Money belts and avoiding getting robbed or assaulted or worse

As to #2, there's almost never any need to use a currency exchange anymore as long as you have a debit/ATM card, since there are ATMs pretty much everywhere and the rate of exchange will be better.
As to #5 -- if it wasn't for the fact that my mother is no longer alive, I'd think you might be my brother.

I am a 52 year old woman who has made 6 solo trips to Europe and 1 to Canada and everyone I know, especially my parents, thinks I am either totally nuts or incredibly brave. I wish I had started when I was 34 and not 45, so you keep on doing it if it makes you happy.

I wear a belt-loop pouch that's inside my jeans at the hip and I do not access that in public, keeping just cash for the day and 1 credit card in my purse--that same logic would work for you, perhaps using a buttoned shirt pocket or a slim wallet in front pocket that you keep your hand on in crowds. I see lots of male tourists with small daypacks, does not look feminine at all. The fact of the matter is, tourists tend to need things while they are out and about for a long day.

What are you scared of?

My 12 year old son rides the train and subway to school by himself (since he was 9!) every day. He carries a large backpack.

Isn't a "backpack" carried in the front an oxymoron? How does that work? Backpacks aren't designed to do that. Mike, you're making mountains out of molehills again..worrying about problems that likely won't come to pass. Men wear cross body bags in Europe and in the US and they don't look feminine. Pick your strategy and just relax without constantly overanalyzing the decision. I think this whole topic of money belts has gotten needlessly overly complicated. You may be surprised to know that many (if not most) people, myself included, don't wear money belts at all and have not gotten robbed, pick pocketed, or assaulted after 20+ trips abroad, not only in Europe. I'm not advocating that approach because everyone needs to have a system that works for them, so go with whatever you're comfortable with. Keep it simple and consistent, so that your "system" becomes second nature and doesn't require much time and discomfort to implement. You may want to experiment right at home for a week or two before traveling.

On point 3 the idea of a moneybelt is to keep your important stuff safe and HIDDEN. Therefore you should only access it in emergencies. Keep your daily cash in your front pocket. Worst case you loose $30 instead of everything.

But you sound very overly worried. You will not be assaulted or harmed - this is extremely rare. Your main risk is pickpockets - theives who take your money out of your bag or pocket without you noticing. You will not know it is happening until you can't find your wallet. So worry less about your safety (just take the same precautions as at home). I'm a fairly small woman about your age and I feel safe all over the main sightseeing areas of Europe.

I exchanged US dollars for Canadian Dollars at the currency exchange
counter in the train station in Windsor, Canada.

Well, you can do that at most airports and main train stations, if you don't mind getting horrible exchange rates. Most travellers would use their ATM card to get local currency from a local bank ATM. Of course they would have notified their Bank of their plans, and ensured that it was valid for use in Europe, before leaving home. Some travellers (myself included) might also get a couple hundred €, or £ ( whatever the currency at their first stop) from their bank before leaving home.

A money belt, or neck pouch, or belt loop pouch, is not a substitute for a wallet. Think of these as a safety deposit box that you wear on your person. It holds the valuables that you need to keep safe, but don't need to access on a regular basis. Extra cash. Passport. Credit cards or ATM cards that you aren't planning to use that day. No one else should be able to tell that you are wearing it.

If you prefer to use a wallet, then use one. But only have the cash you need for that day, one credit card (if you will need it for purchases that day), and any tickets ( for transportation or attractions) that you will use THAT DAY. Keep your wallet safe in an inside pocket, or at least your front pants pocket. Or don't use a wallet and distribute the cash, cards, etc into different pockets. The aim is to minimize your loss should you be pickpocketed or robbed.

Some opinions say to use a cross-body bag instead of a backpack

I've known a lot of very manly men who prefer a messenger bag over a back pack. But it's a matter of personal preference and common sense. Backpacks commonly have multiple compartments and external zippers. When the bag is on your back, you can't see (or feel) if someone has snuck up behind you and opened those zippers, and pilfered the contents. But you can mitigate those risks by securing the zippers ( either with a zipper lock, cable ties, or even twist ties) if you think you'll be in an area with a high risk of theft. Of course these will be a royal pain to deal with every time you want to access your camera on a sight seeing day. Or you can carry it on your front (an especially good idea on metro trains and buses). And above all, don't have anything of value in the pack.

A cross body bag is worn with the bag on your front and against your body. Of course you always keep all zippers and flaps closed. It's easy to access when you need something ( you don't need to take it off first). The down side is that these bags generally won't hold as much as a backpack.

My husband prefers a back pack, and takes reasonable precautions ( including wearing it on his chest on metros and buses- this also mitigates the risk of him hitting some little old lady standing behind him when it's crowded). My sons in law prefer using messenger bags. Personal preference.

I think it depends on what your going to be carrying around daily that will determine what type of day bag you will need. I carry my wallet, scarf, camera, cell phone, sun screen, sunglasses etc..( you get the point) so I need a medium size cross body bag. I would not carry a backpack because a lot of places will make you check it, a smaller cross body bag would be great. When we get cash from the ATM, most of it stays at the Hotel and we just take 100€ a day with us. My husband puts his money in his front pocket, no money belt for our daily outing, only if we are traveling by train and have over a certain amount of cash does he put it on. I also had an unrealistic fear of being pick pocketed on my first trip to Europe, once there, those thoughts quickly faded to a normal concern and usually just on public transport. My daily activities traveling mirror what I do at home when I am out and about but I also more aware when I am in a crowd.

Mike, i think everyone blows pick pocketing all out of proportion. There are some higher risk cities and there are some higher risk situations in most every city. I say this after having been an attempted target twice; but both where i should have expected it.

Carry two credit cards and two ATM cards (if possible) and split them and your cash on your body. 25% in a fairly secure location and 75% in a very secure location. Then never think about it again and go have a good time.

For perspective; you live in Detroit right? Detroit is basically Barter Town from MadMax 3 and you've managed to survive there for 34 years! I think you can handle London.

Listen to James E., he's right. IMO. Keep items separate and you will be fine. The old 'don't put all your eggs in one basket' applies. If you are really nervous, buy a piece of clothing that has interior zipped pockets incase you want a CC available during the day or a shirt with front hidden zip pocket.

2.I only took 2 other trips.

With your limited travel experience, I can understand you are worried. It's always what we don't know that scares us most. You should get out more, and you'll find out it's worth it.

I kept my money in a typical wallet

Use a typical wallet only for what you are going to need that day.

3.I unzipped it and accessed it about 2 or 3 times a day, (as if this was normal for me), as a substitute for a wallet, or every time I
needed to spend money.

Don't. Keep a bit of cash ready so you don't have to access your money belt during the day.

If you absolutely have to, don't do it in public. Try to find a place where no one is watching you, like a restroom.

I used it to kept all my cash, reciepts, and passport.

You must have very important receipts to keep them in your money belt. :-)

l thought the point of the money belt was to take your need to use
your pants pockets away.

Well, no. The point of the money belt is that if you do get pickpocketed, the thieves only get a small amount of money and not all your valuables.

4.Some opinions say to use a cross-body bag instead of a backpack. Are you sure about this, because at least until now, I would never
carry any bag that I think resembles a purse or which looks feminine.

There are more reasons than one for not liking a cross-body bag. I for one cannot stand having anything on my shoulders that weighs me down asymmetrically.

What if I carred a very lightweight sort of backpack on my front
instead of back

I actually do that in places where it's very crowded and I am concerned someone might cut my backpack open from behind. Other than that, I carry it like a normal backpack. Considering many locals also carry backpacks, It's a very normal thing to do. To me, it seems like you'd sort of be yelling "Hello, rob me, I'm an inexperienced tourist" carrying it in front all the time.

containing only a very minimal amount of stuff, and no food

If your backpack contains only a minimal amount of stuff, there's really no reason at all to carry it in front. :-)

when entering mounments and museums?

Most museums will have you leave backpacks at the wardrobe anyway.

5.My mother thinks I am totally nuts or worse for traveling alone.

It's a mom's job to worry. :-)

The question is: Do YOU think so?

In that case, why do you take one of your first trips alone? Why don't you travel with a friend for starters?

I am a bit cautious about suggesting traveling with a group because you may end up on a bus with a bunch of charming 60-year-old ladies. If you do decide to travel with a group, try to find a tour you share some common interest with, like hiking, rock climbing, bicycling, photography... whatever. That dramatically reduces the probability of your ending up on a tour with 60-year-old ladies only.

Where are you planning to go? It may not be politically correct to point out, but people only seem to report getting robbed in places with underperforming economies. Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece. Paris only has problems in certain areas. And if you read all the stories, in nearly every case the people knew they were in a high-risk area and felt some degree of alarm about the situation.

Go to Berlin. Go to Amsterdam. Go to Stockholm. Go to Paris but avoid the Eiffel Tower. Carry a small messenger bag cross-body style and you'll be fine. If you're in a situation where you're being physically crowded or someone has thrown up a physical barrier or has made an excuse to touch you, clap your hands over your bag and stare them down.

I live in NYC and travel extensively in Europe and I have never had a problem. I don't use a money belt, I carry the same bag I use at home, and I've never had a problem.

I don't quite agree with the previous post saying this can only happen in certain places. Generally speaking, pickpockets are active wherever there's a crowd, like busy train stations or big events with many visitors. And I would strongly disagree calling Greece a more dangerous place than Amsterdam or Berlin.

That said, all this refers only to pickpockets anyway which I would consider the most realistic danger. Concerning "getting assaulted or worse", in 99% of places, IMO, it's something you would only need to be concerned about in very special neighborhoods like red-light districts. Read up on those areas in your guide book, ask the locals where it's safe to go, avoid those areas, especially at night, and you'll be fine.

On a side note: I've never heard of anyone getting into an armed stick-up in Europe. I have repeatedly heard that story from travelers to SFO and to NYC however. So watch out when you travel in the U.S., it's a dangerous country. :-)

.

Edit: Never believe any statistics, yet it might be fun to have a look at one:

Four U.S. cities right up there among the top 50 - St. Louis, Baltimore, Detroit, New Orleans. And not a single European city.

Among the European cities, Rotterdam (Netherlands!), Lodz (Poland), and Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK) are mentioned as being comparatively dangerous.

As for #5, tell your mom that there are lots of women who travel solo. In fact, when I did a solo trip around the world, the number of other solo women I encountered during my travels was higher than men. You're a guy, you'll do just fine. Now if you said you are traveling to certain countries that bump up against ISIS territory, or you are going to be in very specific areas of Mexico that are well-known to have severe travel alerts in place, or you are heading somewhere very politically unstable, then yeah, Mom has a right to say "that's nuts".

For #4, you will find guards at monuments and museums wanting to take a small backpack (aka "daypack") away from you whether you wear it on the front or back. Especially at museums where they are worried you might bump into the art. Be prepared to have to stand in a separate security line to have your pack examined in some places, and be ready to have to check it if they direct you to a coat room. A small to mid-sized cross-body bag is a lot easier to get in. If the term "cross-body bag" seems too frou-frou and feminine for you, then call it a "messenger bag" which is what my mid-30s nephew calls his. He lives in a big city in the U.S. and carries his messenger bag daily to get back and forth to work, when out with friends, etc. It's not like the thing says "Michael Kors" or "Chanel" across the front of it. He's had ones made out of leather, nylon, heavy duty twill fabric like what's used to make military uniforms, etc. It's just big enough for him to stuff a hoodie, small umbrella, phone, iPad and wallet into (he's not wearing a money belt in his own hometown). Don't know about Detroit, but I've lived in Chicago and numerous other U.S. cities and I've seen plenty of American guys carrying messenger bags around. In Europe, it's even more prevalent.

For #1-#3: The money belt is a choice you make for yourself. Some people feel they must be used anytime you leave your hotel/hostel to hold every single important document, all your credit and atm cards and all of your cash on your person and safely out of sight. Others (like me) will only use a money belt when loaded down with luggage and in active transit from one city to another via train, bus or plane. Otherwise, we opt to only carry a day's spending cash and leave all the other valuables securely locked up back at the lodging. And some don't bother with them at all. It's risk tolerance - and each person's level is different. But if you are using a money belt, then make sure you are using it in the correct manner and keeping it out of sight. If ever there was a way to mark yourself as a good target for an actual robbery, then it would be lifting up your shirt and showing everyone nearby that you've got a bunch of cash and credit cards strapped to you. Again, keep about 40 to 100 Euro tucked in a pocket of your messenger bag or jeans and use that for daily expenses. If you go out to a restaurant or bar and spend more than you planned for the day and need to access your credit card or more cash, then excuse yourself to the men's room and go into a toilet stall and get what you need.

And if you get pickpocketed first thing in the morning and lose your 40 to 100 Euro? Oh well. It's a shame, but it's not going to end your trip or majorly inconvenience you.

For crossbody vs backpack -it's your call and there are pros/cons of each. Make your own choice!

I fall into the crossbody camp. Use the term "messenger bag" when searching to get masculine options. These bags are very popular among men in the US as well and aren't feminine. All my male coworkers carry one to/from work with their computers and papers. Like a generation ago guys carried briefcases. I'll provide some links at the bottom.

The reason I prefer this type of bag is that it's:

-easier to keep an eye on in a crowd

-easier to access. to get into a backpack you have to stop, take it off, get your item, then reverse that when putting the item away. A messenger bag can be accessed while walking. Important for photographers - a camera stuck in a backpack will miss some good shots because of the time it takes to get it out.

-you can use a backpack suitcase and still carry your messenger bag as a personal item for the plane. I don't quite understand how one can carry both a big backpack suitcase and a small Day backpack. I suppose the daybag could go inside the big bag - but then what do you use on the plane for your underseat items?

-many sights ban backpacks but allow messenger bags

-looks more typical in cities, where I usually travel

Some examples (for reference, there are a million out there, my husband got his at Target in the men's section for $30 - navy blue canvas)

https://www.rei.com/product/110872/chrome-mini-metro-messenger-bike-bag

http://m.zappos.com/p/timbuk2-classic-messenger-small-jet-black/product/8825729/color/42005

http://m.zappos.com/p/fossil-graham-e-w-messenger-brown/product/8705009/color/6

I travel alone all the time as a woman and have never been robbed / assaulted / pick-pocketed in 30+ years of traveling in Europe and many other places in the world. I'm sending my 19 year old son by himself to Italy for two weeks in September - I wouldn't do that if I felt it was at all dangerous. It isn't. Your mother needs to be educated in the reality of travel and control her imagination.
What would you do if you went to New York City or San Francisco? Do the same thing in Europe that you would do there. It's all common sense. Yes, there are places that are higher risk...the Paris metro...crowded tourist sights in Rome. Since you know this though you can take precautions to prevent problems. Cross-body bags are commonly worn by men in Europe. Zippers are better than snaps. Any open pockets are fair game to thieves. Don't put your cell phone on the table next to you. Walk with confidence and don't look like a victim. Know which direction you are going before you leave your hotel so you're not standing in the street looking lost - that makes you a target. Simple things like this are things you would do anywhere...just use common sense, go to Europe, and have an amazing time!

I wear a fanny /waist belt plus I use the hidden pocket too, usually white tennis shoes too. I travel solo in Austria and Germany using trains and public transport. The money belt is what I don't use. Should I have a problem? Use it in a way that works for use. I don't use a day bag, backpack, cross-body bag, etc., never have. I see lots of Americans doing that.

Thanks for your replies.

Fear is not quite how I feel. I feel like an ornary little kid why keeps trying to run away from his parents, never mind that I live on my own now. But maybe parents get use to their kids seeming child-like and then this idea stays with them forever.

I understand the consensus about money belts. I don't like what I understand. If you use a money belt but you don't access it 2 or 3 times a day, then why wouldn't you skip the money belt and carry a chain wallet in a front pocket with the chain clipped to your belt, or clipped to a belt loop of your pants? What if somebody sees you take your wallet out (in Europe or even near home)? Do you mean that you worry about people seeing you reach into a money belt but you don't worry about people seeing you reach into your pants pocket or into a wallet or into a cross-body bag?

Or why not carry paper currency in a money clip, and coins and two cards, in a zippered coin pouch, in your pants pockets, wearing the sort of pants that have front zippered pockets, like the kind they might sell at certain outdoor supply stores?

It had not occured to me to carry a cross body bag. My suitcase is a 22 inch long cross-body bag, without wheeles. But it doesn't look like feminine, like a purse. To me, messenger bags still look too feminine, like a man-purse. A cross body bag would have to be shapped differently for me to consider beeing seen with it.

(I grew up in a suburb northwest of Detroit, where the lawns are big, everybody drives everywhere and the crime rate is low, although a 31-year old woman was murdered early this year, found dead in a pond just behind my high school. My mother grew up in the ghetto in the city of Detroit. Now I live in an apartment, still outside the city of Detroit, but in a more densely populated surburb; last time I checked, car thefts and various crimes happen here every week, but I do errands like everything is normal and I haven't had a problem. Occasionally I go to downtown Detroit for an event; the crime mainly is in the decrepit residential neighborhoods I have no business going into.)

Hi, Mike-
The problem with the chain wallet is that you're basically drawing a line showing them exactly where your wallet is. But all in all, they are looking for the easy take: someone who has left their bag gaping open, someone with a fat wallet in a back pocket, someone who is or can be distracted. For me, the problem with a backpack is that we really have less awareness of what's going on behind us than we think. And zippers are really, really easy for pickpockets to get into. If you want to have your mind blown, look up videos on Apollo Robbins on Youtube. He works as a consultant and entertainer now, but is a master pickpocket and you won't believe how easy it can be for a well-trained thief to steal your stuff.

So your instincts are right in that you would split your cash up and have most of it put away somewhere very safe, with just a little in a more-accessible pocket or a small wallet that's easier to get to.

Re: the bag. Aren't you going to have odds and ends like a camera, a tour guide, or a bottle of water to lug around? I live in NYC and I do see a lot of people with small backpacks worn on their fronts. If you get what's known as a "daypack," it's a smaller backpack, usually of lighter fabric, and often with a drawstring at the top instead of a bunch of zippers. Even worn on your back, if you pull the drawstring tight and maybe loop & knot it, it would be a lot harder for them to slip a hand in.

But you should look again at bags. I like Manhattan Portage--they're not expensive, and they come in a huge variety of styles, a lot of which look like real bike messenger bags--really masculine. I promise you, in cities around the world where people walk rather than drive, EVERY guy carries a bag. This is true in NYC, this is true all over Europe. Or go to a camping store--is there an REI or Cabela's out by you? Go have a look, you won't be sorry.

Last thing, I am a woman a bit older than you. My strategy is to do absolutely nothing different than I do here at home: I carry a tote that's convertible to cross-body. When traveling I have a smaller wallet in which I keep a day's worth of money and a few cards. That always manages to slide to the very bottom of my bag. The rest of my money and my passport are stored separately, often zipped into the body of the bag in an interior pocket. I carry nothing in my pockets or in exterior bag pockets. I feel pretty confident that even if I was getting scoped out by a pickpocket, they'd pass me by and go for an easier target. That said, in numerous trips overseas and every day in New York City, I have never once felt at risk. It's partly where I go, and it's partly the fact that I'm not interested in the very most touristy activities and sights.

You'll figure it out, and you'll have a great time.

Obviously you are concerned about safety. So check out RS guidelines for being a savvy and safer traveler. He got pickpocketed just recently on the Paris Metro....

I am a woman.. I have visited places in Europe alone at times ( many trips, some with family, some with friends, some with my kids, and some solo) since I was much younger than you are now.. and I am about 20 yrs older than you are now .

Your fears need to be calmed. Or your moms.. you are likely safter in most big cities in Europe than most big cities in America( look up the stats if you want.. )

A wallet on a chain.. no.

Carry a days worth of cash in a wallet in a front secure pocket.

Leave bulk of cash and passport in the hotel safe or wear it in a moneybelt under your clothes that you do not dig into every few hours.

I like a messenger style bag and many men seem to use them in europe.. but just make sure you keep it securely closed and dont hang it over the chair in a cafe etc.

There are pickpockets but its not as bad as you think it is.. just be aware.

Fear is not quite how I feel. I feel like an ornary little kid why
keeps trying to run away from his parents, never mind that I live on
my own now. But maybe parents get use to their kids seeming child-like
and then this idea stays with them forever.

Well, your parents sort of started out seeing you as a child. ;-) And you will remain a child in your parents' eyes even when you are 70 and they are 90. I have seen 90 year old moms tell their daughters to put a sweater on or they would catch a cold.

So here's my 2cts about that: Don't try to change your parents.

In the first place, it's not going to work. Generations of grown-up children have tried it before you, without avail. In the second place, you have no right to do so. Your parents are grown up too, you are not their parent, and they have the right to worry all they want.

There is only one thing you can change, and that is your own attitude. Move away from your parents. Cut the umbilical cord. :-)

why wouldn't you skip the money belt and carry a chain wallet in a
front pocket with the chain clipped to your belt, or clipped to a belt
loop of your pants

I don't think a chain wallet is going to deter any pickpocket with self-esteem. :-)

The point is that if they rip off your wallet, whereever you've got it, front or back pocket, bag or no bag, chain or no chain, it's not a serious loss. You've lost 20 or 50 Euros - that's annoying, for sure, but it's not going to break your neck.

But picture how your vacation is going to continue if they get your passport, your credit cards, and all your cash all at once. You are going to spend the rest of your vacation at some embassy or consulate, trying to retrieve your ID, worrying if you notified your bank in time to prevent major catastrophes, and figuring out how to survive the rest of your vacation.

zippered pockets

In countries where I need some kind of coat, I do in fact carry my wallet in a zippered pocket - the inside pocket of my coat. More difficult to do in hot countries.

To me, messenger bags still look too feminine, like a man-purse. A
cross body bag would have to be shapped differently for me to consider
beeing seen with it.

Well then, don't. You've seen my considerations on taking a backpack in my previous post.

There is an additional reason for not doing this, and I hope you don't mind my saying so. You seem somewhat insecure in several respects - concerning your role as a child vs. a grown-up man, and concerning your role as a male with a possibly feminine-looking bag. Now the last thing you want to do is walk around in a foreign country feeling insecure. You might as well write "victim" on the front of your T-shirt.

Therefore: Do everything so you feel comfortable and self-confident about it.

You could get a military style satchel if that will feel more manly. Though women soldiers may carry the same kind of bag. It is a just a bag, with no genders attached to it.

Look at briefcase styles or hunter styles too.

See if your mom would be interested in walking the Camino in Spain by herself so she has something to keep her mind off of you traveling in scary Europe by yourself.
1000's of women do this alone, many of them in their 50's, 60's, 70's and even in their 80's. No tour, just by themselves.

You will be fine. Wear your money belt like people have described. Use the ATM, not the money exchange. Don't wear a back pack on your chest.

If you don't like messenger bags you don't like them. Don't force yourself - use a backpack if you feel more comfortable that way. There are ways to make them more secure like not putting stuff of value in the front small pockets, using a twist tie (like for bread) to thread zippers together, or carrying on your front. I don't like the front carry because it makes you look paranoid but in specific situations it may help (crowded trains especially).

It is my belief that all this is partly a perception game - look confident and blend in and pickpockets are more likely to leave you alone. Look worried and out of place and when a pickpocket is scanning a crowd for a "mark" you will stand out. So if the crossbody bag makes you feel insecure then you will look insecure and that's a problem.

On to the parent stuff - Its hard but you have to be an adult here and teach yourself to trust your own instincts. You live on your own, I presume you are paying your own way so what your mother says shouldn't stop you. Listen to her - moms do know things - but don't give outsized weight - moms can also be wrong and if yours doesn't travel why should you assume she's right on travel advice?

The point of a money belt is to keep the things you can't afford to lose out of your pants pockets. Presumably, if you lost 20-50 euros, it wouldn't be the end of the world and wouldn't significantly affect your trip. If you lost your credit cards and passport, however, you have a much bigger problem to deal with. It's worth keeping money in your pocket so you never have to access your moneybelt and don't show thieves where your real value is kept.

Same concept for backpacks. Wear what you like, but consider anything in them to be pretty easy pickings for a thief. A thief itsn't going to bother a 9 year old local kid, because he doesn't expect to find anything of value. Tourists, however, might keep a tablet, laptop, expensive camera equipment or valuable purchases in a backpack. As long as nothing expensive or difficult to replace is in your backpack, it doesn't matter if a thief gets into it while you're on the metro.

I have a security rule that works well for me, my "one handle" rule. When I'm out and about, I put everything in one package (one handle) because it's a lot easier to keep track of one bag than multiple bags. Shopping? Reduce things to one bag. Travel? Everything goes into my carry on (including my day pack). The more encumbered you are, the easier it is for thieves to target you (you can say the same about being distracted or lost).

Don't worry about being assaulted. The typical European thief wants violence less than you do.

I think Mike is missing the point on the purpose of a money belt. If per chance you were to get pick-pocketed or lose your wallet, would you rather lose a days spending money or ALL your money? In theory, you should only need to access your money belt due to an emergency. Your money belt should be your safety zone, and part of this is not accessing it continually to make people aware that you have one.

"I understand the consensus about money belts. I don't like what I understand. If you use a money belt but you don't access it 2 or 3 times a day, then why wouldn't you skip the money belt and carry a chain wallet "

Mike, no you are NOT understanding about money belts.

A money belt is where you keep things like a Passport, credit and debit cards, larger quantities of cash, and any other important papers you have with you when you travel. It is NOT where you keep your spending cash for the day. It is NOT where you keep the credit card you might use when shopping for the day. It is NOT a wallet. It is NOT a fanny pack. You do NOT open it in public to get money out to pay for small purchases or put change into it.

A money belt is used together with a wallet, not in place of a wallet. You keep a small amount of cash and maybe one of your multiple credit cards in the wallet so IF get pickpocketed, the most you should lose is your lunch money for the day and maybe one of the multiple credit cards you brought with you. A minor inconvenience vs having everything in the wallet and losing everything if you get pick pocketed. The whole reason for using the money belt as stated above is so that a pick pocket will think they have taken everything from you when they grab your wallet.

Now are you going to get pick pocketed? Probably not. I have been to Europe over 50 times in the last 10+ years. I have never lost anything to a pickpocket. I have found hands in my pants pockets that were not mine while on the subways in 3 different cities, but luckily not the pocket I chose to place my wallet with the $50 or so worth of Euros in it that day.

I guess I don't understand the concept of a money belt either. If all it is is a secondary storage "bag/pocket" that one leaves in the hotel, then why is there a singular item called a "money belt" that everyone praises so much? All sorts of money storage devices can be used in place of a money belt if someone just needed a money/credit card/passport storage device...heck, any zipped small opaque bag or a second wallet could do the trick.

Two questions:
- Is a money belt simply the concept/proxy for using secondary storage, or is it an actual item that has few substitutes?
- Is it supposed to be worn on the person at all times when they're out and about, or can/should it be left in the hotel?

Agnes, a "money belt" is a specific item that one wears under clothing to keep things like credit cards or passports safe - the idea is that if it is strapped directly to your body and you leave it there (don't access it) it can't be stolen. But this means you can't be accessing it every time you want to buy gelato - so the advice is to carry a small amount of cash in a regular wallet. If a thief steals this wallet, you are out 50 euros or less. If you have a credit card in there you can just cancel it and your other cards are safe. This theft would be annoying but manageable. If you have your passport and 1000 euros in a purse and it is stolen or lost you are in much bigger trouble.

You aren't "supposed" to leave it at the hotel, according to the letter of the law (ha ha - but some people treat it as if it were law!) - it is supposed to be on you at all times.

I personally rarely use one, but this is the concept. I think the obsessive worry over theft is getting out of hand and it just comes down to being aware of your surroundings, taking reasonable precautions, and not having all your stuff in one place so a theft would be catastrophic. I leave all my extra money and credit cards in the hotel, either in the safe or in my luggage in the closet and have never had a problem.

Thanks Mira, that's what I thought...I just needed the confirmation.

I guess I don't understand the concept of a money belt either.

It's a reasonably secure place to put your big cash, a spare credit/debit card, and your passport if you are not comfortable leaving them in your hotel room during the day or if you are on a train or subway in transit to your next hotel. You could still have a wallet in your pocket/purse but you'd only put a small amount of cash in it and perhaps a card. If the wallet is lifted it would not be a big deal. With the money belt tucked under your slacks or under your shirt, it would be very difficult for a thief to swipe it without your notice.

I wear a vest with inside pockets or a 'Napoleon' pocket.

I also pay attention to my surroundings.

While I'm on vacation the last thing I want to do is engage in ethnic profiling/acting like a squirrel constantly scanning the horizon for hawks. I won't do that. Keeping my excess stuff in a money belt or the hotel room safe gives me the freedom to enjoy my surroundings.
Also, the only functional difference between a money belt style accessory and a hotel room safe is that one sits in the dark nether regions of ones pants, and the other the dark nether regions of your hotel room closet.

I bought a pair of pants with zippered front pockets. Was this a bizarre waste of money? (I may have needed a new pair of pants anyway but I could have spent less on a cheaper pair). I plan to pack just one pair in addition to the one I wear to the airport - but only this one pair has zippered pockets, but if I don't exclusively wear pants with zippered pockets, how will sometimes having aippered pockets help? I do feel like I am much more likely to simply loose something (wallet, cards, keys, and so on), or leave something in my hostel, than to get robbed or worse. Getting robbed is not what I am afraid of according to gut reaction. Fear in general is not what I most feel, according to gut reaction. I feel guilty for doing things my mother does not want me to do, but this is irrational and there's not much you can do about it.

It makes me think: How would mothers and young men cope if the draft still existed today in the USA like it does in other places?

I bought a pair of pants with zippered front pockets. Was this a
bizarre waste of money?

No, not at all! Those should work great for keeping your wallet and your phone in.

And for additional safety, you can put your "real" valuables (passport etc.) in your moneybelt.

That said, I'll tell you a secret (hush. No one overhearing me?): I don't always wear a moneybelt. Only when I know I will be visiting crowded or touristy places.

Seems like almost everyone here does city trips only, and those obviously can be crowded and touristy. As soon as I get to more rural areas, in most countries I feel perfectly safe not using a moneybelt.

I do feel like I am much more likely to simply loose something
(wallet, cards, keys, and so on), or leave something in my hostel

Can't blame the local pickpockets if that happens. :-) Just keep a good watch on your stuff if you tend to be forgetful.

I feel guilty for doing things my mother does not want me to do, but
this is irrational and there's not much you can do about it.

Oh yes you can, and I am glad you already are!

For one thing, you are obviously understanding the mechanism of your feeling guilty. That's the first step in overcoming it. Your head telling your feelings: "This is silly. You guys are not real guilt. I am not doing any wrong against my mom. You guys are only feelings of guilt. Who cares about you?"

For another, you are actually planning a trip, which will help you immensely in getting over those irrational feelings. The first time is going to be the most difficult, and you will see that after that it gets much easier every time you do it.

If you are staying in a hostel, you might think about storing your stuff in the paid lockers instead of leaving it in your room where anybody can access it. I would never leave anything valuable in your room.
I'd keep all cash, credit cards, passport in a neck pouch or moneybelt for safe keeping and would even sleep with them on your body.
Zippered pockets are a good idea only if they have room for your phone or camera and you keep them zipped all the time.

Fear in general is not what I most feel, according to gut reaction. I feel guilty for doing things my mother does not want me to do, but this is irrational and there's not much you can do about it.

And here lies the real reason you are so scared. This goes way beyond any advice anyone here can or will give you. The help you need to get over this cannot be found on this board.

By the way, there is a lot you can do about it. Taking action, such as you are doing is one. If that doesn't work, consulting with a professional may help.

Living a life of pleasing others will lead to a very unhappy life. You aren't being true to yourself. There is little you can do to change your mother. There is a lot you can do to change you.

I feel guilty for doing things my mother does not want me to do

Let me add one more thought on this, just to add another argument for your head to use against those irrational feelings:

WHY doesn't your mother want you to do these things? Well, if she is like all mothers I know, the reason is quite clear: Your mother wants you to be safe and happy.

Are you safe, sitting in her lap all your life? Yes. Are you happy? No. So actually, your mother is not achieving what she means to do for you at all.

Now again, this is NOT something you should try and convince your mother of. It's something you need to become aware of for yourself.

If all that doesn't work, and if your mom happens to be one of those very few moms who really specializes in making other people feel guilty, you may in fact want to look for professional support.

.

On a side note, the invention of the cell phone is an absolute curse for young people like you trying to become independent of their parents. It's a perpetual umbilical cord that will tie you to your mom forever and wherever you are. It makes me feel really old to be saying this, but when I first traveled with a friend, we called our parents once a week from a public phone, and that was it. My mom was at least as worried about me being so far away as yours can possibly be, but she just had to live with that solution.

Perhaps four months from now, I will return to this or a similar thread, reporting how foolish I was and the consequences of my folly. But I have never worn a money belt and do not intend to start doing so. If you have lived in a major American city, you should have the street smarts to avoid being a theft victim in Europe.

Use common sense; know your surroundings; carry what you need to carry in a reasonably secure place--for me, an inside jacket pocket with zipper or button, or front pants pocket; use your room safe.

I am in no way critical of anyone who feels the need to wear a money belt. In fact, if a money belt is going to reduce anxiety over your trip, then for that reason alone, it seems a great investment.

But I am amazed that so many Americans are so fearful of crime and terrorism in Europe. To a point, concern is reasonable. To a point. But again, I am much more concerned about the possibility at home of an upset motorist on a highway pulling out a gun or slamming on his brakes, or being robbed at gun point, than I am of being a statistic on a trip to Europe.

If you have lived in a major American city, you should have the street
smarts to avoid being a theft victim in Europe.

Very well put. Why do you think we Europeans put on our money belts when we visit major American cities? :D

But I am amazed that so many Americans are so fearful of crime and
terrorism in Europe.

Very true. :-)

See the statistics I linked to above (or any other statistics on that issue, for that matter): Visiting major American cities certainly is a lot more dangerous than visiting most European cities.

My mother thinks I am totally nuts or worse for traveling alone.

Thank you. That finally explains the paranoia in these forums.

To be fair, it sounds like OP is planning to do the backpacker/hostel thing which increases his odds of problems, IMO. I think he'd do well to consider single rooms in 2-star hotels, or AirBnBs in more remote areas. They'd be nicer than a hostel and not much more expensive, and would offer a measure of security he's not going to get in a dorm room.

OP, there's a really great forum on Reddit, r/solotravel. Lots of first-timers and people dealing with parental disapproval, as well as a lot of people who stay at hostels and can recommend the safest and best ones.

When I first went to Europe, I went alone, was 24, and didn't think twice about going. But that was a long time ago. I can remember walking past 10 Downing Street in London with simply two police officers at the front door of the prime minister's residence. When I returned to London about eight years ago, the security was substantially greater, and nobody was walking past the prime minister's residence.

But on my trips to Europe, I have never, ever felt unsafe, and frankly have felt much safer than in many places in the United States. Again, there is a need to recognize that petty theft can be a problem and to use common sense. But the severity of the terrorism and petty theft risk (though the latter is real) seems much overblown. We are not talking about travel to Syria or certain places in Latin America, but to the safest countries in the world.

I wish the OP the best of luck regarding his travel plans. Mike, I hope you go; if so, I look forward to reading about your trip after you return.

If I lose my wallet at home it's not nearly as big a deal as if it happens while traveling. When I am at home I am not visiting tourist sights or walking around with a lot of cash, as I tend to do while traveling. Comparing the two situations is silly.
The OP has asked a lot of similarly unusual questions and I think some European travel will do him good.

How many people have I known that have had their pocket picked in the U.S. ? I have known none. How many have I known that have had pockets picked in Europe ? Two, not including Rick Steves 😂

Not sure of your point, Stephen. Pickpocketing or general theft happens all the time, nearly everywhere. The fact that something has not happen to you does not negate the fact that it could happen to you even if the odds are low. Our daughter-in-law, an eight year resident of Manhattan, lost her billfold in bar when she didn't completely close the zipper on her purse. Good friend had his billfold taken in Lincoln park in Chicago. Another friend who often jokingly mocked for using money belts lost everything - all cash, all credit cards, and two passports - in a train in Paris. Talk about inconvenience! Another lost his cell phone from a belt clip in Rome. Or the poster here who had his billfold chained to his belt or the poster who lost credit cards and money from her bra.

So the petty theft happens but it is not 90%, or 50%, it is a relatively small percentage. With reasonable precautions generally you are fine. Just don't make it easy.

Personal experience is really not much more than anecdotal evidence.

That said, I personally know of one friend who had her wallet ripped off at the train station (she had it in her back pocket and was SURE she would notice), and I know of another who would have had his fanny pack ripped off by a moped driver somewhere in southern France hadn't he reinforced the strap with fishing line. Not a method I would personally recommend though. That moped driver suddenly pulling at his fanny pack could have easily toppled him over and got him seriously injured.

However, I also know a couple who had a gun stuck in their backs in San Francisco. That would be the kind of pickpocketing I would find way more disturbing.

"I am a man. I am 34. My mother thinks I am totally nuts or worse for traveling alone."

I think that's sad. My son has been traveling solo since he was 20. He's now 27 and recently got back from a one month solo trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore. He's now planning his solo trip to New Zealand. He has a long bucket list. He makes friends every where he goes. I am happy and thrilled for him.

As RS says in regards to Europe, but it applies everywhere... "Europe is a playground and classroom for adults".

Per stephen: "How many people have I known that have had their pocket picked in the U.S.? I have known none".

Anna, I agree with you: "However, I also know a couple who had a gun stuck in their backs in San Francisco. That would be the kind of pickpocketing I would find way more disturbing".

Pickpockets are the least of your worries in the US. Tourists are killed in SF (far too often). Two separate cases just in the last 6 mos. Always breaks my heart.

I hope I am not pushing this thread in a very different direction. But coincidentally, I was reading a few minutes a thread on saintsreport.com (which incidentally is one of the most heavily moderated and unquestionably one of the best NFL-team fan websites around) about travel to the Saints-Miami game in London on October 1. In the last two posts on the thread, forum members stated that, because of the recent terrorist events in London, they had changed their mind about going to the game because of fear that a major American event in London would be too attractive a terrorist target. (And the Saints game is one of four NFL games to be played in London this year.) Mike, your mother is not the only one.

I have to believe that, for a major event like an NFL game in London, the security will be extremely heavy. However, my response to those concerned about going is that London as a whole is substantially safer than any neighborhood in the city of New Orleans and a high percentage of the neighborhoods in the suburban parishes outside New Orleans (and I bet the same is true too for Detroit and suburban Detroit); and that, for someone with a healthy drive to the airport, the trip to the airport is still probably the most dangerous part of a trip to London or most other places in Europe. (And New Orleans is a city where you have to exercise common sense and watch where you go, but if you do, you should not have any problems.)

Two years ago, in Lafayette where I live, which is a fairly safe city, someone from out of state entered a movie theater and started firing away, killing two people and shooting nine others. I try to put things in perspective. I am not talking about traveling to Syria or venturing off the beaten path in Venezuela. I am talking about traveling to London, England (and other European countries in still the safest part of the world). You can't totally eliminate all risk of something bad happening.

If someone has an irrational fear, then no amount of logic or rationality discussion will change their mind. The greatest risk for bodily injure is still the drive to your airport especially if you drive an automobile. We readily accept that risk everyday.

You're right Frank, very true.

I will try to post the link at the end. If I can't, google Leading Causes of Death in Perspective, a graphic by the UK's United Health System that shows the risk of death to terrorism compared to other risks in life. And as the article I am trying to post the link for notes, we are not very good about assessing risk, as we smoke as we worry about a terrorist attack in European countries or as we drive with no concern to the airport as we worry about the risks of flying.

The link is www.businessinsider.com/the-things-most-likley-to-kill-you-in-one-graphic-2015-2. If I have messed up, perhaps someone else can post the correct link or the graphic.

PS Apparently, the link is wrong. But you can readily access the graphic with a Google search.

The OP is not worried about terrorism, he's worried about much more mundane stuff like where to keep his valuables and how not to feel guilty in contravening his Mother's wishes. Only the first item can be successfully addressed in this travel forum.

I'll give it a try: The things most likely to kill you

Yes, very true. Watch your digestion. The probability of death by digestive disorders is much higher than by murder.

And to the best of my knowledge, the risk of dying of a wasp sting is notably higher than the risk of dying in a terrorist attack.

Note that the link is a UK statistics though. The risk of death caused by war might be just slightly higher in countries like Syria or Somalia. But then, I haven't seen anyone on this forum intending to travel to those countries.

.

Edit:

@ Agnes: The point is, what we are worried about is not always what's actually dangerous. That's what these statistics demonstrate. And that is certainly relevant for the OP's question as well as for his mother's worries (though as I said before, I don't think it would be a good idea to try and convince HER).

I thought a statistics (or logic) course was a requirement in college.

Statistics as a course is not a requirement in college to get your BA....for better or worse.

Anna, thank you. But there is actually an updated graphic that includes the risk of death from terrorism. It is the smallest dot at the very end of the U.

I know a number of people who think that travel to Europe at this time is a risky venture. The graphic powerfully shows otherwise.

Well, the point remains: People are usually most afraid of what they know least.

We had the daughter of American friends come and visit us somewhere in the 80s, and her mom was worried to death about the Iron Curtain being only about 30 miles from where we lived - something we never wasted a single thought on. It was a fact that we couldn't travel east, but other than that, we never even thought about it.

Mind you, that was a family living in Silicon Valley back then. If the big bad Russians had wanted to drop a bomb, they certainly wouldn't have dropped it on our unimportant town. They would have dropped it on a strategic spot where it would have destroyed all electronics, computer, etc. industries all at once. Now guess where that would have been!

So much for irrational fears.

Anybody seen Mike L (OP) since Monday night?

Sounds like chatting in an empty roo...

This book review in a recent New Yorker, Be Careful!

Reading “Careful: A User’s Guide to Our Injury-Prone Minds” by Steve Casner may make you want to stay in—a mistake, he writes, since fifty per cent of all fatal accidents happen at home.
...

Reading “Careful” makes you want to stay in—a mistake, Casner writes, since fifty per cent of all fatal accidents happen in “that house of horrors we call home.” Puttering around the house is so dangerous that even people with hazardous jobs, such as electric-power-line installers, are more likely to do themselves in at home than at work.

...
Casner devotes several pages to the proper technique for slicing a bagel; annually, three hundred and thirty-three thousand Americans cut themselves so badly with kitchen knives that they have to go to the E.R. Twenty-one thousand people hurt themselves with food processors; twenty-eight thousand injure themselves with hammers; forty thousand are wounded, somehow, by their washing machines. In 2010, fifty-one thousand car crashes and four hundred and forty deaths resulted from objects, such as mattresses, falling off automobile roof racks and into traffic.

This thread has stayed true to its heading ("or worse") and the statement in the original post about family concern over safety were the trip made.

Reflecting on the last post, I think the explanation is that the incidence of violent crime is much greater in the US than in many other countries, and that so many in the US who have never left the country think of our crime rates as the norm, rather than the exception, in the developed world. My real concern regarding crime in the US is not somebody picking my pocket and stealing my wallet, but someone pulling out a gun and stealing my wallet (or breaking into my house).

In my younger days, I spent several years working in the criminal justice system. We used to say that city-killers were armed robbery and residence burglary because those were the crimes that kept tourists from visiting and drove city residents to move to the suburbs. My sense is that, depending upon the country and region, criminal activity in Europe largely involves theft (when there is no force or threat of force involved), and theft or burglary of unoccupied cars. (However, in the US, I have never worried about what pocket my wallet was in.) Very different levels of criminal activity with regard to personal safety.

That is why I always recommend if someone is unconfortable with a trip
to cancel it. No amount of 'Europe is safe, look at stats' will ever
overcome the feeling that one feels unsafe in Europe.

I do agree that trying to convince someone by rational reasoning usually is futile.

The only thing that can, IMO, overcome the feeling of being unsafe is actually experiencing the country. And that is why I would not agree to the recommendation of canceling a trip.

It's basically like with prejudices (or actually, it is a prejudice): You can't overcome a prejudice by arguing. You can only overcome a prejudice by experiences.

But I'm always amazed at the number of questions coming from US about
safety. ... 'What place of Paris is safe' is a question I will never
hear between Europeans.

To be fair, I am not so sure about that. Many European first-time visitors to the U.S. are actually quite concerned about safety issues. And having been nearly pickpocketed myself in Rome (someone shouted a warning in time), I do give some thought to safety issues when I travel to big cities anywhere on the planet.

so many in the US who have never left the country think of our crime
rates as the norm, rather than the exception, in the developed world

That is an interesting way of looking at it, and might very well be possible. Never thought of it that way.

Well, yeah, America is scary as violent crime is a much bigger issue than in Europe. I let my kid ride the train and subway to school here since he was 9. I don't take my eyes off of him at home in the US. Glad I don't live there anymore, honestly.

On our first trip to Italy, I used the money belt for a few days how you were using it, and gave up on day three due to the hassle. And, it was hot, so having an extra layer of stuff in pants was stupid.

I remembered that I grew up in New York in the 70's and 80's where the pickpockets were the least of your worries.

I walk around Europe like I walk around Chicago, with one change. Instead of my briefcase, I carry a day pack (Civita Day Pack, if you must know). I put nothing valuable in the day pack. It's strictly the day's needs. Guidebook, jacket, water, souvenir carry, umbrella whatever. Wife carries camera in her camera bag that she wears cross body and uses as a purse/arm shelf. Money in wallet in front pocket.

The best I can offer you is this: a bit of situational awareness. If you're in a crowded place, put a hand on your wallet in your pocket and keep it there. Make eye contact with anyone who gets within 20 feet of you. Don't stop for beggars, regardless of how sad their dog looks or how many kids they have. Kids have light fingers and flexible morals. With the backpack, in tight spaces and crowds, I keep it on one shoulder and swing it around front.

A bit of confidence and a bit of awareness goes a long way in avoiding theft. A bit of worry tends to embolden thieves as does skyline gawking without street level viewing. I can mark any tourist in Chicago vs any local by how wide their mouths are and the angle of their view.

Make eye contact with anyone who gets within 20 feet of you.

Depends. Eye contact can also be understood as an invitation for further approach.

I do NOT make eye contact with beggars - and they will usually leave me alone.

I do NOT make eye contact with groups of boisterous youngsters or with drunk people because eye contact, like with some animals, can provoke aggressive behavior.

Note that not making eye contact can make you appear shy, so it's important to walk in a self-confident stride and to make it appear like you just happen not to look in their direction (while actually being 100% aware of them and any actions they may take).

Ah, but Woinparis, we are talking about the aggressive and obnoxious type here. The kind that will not be the least bit interested in sharing a kebap with you.

There are obviously beggars who are just peacefully sitting there hoping for a coin to drop into their hats, and anyone may choose for themselves how to handle that. I personally prefer NOT to get out my wallet in public at all; instead, I donate to an appropriate charity. I trust professionals more than myself on being experts in helping people in a more lasting way than with a coin quickly spent on some more alcohol.

Thank for your replies.

My mother is mainly the one who worries about my safety. Sometimes when I talk to her, she will mention an attack that happened in London or Paris and say, " did you hear the news..." .and in a remorseful, nagging tone, "and you are still thinking of going to Europe?"... When I first told her I was thinking of taking another trip, she, Just as I expected, was mortified, she didn't believe me at first, I planned my trip, told my mother, she tried to convince me not to go, then she tried to convince me to go on a group tour, then she calmed down and acquiesced to my traveling; now she doesn't want to hear about my trip - My trip is in July. But I talked her into driving my to the airport. My aunt has a similar level of worry, but I notice it much less because I see her much less often. My dad doesn't mind that much, although he gave me a 4 page report meant for government employees, about traveling - not identifying onself as an American, being careful about crowds, and so on.

I don't want to think much of potential problems but and normally I successfully sublimate any worries as well as most people; the most likely problems I would worry about are:
-I am going to briefly worry whether or not I should carry a lightweight backpack with a minimal amount of food and stuff like a phrase book, compact sized camera, map, hankerchiefs, and so on.

-trying to avoid eating much restaurant food but not finding anything like fruit or anything that seems reasonably healthy. I haven't eaten cooked food or wheat or grains or restaurant food since I was 25, because I worry that it is too high in sodium or otherwise unhealthy, and my great grandfather with my same last name had a heart attack and died when he was 39; but once last December I ate some fried rice in a chinese restaurant, for irrational reasons, when I was with a group of people I met on meetup.com; I have no healthy problems or ailments.
-I signed up for some group tours, but suppose I can't find my tour guides because it is too crowded or for other reasons I can't identify who the tour guide is?
-suppose it takes me too long to get from the airplane at the airport near Rome to my hostel in Florence, and then the hostel employees think I am not going to show up, so they give my space to somebody else?
-I suspect that I am more likely to just loose something that to get robbed.
-suppose the ATM machines do not work for me? I know the concensus is to use an ATM to take money out of your bank account, but just to make sure, why wouldn't exchanging US dollars for Euros feel more like a sure thing, or more likely to work than the ATM?

I would not even bother with all these negative thoughts and concerns. It makes no difference to me if "they" spot me out as an American...so what. "They" will anyway, whether you like it or not. I usually spot Americans out but admittedly it isn't as easy as it it was in the 1970s and '80s. Just take precautions on securing your stuff.

Hi Mike, great to hear from you again!

I think you are actually doing the best you can, trying not to make your mom's worries your own. And she does indeed seem to have a special talent for making you feel bad.

I see you live in Detroit. That's a big city, and I am quite sure it's a lot more dangerous than all big cities of Europe. But we can show you all the statistics you want, and none of them is going to alleviate your mom's fears.

I am going to briefly worry whether or not I should carry a
lightweight backpack

What's that worry all about? Go right ahead.

not finding anything like fruit or anything that seems reasonably
healthy.

Oh, come on... You're going to Europe, not to the North Pole. We do have to eat in Europe, you know. We do have farming, we do grow fruits, we've done it for thousands of years, long before anyone ever dreamed of the United States. You will find tons of healthy food all over Europe. There are local farmers' markets you may enjoy visiting, and every supermarket has tons of fruit, often even with different labels like certified organic.

I haven't eaten wheat

Gluten-free food is quite the craze in Europe too, so you won't have any trouble finding wheat-free food.

or restaurant food since I was 25 except that once last December I ate
some fried rice in a chinese restaurant, for irrational reasons

If you are allergic to any of the ingredients, that may indeed be an irrational thing to do.

Other than that, I have a bit of trouble understanding what's supposed to be irrational about eating out with other people, and you will certainly be missing out on a lot if you don't try the local cuisine. Italy especially has a lot more to offer than pizza and pasta in case you consider those "unhealthy".

(I certainly don't want to be intrusive, but unless you are in fact allergic, you may want to examine yourself if your mom's fears aren't sprouting up here, only having shifted to a different spot.)

I signed up for some group tours, but suppose I can't find my tour
guides because it is too crowded or for other reasons I can't identify
who the tour guide is?

Very simple. For one thing, you can be quite sure that every member of your group tour will have exactly the same question - and that your tour guide will want you to find him or her. Many use some kind of sign they will hold up. Just be at the meeting point a couple of minutes early, look for groups assembling, and ask which group this is. If you want to be really sure, ask the organization beforehand how you will recognize their tour guide.

the hostel employees think I am not going to show up, so they give my
space to somebody else?

That is indeed a legitimate question because they may in fact do so after a certain time. The solution, however, is quite simple again: Just let them know in advance that you may be arriving late.

I suspect that I am more likely to just lose something that to get
robbed.

Well, keep your eyes open, especially when you leave a place. :-)

And heed the advice others gave you: Don't leave valuables accessible in a room you are sharing with others.

why wouldn't exchanging US dollars for Euros feel more like a sure
thing

Just think: You'd have to take all your cash with you for the whole trip. Do you really want to walk all over Europe carrying a fat bunch of bills in your wallet? I don't think so. And even if you were to keep them in your money belt (which I would certainly recommend in that case), would you really feel comfortable about that?

Talk to your bank and make sure your card works with European ATMs. If you have more than one card, take them along (in a safe place, like your money belt) to resort to in case your primary card doesn't work, for whatever reason.

Anna, you are a blessing to this board.
Danke.

"I haven't eaten cooked food or restaurant food since I was 25".

Yeah, if you are on some sort of raw foods only regime, you will have a very tough time in some restaurants finding enough to eat other than a salad or fruit. But you are staying in a hostel, so having access to a kitchen and shopping in the local farmers markets or grocery stores will let you put something together that fits into your dietary restrictions.

There is a website called Happycow.net that lists a lot of vegan, vegetarian cafes, bakeries and restaurants, as well as some local health food stores/organic food places. There's usually a decent selection to choose from in bigger cities. Not so much for small towns or remote villages.

You seem a little high strung about "what ifs" related to your trip. Not sure if that's your parents freaking you out, or if you are just naturally someone who has chronic anxiety, but you need to realize travel can sometimes be a little bumpy. Not everything may go exactly according to plan. Even an escorted tour with a guide and driver available to you 24/7 can hit a few snags somewhere along the road.

If you can take steps to mitigate some worries on the front end, great. For instance, you don't need to walk around with several weeks worth of cash, but if it makes you feel better, ignore what board members say about showing up with your ATM card and hitting up the first ATM at the airport. Contact your bank now and exchange a couple hundred USD for some Euro which is more than enough to get you started for a few days until you find an ATM. Sure, your bank will charge you a fee for this service and some board members will cry the bank fee is highway robbery and unnecessary, but you are paying the fee as a guarantee you can hit the ground running as soon as you land with some local currency in your pocket.

Depends. Eye contact can also be understood as an invitation for further approach.
I do NOT make eye contact with beggars - and they will usually leave me alone.
I do NOT make eye contact with groups of boisterous youngsters or with drunk people because eye contact, like with some animals, can provoke aggressive behavior.

I suspect we have different means of making eye contact with people. Of course, a lot of people comment that my work ID makes me look like a serial killer. ;-)

I shared my kebab and fries with a beggar not so long ago in front of gate du Nord
The guy had just been released from prison. He was quite nice.
On another occasion i gave half my chocolate to another beggar and another time I bought a bottle of wine at a monop to give to the guy begging in front of my hotel.
However I nearly got into a fight with a beggar inside Gare du Nord.

I’m someone with a different level of comfort with urbanites in their variety, from penthouse to pavement than the OP, who doesn’t seem to have engaged in the larger world the way perhaps you and I have. I think he should avoid beggars and other people who want to hold his time until such a time as he can distinguish between a pack of kids playing calcio and a pack of kids who are a pickpocket operation. I think you probably have a better sense of which folks on the street are not out to rob you and which are okay. I feel pretty good about my ability to eye people away, avoid obvious traps, and do it while enjoying my vacation. I don’t think MikeL is there yet. I am not sure he’s ever likely to get there. But I think he’s trying to be okay in the world, with at least the travel. We get better one by one and I’ll give anyone trying a ton of credit in this country in this time.

MikeL: As someone who suffers from anxiety and is married to someone with a similar anxiety issue, I think you may be one of us, too. These worries are really out of line with the actual risks and I'm sure that telling you so does nothing to mitigate them. I think you might look into considering whether you have an anxiety issue and whether you're okay living with it.

Mike L, try using Google Earth Street View to look at the locations of where your tours meet, your hostel location, etc. It is also ok to ask people in the cities you are visiting where things are. Most people are helpful.

The food in Europe is healthy and you should be able to find everything you want to eat. You may be pleasantly amazed.

Go into banks when they are open, where they have an ATM so that you know if there are any problems, you can ask the bank employees for help. If you use a money exchange, you will pay on average 20 cents more for EACH euro you buy in comparison to getting your euro from any bank ATM. That is excessive and I don't know anyone who is that wealthy that they wouldn't care about that. In numbers, if you exchanged 100$, you would only get 70€ rather than 90€ from an ATM. That and the need to carry 100's of $ around for several weeks. No wonder you are anxious about getting robbed or loosing your money.

I don't know how to quote a previous post, so I'll just go with this from Max's post above.

---I suspect we have different means of making eye contact with people.

As a petite woman, I cannot make eye contact with the same results as a man. Even if I give them a glare that could freeze several layers of Hades, it just doesn't translate the same as when most men do it. So I also avoid eye contact in many situations as listed above.

Having said that, the rest of my comments are addressed to the OP. I understand anxiety when traveling. My mother used to worry about EVERYTHING that could EVER go wrong when we'd drive the four hours to visit my grandparents. We took ONE real vacation during my entire childhood, and I swear that my mother got up early just to ensure a backup plan if the sun failed to rise.

It took me several years to learn to travel (in the US) with less anxiety, and then several more to learn to relax during overseas trips. It can be done, but for many of us the only way to reach that point is simply to throw yourself into the trip and go.

I agree with the above poster who suggests obtaining some cash before you leave home for your destination country. It'll cost a little more, but you'll have peace of mind about having it in hand. Then do the stuff we all do before we travel. Let your bank(s) know that you'll be spending money out of the country on your credit card(s) and using your debit card outside the US as well. Call your phone company and have an emergency plan in place so that you can call home if something happens. If you don't want to carry a backpack, don't. Split your funds and your credit cards into different pockets. Look into travel clothing with zippered/hidden pockets. And then just go.

Some bits of your trip won't go to plan. That's just travel. And I do understand how upsetting that is for you at this point, but the good news is that if you keep pushing yourself to do this then you will hopefully see that travel is not only doable, it's amazing fun. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

As far as the food goes - you can find healthy food in Europe easily. If you are on a very strict raw food no-restaurant diet you will have trouble with restaurants, by definition. A little research will help you find vegan/vegetarian restaurants in every big city - look at menus to see if these meet your needs. Regular restaurants are likely to have salads or other things you can eat, depending on your requirements and the location.

Regardless anywhere people live there will be grocery stores. These feature fruits and vegetables as well as dairy, meat, and packaged things like rice or cereal. You know, like a grocery store at home. In the center of a town or city they will be smaller than a suburban American store but more than adequate. A quick google map search for "grocery store in Rome" or wherever will turn up plenty. You'll find more that aren't listed by wandering or asking at your hostel.

If you have a hostel or Airbnb with a kitchen you don't need to eat in restaurants if you don't want to. Of course most of us consider eating the local cuisine a part of travel, but it's not strictly required.

I think you're better off eating restaurant food in Europe than the US anyway. Their food is made of actual ingredients and was actually cooked on premises. It's not like Olive Garden or TGI Friday's or another chain place where it's all frozen/microwaved prepared, processed food.

I think you're better off eating restaurant food in Europe than the US
anyway. Their food is made of actual ingredients and was actually
cooked on premises. It's not like Olive Garden or TGI Friday's or
another chain place where it's all frozen/microwaved prepared,
processed food.

The TGI Friday's in Budapest (two locations to choose from) isn't half bad when you need an American Hamburger. If you aren't in Budapest they are in 60 other countries too. Unfortunately the Olive Garden has only 4 locations in Europe.

True, the Pizza Hut in Bierges, Belgium sources its cheese locally and the Paris McDonalds only uses French speaking beef raised with no hormones or deodorant, the Starbucks in Vienna follows ancient brewing techniques brought to Vienna by the Turks in the 16th century, the Moscow KFC only fries up three footed organic Russian Chickens.

So, yes, it is possible to get good food in Europe.

I hope you are kidding. That's all I can say.

I have a rule: I won't eat "mall food." Ever. Anywhere. And when traveling, I will not eat anywhere I could eat at home in NYC.

I cleaned out a number of replies. Please keep in mind that it's best to keep your comments polite not only out of courtesy but because comments construed as rude will always cause an argument. It makes the discussions here lose focus which doesn't help anyone with why they're here. Guideline #1 is to stay on topic and #2 is to be polite. Thanks to all for your understanding as to why our rules are the way they are.

Back to the discussion...

woinparis, you will be missed. Your point of view was important because it wasn't the same stock stuff that this place suffers from ... at times. I say this despite the fact I disagreed with you more than not. Hope you change your mind.

Astorienne, Europeans eat pretty much the same c--p that American's eat. Just different signs over the door.... or often, the same signs.......

James, that is completely untrue. The EU has very strict food quality standards and has long banned artificial substances like dyes and preservatives and the use of certain pesticides in farming. I lived in Europe for a long time and I assure you, not only do they not eat as much junk food, even what they do eat is intrinsically healthier than packaged, processed foods in the US. There are reasons why their health outcomes are so much better than ours and it's not only in the way the health care system is financed.

Regarding on premise restaurant cooking, there was this post on these forums.

Just wanted to share it so that you can come to your own conclusion. I find the food in general to be tastier than here at home. If it's reheated? Oh well. But that's me. You need to decide for yourself.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/frozen-foods-reheated-is-it-common-in-european-eateries-nowadays

The food and diet and the WAY people eat in much of Europe, is completely different from the US. Perhaps we need a new thread to discuss this.

To tie that back to the topic of this thread, the question would be "what is healthy food". I do get the impression that Mike considers anything but fruit to be "unhealthy", and that is a definition of "healthy" I do not share.

Most of us could probably agree on a number of things that would be considered healthy - low sugar, low fat, avoiding pesticides and artificial ingredients, that kind of thing. But I am averse to any extremes, and I do believe that extremes tend to be very unhealthy. I have a friend who is totally convinced that she is allergic to wheat, and who also is vegan. Now take a vegan diet and subtract products containing gluten from that, what have you got left? Not much, let me tell you. A young woman living almost solely on fruit is as close to anorexia as it gets, and there sure isn't anything healthy about anorexia.

Astorienne,

You will find that I wake up when I hear the mantra. I believe no one until I test it myself.

You keep moving the mark around. First you said “Europe” then the “EU”. Okay, I’ll bite:

The United States has an average lifespan of 79.3 years.

There are 21 European countries with longer life spans and 25 with shorter life spans
The high end is Switzerland at 83.4, the low is Russia with 70.5

There are 16 EU countries with longer life spans and 10 with shorter life spans
The high is Spain at 82.8 and the low is Lithuania at 73.6

If you average all the EU countries then the age is about 79.5. Pretty remarkable. And the number would be even more remarkable if we went back to the original statement “Europe”.

So the life expectancy is about equal to that of the EU and longer than that of Europe as a whole.

"...you're better off eating restaurant food in Europe than the US anyway." How true. Exactly my view too as it applies to France, Austria and Germany, be it local cuisine or Chinese food.

Fred, you know me. I just push back on mind numbed mantras and over generalizations. I would much rather be sitting in about a dozen places in Europe eating lunch tomorrow.

I would much rather be sitting in about a dozen places in Europe
eating lunch tomorrow.

Don't overdo it. Having lunch in a dozen places on one day is NOT something that can be considered healthy. :-)

' the Paris McDonalds only uses French speaking beef raised with no hormones or deodorant'

That's my lol for the day - thanks James.

hahaha! Merci, James!

Anna, if any food will bring me to an early death, it would be the food I eat in Europe. My cardiologist hates when I go to Europe. I love it.

I think you're better off eating restaurant food in Europe than the US anyway. Their food is made of actual ingredients and was actually cooked on premises. It's not like Olive Garden or TGI Friday's or another chain place where it's all frozen/microwaved prepared, processed food.

Missed the boat on this one--that may have been true thirty years ago, but not now. Vegies come from those huge factory farms in the south of Spain, Holland, Italy--factory kitchens everywhere, restaurants microwave pre-made dishes, and body weight is climbing, climbing, climbing. Franprix if filled with packaged food. Brussels has still successfully fended off some of the chemical company lobbyists in Brussels, but factory farms and factory kitchens are all over the EU and locals eat it. See my post on the other thread about a woman in my in-laws' Burgundy village who swore by a poultry vendor at the market. She thought it was all farmyard fresh. I looked at the markings on his eggs he sold as free-range--the EU stamp indicated they were factory cage, and the brown spots looking like natural poop had been painted on. This sixty year old French woman and everyone else in line for his products couldn't tell the difference. A lot of it is in the mind.
One concession: the factory made food in France is very well done and tasty, not dependent on over-salting or shocking the taste buds.

I go to the Spar grocery like everyone else in my neighborhood and its full of prepackaged, processed frozen food just like in the US, but most not as good as in the US. But that's for the average Joe. For the foodies, environmentalists and social elites there are many good markets with locally sourced beautiful fruits and vegetables mixed in with things that can't be grown within 1000 miles and other things that are only in season in the other hemisphere. It's more about the decisions you make than the quality if the food and my impression is that some Europeans, in some countries, make better decisions on average than do Americans when it come to what they buy and eat. In those same wonderful old world markets you can see meats displayed in a manner that would have health inspectors all over them in the US. But the stuff hasn't killed me yet.

Anna, if any food will bring me to an early death, it would be the
food I eat in Europe. My cardiologist hates when I go to Europe. I
love it.

Yeah, a dozen lunches a day would make my cardiologist nervous too. :-)

factory farms and factory kitchens are all over the EU and locals eat it.

That, unfortunately, is very true. Part of the problem is that everyone wants their food to be as cheap as possible, and there is just no way you can raise tomatoes or chickens at cheapy prices without factory farms.

a woman in my in-laws' Burgundy village who swore by a poultry vendor
at the market. She thought it was all farmyard fresh. ... the brown
spots looking like natural poop had been painted on. This sixty year
old French woman and everyone else in line for his products couldn't
tell the difference.

I haven't seen any chicken poop painted on eggs, but I have certainly seen many people like that woman you describe. They will believe all kinds of things, like brown eggs are healthier than white ones, or green meadows painted on a milk carton mean that the cows are actually frolicking on green pastures.

That kind of thing is just naive, and most of all, badly informed. For many food items, there are in fact surefire criteria for knowing where they come from, but no one can spare you looking at the fine print to find out about that, like the EU stamp on the eggs.

I looked at the markings on his eggs he sold as free-range--the EU
stamp indicated they were factory cage

Well, that's just plain illegal. You may paint your milk cartons green or any color you like, but it certainly isn't legal to sell factory cage eggs as free-range. If this vendor actually put a sign up telling people these were free-range eggs, he was consciously deceiving his customers, and someone should report him to the food/ health authorities.

In regards to the OP, I've learned something over the years here and that is every person is different. I came to Germany in 1998 as a young, single soldier because I wanted to travel and see the world and that's what I did every spare moment. I could never get anyone else to go with me so I went by myself. I would go to the train station with my travel bible (Western Europe on a Shoestring, apologies to RS), pick a city, buy a ticket, and go. I'd stay a youth hostels, I'd explore during the day and then partake of the nightlife in the evenings. The other soldiers would ask me how I do it and I'd say "You can do it just as easily as I can", but they never did because they were too scared. Of what, I have no idea. In almost 20 years of traveling around Europe, there were only 2 occasions where I felt personally threatened but I used common sense and avoided trouble.

One of my best friends over the past 15 years or so is a retired special forces officer who used to be in 5th Group in Panama back in the 80's. He'd see me traveling all around and he'd say "How do you manage to go to all these places by yourself? I could never do that, I'd be too scared...", and I'd say "You were special forces for 20 years, you fought drug cartels in the jungles of Columbia and Panama, you did a combat jump into Iraq...and you're scared to take a frigging train to Munich?!" But he was. I'll never understand it but for some reason traveling in Europe by himself is terrifying to him.

The point is, travelling can be very scary for some people, not for others. It may seem irrational to us but it's a very real fear.

"You were special forces for 20 years, you fought drug cartels in the
jungles of Columbia and Panama, you did a combat jump into Iraq...and
you're scared to take a frigging train to Munich?!"

That sure seems irrational. :-)

I guess it's what we've never done before that scares us. Also, what we have been told all our lives is SO dangerous is what scares us, no matter if it's rational or not.

This special forces guy may have been told by his superiors that doing ANYTHING at all on his own is going to get him into the hands of the big bad enemy. Just like the OP has been told by his mom all his life that doing things on his own, especially far away from mom, is SO dangerous. Things like that leave a strong imprint on our personality, and it sure is difficult to get rid of that.

Taking all that into consideration, it seems quite admirable that the OP has actually mustered up the courage to free himself of some of that and actually go on a trip. Way to go, Mike!

To follow up the post up-thread, there are (from their website) no Olive Gardens in Europe. Dubai and Kuwait are the closest, and as anybody who has been to Dubai will testify, that ain't close.

By G-d, you are correct. The hits I got were non related to the US chain. But let's be honest when we make some blanket statement about EUROPE, a continent as dissimilar as Albania and Norway; we have every right to throw in the Brazilian Olive Garden because they speak Portugese or the Mexico location because they speak Spanish or the Canadian for France. Guess in Europe I will have to stick with Subway and Costa Coffee.

Just pushing back on the insanity of Europeans eat healthy farm fresh, unadulterated food and Europeans live longer than Americans as a result of that. I always push back against gross generalities; especially the really absurd ones. If the OP is going to eat in Europe, with all of his phobias, he wont be any better or any worse off than he would be in the United States. But even that statement is an absurd generality....

My first few times taking a train in Sweden and Germany with a Eurail Youth Pass in 1971 were easy, and I was a solo, never had any prior comparable experience at home, , never had any sort of fear...what ?... going the wrong direction?

If I was afraid to travel alone, I wouldn't do it. My mother has never ridden in an airplane; she said she would be petrified to walk around alone in a big city. My aunt cautioned me not to get on the wrong train; I tried reassuring her that I probably would get on the right train and even if I did get on the wrong train, I could get off at the next stop and find my way onto the right train or otherwise get myself to my hostels... she wasn't convinced but she didn't argue much. When l called my brother the evening before I went to Montreal, Canada, in September 2015, he was surprised, but he hardly reacted, because only my parents and my aunt react so melodramatically; he cautiously asked "why are you going to Montreal"... I replied, without having thought of this before, "it is the closest big city that seems foreign enough... to have a major exercise being a bold confident person doing something mom doesn't want me to do... " he replied in short clipped replies, "great answer, you should go... no, just go, I don't need to hear any more..." I was 32 at the time.

In London, England, I spent an average of the equivalent of under 14 US dollars per day on food by buying from the small grocery stories meant for the convenience of the people living in the surrounding apartment or condominium buildings.... if I got robbed the equivalent of 100 US dollars, thats a weeks worth of food... I try to think of food as just fuel... if I was going to try a cooked food recepie, I would buy it from a deli counter and eat it outside, not sit in a restaurant with table service... but this would require me temporarily not worrying whether the stuff has too much sodium... I don't want to discuss whether cooked food is healthy or not... FYI, Hostels are not called youth hostels anymore. They have all dropped the word "youth". In fact, Hosteling international, a chain of hostels, gives a discount to people over 55. One hostel in London I saw on a hotel website before my trip in 2016, still had an age limit of 40; almost every hostel has no mage limit; I am not staying in Hosteling International hostels. I suppose I could be the oldest person in my hostels, but you never know; nobody will care. I am very cheap. Of course if I had woman friend or wife I would get me and her a private hotel room.

Just wondering about two things:

1. How on earth does your mom survive in a city like Detroit?
2. Do you still live with your parents? You don't have to answer of course if you'd prefer not to. But from what you have been telling us, you seem to be very close to your parents - possibly too close? It's a good thing to be close to your parents, on one hand. But being too close (like still living with them) can become quite unhealthy after the age of, say, 20.

Mike, looks like you're on the right path. Europe is generally very safe; as long as you're not out partying you are in almost no risk. If you were going out getting drunk or using drugs (which sounds like the last thing you would do) you might have trouble, same as at home.

Find and take advantage of private lockers at hostels, or spring for private rooms in hostels, which are still quite cheap but do let you lock up your things during the day. Expect to share a bathroom, so bring flipflops. Revisit what we all wrote about bags. You can find something you are comfortable with that looks masculine enough. Try an REI or Cabela's, they carry camping equipment and backpacks of all types. Doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. Keep your money in a small pouch at the very bottom and just keep a day's spending money in a closer pocket. You can use ATMs while there, too.

As for food... eat what makes you feel safe. It's between you and your doctors, not us. There are a lot of healthy options out there, and a lot of ways of eating healthy.

So where are you planning to go next? You've done Montreal and London, right? How about Berlin? It's a approachable city, not crazy expensive, so much to see, and lots of people speak English.

Jo's idea of using Google maps street view to walk around an area is excellent. You'll get a real feel of the area and it will seem familiar to you when you get there. Youtube also has videos of cities. Some are better than others, but again, it will bring familiarity.

Good for you, expanding your horizons and breaking out of your comfort zone. It will get easier.

@ Anna and others:
I absorbed a percent of my parents amount of anxiety, and I am used to feeling like if my parents don't like something I may want to do, it must be really terrible or dangerous; but the specific things I worry about are different that what my parents worry about. I can't live with my parent's anxiety and mannerisms, so I have lived on my own for my whole adult life (like many people, and I pay for everything on my own too.) How's that for an answer?

Mike, you sound like a great guy, I admire you... : )

I think you are going to have a marvelous trip. Thank you for sharing with us. Please come back and write a Trip Report when you return.

Berlin is a fantastic and cheap place to visit. Interesting, plus lots of fun.

My daughter and I stayed in a hostel in San Francisco on the bay. I was 61 and was certainly not the oldest person there. We shared a room with 3 other women and the bathroom was down the hall. They had lockers, but we knew this and brought locks with us. Had a blast in this funky, Civil War era hostel.

Mike: As a fellow traveler, both in travel (though I have my wife for foreign travel) and someone with anxiety, bravo. You're doing this. It's gonna be great. It's gonna help move your anxiety to more irrational things and not on these things. It's gonna broaden your world and your horizons.

You're already in a select group of Americans, those with passports. That's only 46% of Americans (it was cited at 10% twelve years ago, though I'm not sure I trust that number). I suspect that a significantly lower proportion have used their passports, and even then, use them to leave the country twice and to go somewhere you couldn't get with a card (Canada. Mexico. Caribbean). So good.

We get better a day at a time and travel days are like weeks of improvement in terms of anxiety. This will be great for you and I'm looking forward to a trip report.