great distress, and [3] you are much more likely to be in high-risk areas for pickpocketing and petty theft when traveling than at home at the same time that you are distracted by the novelty of your surroundings.

May I also suggest you read the following section from this website so you are prepared for the tricks that are played in Europe. It's not to frighten you but to educate you so that you don't become a victim.

Tourist Scam Alert

For me, it's a money belt at all times with deep storage items like passport, debit and credit cards, copies of phone numbers/acct. numbers in case of theft, etc, all in ziplock bag to keep everything nice and dry. AND I carry an across the body small lightweight purse with compartment for small amt of money, small digital camera and one day's extra batteries, lipstick/chapstick, tissue, etc.

My husband wears an Eagle Creek hidden pocket (http://www.letravelstore.com/4002410_048.html) and carries an RS Civita Day bag with umbrella, water bottle, bandana (multiple uses), pages from RS books, maps, etc.

As similarly stated by others, I have too much to see and too many things to do to worry with having to replace a passport or cancel credit cards. Very often you are not on guard against problems and pickpockets because you are too busy being a tourist and oohing and aahing over things you see and experience. It's very obvious that you are a tourist, and although chances are nothing will happen, I'm not willing to take that chance. Generally we have stayed in less expensive hotels that do not have room safes. And I have read too many horror stories; my travel time and dollars are too valuable to waste. Once I read on the helpline that an American passport is a really hot item on the black market....nope, I'll keep it secure and hidden.

We had both money belts and purses this summer in Europe.

I love my Pacsafe bag! It was across the body and I had so many things in it. They would have had to beat me to get my purse. My husband and son had money belts.

I used a money belt the first couple of trips then switchd to the neck pouch, which works better for me (a woman) and fits OK under my clothes. I carry a day's worth of money that I know I'll need for food and small purchases, and perhaps my ATM card in a secure place in my purse if I know I will be using it. I too wear a small purse across my body, but I always have copies of my plane info, my travel insurance, my passport, credit cards and anything else I do not want to lose or have stolen physically attached to my body & inaccessible to prying hands at all times. This amount of stuff is not too big and bulky and it works fine. (probably a good idea to put it all in a small plastic baggie to prevent moisture from getting at it). I've never had any problem with pick-pockets in Paris, London, Rome, Venice, Florence and consider myself lucky, but taking this precaution is worth it for me, I'm 6000 miles from home and want this peace of mind. I don't want to hassle with replacing a credit or ATM card, passport or whatever I need --- I just do it and then don't think about it.