Money Belts & Neck Wallets overkill?

Chris, the huge difference between my travel within the US and overseas is that I need a passport to stay at hotels and to fly home from Europe. And legally we’re supposed to be carrying our passport. It’s a matter of my unwillingness to mess up a trip with needing to go to one of the few cities in Italy where I can obtain a replacement passport when I tend to be in smaller cities in regions where it would be very inconvenient.

And traveling solo, it’s a huge peace of mind that I don’t need to worry about being in a crowd, also.

Side note: I never use hotel safes. They’re very easy to open with lots of YouTube illustrations.

It’s a big inconvenience to get back to the US if you lose your passport.

And legally we’re supposed to be carrying our passport.

That’s not true in the UK.

Actually in 60 countries I have visited I have never carried my passport around with me. Perhaps I am unique.

I use a moneybelt and don't plan to retire it anytime soon.

Let's put the passport issue aside.

If I lose my wallet, there goes my drivers license, credit cards, Medicare cards, etc.

Take credit cards. I can report mine stolen at home and they will send a replacement quickly. Overseas and I lose the card, they won't send one to my hotel.

Drivers License. I lose it overseas, I can't just go to the DMV and get a new one. And when I get home, how do I get to the DMV without a drivers license?

The real issue is that losing wallet items overseas is a much bigger hassle than losing it at home.

I could have written Jean's post! I always use a Stashbandz money belt and never use the hotel safe.
My sister-in-law lost her passport on our trip to Italy in 2019. Because of the kindness of others it did not turn out to be a disaster, but we wasted a sightseeing day fixing the problem.

My opinion is tourists walk, talk, act different than locals which makes them a target for pickpockets.

As another solo traveler, Jean said it well.

We have visited virtually all the countries in Europe, except Finland, a few former Yugoslav states and a couple of former Soviet Republics.
Northern Europe, especially Scandinavia is much safer than places like BARCELONIA (especially), Rome, Paris and Madrid.
No way will I not wear a neck wallet of money belt in a place like Barcelona.

We do mostly group tours these days and we have found that security is better for us, since in risky places, the tour usually provides a security person to help protest us from pickpocketing.

I live in coastal Georgia where pickpocketing is extremely rare, but in a place like NYC, Boston or DC, I either leave my important stuff in a safe place or wear a neck wallet.

the huge difference between my travel within the US and overseas is that I need a passport to stay at hotels and to fly home from Europe.

So do Europeans. A passport or their ID card if they are EU and in the EU, but Europe is larger than the EU.

And legally we’re supposed to be carrying our passport.

Ditto for many Europeans depending on where they are from and where they are visiting.

And traveling solo, it’s a huge peace of mind that I don’t need to worry about being in a crowd.

Yes, personal peace of mind. 100%. If it helps make for a more comfortable holiday, do it.

For me the biggest difference is that European have a support network close by and they have a more complete understanding the consequences when things go wrong. So, they are more comfortable as they are.

And I am not a big fan of room safes. If you ever do lock something in the safe and have forgotten the code, try asking the cleaning ladies. Often they know a code that will open it because cleaning out what the guest forgot to take can be part of their job. Gee, that makes me feel better.

Do I use a neck wallet or a money belt. No. But I sure do understand those that do. Around my home city I have a tendency to leave the phone on the corner of my table and carry it in my back pocket. But I know the crime rate with certainty and I have a support network and I know how to replace things. Do I carry my passport when I travel outside of my home country in Europe. Yes, many countries if not most that I visit require it. Thinking I am above the law just isn’t an option for me. Where? Either a crossbody bag or front pocket of my pants. When flying I wear cargo pants with zippered pockets. In Paris and Barcelona I … well, I don’t go. Not worth the hassle.

My Passport will always be next to my skin!
Regarding losing credit cards, if you have the lost card in your Apple Wallet, they can reissue you a replacement card directly to your Apple Wallet. Just don't lose your phone.......

You don't need them until you needed them - like seatbelts.

I think neck wallets and similar security-oriented belts, bags, jackets, trousers etc. are great for those who find them to be a greater comfort than annoyance. And I wonder why we have ongoing colloquies about them.

I adopted an over-the-shoulder bag - roughly 10"x6" - a man-purse. It's great - holds all the credit cards, passports, has security clips, and I keep the bag under the arm in busy situations. I've stopped wearing the money-belt.

I got to thinking about how Europeans travel all around Europe. I may be wrong, but I don't think they use money belts really at all.

What source of information led you to that conclusion?

I can confirm that everyone I have ever travelled with has never used a money belt. A small sample but still….

Sweeping generalisation klaxon, but I think ‘Europeans’ are more relaxed about international travel because they do so much more of it from a younger age, going on holiday, school trips etc. It’s not such a big thing.
I do understand why American travellers may be more ( overly?) worried if they have less experience.

I’m not sure why people seem to think Americans are different in needing a passport to travel home and therefore must have it strapped around their waist. People in Europe need passports to travel home too :-)

I get the impression that the obsession with money belts might be a bit of a Rick Steves ‘thing’. What Rick says is the gospel. It would be interesting to know if other American travellers who don’t follow Rick are as keen on money belts.

Obviously everyone should travel how they wish, there aren’t too many important rights and wrongs but I do think the worries around this issue are disproportionate and to an extent self fulfilling.

I'd never heard of such things before I started frequenting this forum. I've been around various European cities since my teens and never considered using these sort of gadgets. Just a modicum of savvy keeps you safe from being a victim of crime I've found.

"What source of information led you to that conclusion?"

Personal conversations with Sicilians and reading German language posts to Reddit about travel. Reading this forum

The “overkill” lies in the number of times this issue has been discussed in this forum. I wonder if there is any chance the webmaster would block the topic? It is the same responses every time it come up.

And now especially with contactless payment via phone, are people retiring their money belts?

I don't use a money belt for "security" (worry of pickpockets) reasons. I use one because it is the best method to ensure I am not forgetting or losing my passport (and any big bills or back up CCs). With a money belt, our passports cannot be left behind, can't be dropped, can't be misplaced, can't be stolen, etc..

I do not , however, wear one (nor carry the passports) once we've arrived at our hotel and I can safely leave it (belt, passport, extra cash, etc) there. In day to day travel, I have carry a couple of my credit cards and some cash. Plus my phone. Everything else is back at the hotel.

I think ‘Europeans’ are more relaxed about international travel because they do so much more of it from a younger age, going on holiday, school trips etc. It’s not such a big thing.

Going on an 'international' trip for Europeans requires must less time/distance/effort. because a foreign country isn't very far away.

Seattle to Phoenix is ~1400 miles

London to Rome is ~1200 miles.

As for money belts, US travelers probably do stand out more than a German visiting Austria, making them an easier more obvious target .

... in risky places, the tour usually provides a security person to help protest us from pickpocketing.

Just curious, what tour company offers this?

At home I keep cash and cards in my wallet, in my front pocket. When I'm traveling I do the same. I do not use a moneybelt or similar, because it's (in my opinion) unnecessary. I really don't think tourists stand out - I've certainly never felt that as an Australian.

If I'm in a country where it's a legal requirement to carry my passport, I keep this in an inner zip pocket of my jacket (if it's cold) or in my front trousers pocket. Otherwise I leave it at the hotel, where I also leave a couple of backup credit cards.

But if it gives you peace of mind, then that's what's important when you're on holiday, right?

TC,
We have taken six Gate 1 Travel tours, one in the Western USA (no security for that one); Egypt; Ireland (no security person); India and Nepal; Danube Cruise and Northern Spain and Southern France.
We had security on the Egypt, India and Nepal; and Northern Spain and Southern France.

The Northern Spain and Southern France tour started in Barcelona and it had the most security of all them. We had two security men as well as the guide in Barcelona and Madrid.

Joe32F I wasn’t being critical of Americans when I said Europeans were more relaxed because they travel younger and of course I am aware of the relative distances involved. It was just an attempt at an explanation about why most Europeans are a lot less nervous than many Americans.

I am genuinely bemused about why extra security was required for a tour in northern Spain and Southern France. What on earth did they do?

It would be interesting to know if other American travellers who don’t follow Rick are as keen on money belts.

This was an interesting thought. I realized I travel every so often with women who were traveling before me (although less frequently) and maybe know who Rick is - and they don’t use one. They do use crossbody bags and caution, but no neck wallets or money belts. I haven’t used one in quite some time, although I did for my first few European trips.

I've been traveling internationally for 50 years. I never used a money belt until I stumbled onto Rick Steves in the '90's. There was so much talk about money belts that I tried them...or a leg wallet. It was OK and on my first totally solo international trip in the 2015 I used one in transit. I stopped. For me, I find it unnecessary and just one more thing to keep track of. I use a small secure purse and an interior pocket on my blazer. Well, it is a RS neck pouch sewn into my blazer. LOL So maybe I do use one? But that is for my transport days. Otherwise, I just use my small purse and I do carry my Passport with me, as well as a credit card and my mobile. I want to be able to leave the country if I have to do so without returning to my hotel room. Weird, I know, but that's me. If money belts make you feel more secure, then wear them. Do whatever makes you feel safe so that you will travel. For me, I just find them more confusing.

I think comparing Americans traveling to Europe vs Europeans traveling around Europe is like apples and oranges. What is an equivalent, IMO, is an American traveling around the US. I don't think there are American wearing a money belt if they live in New England and are heading to Arizona, just like someone from Denmark wouldn't wear one when heading to Croatia. Just my 2 cents.

I live here and I wear a money belt when I travel to cities like Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, etc. as well as when I walk the Camino. Why wouldn't I? You can't even feel it. Better safe than sorry.
Every day life in Germany? No, a money belt is not needed, though I do wear a cross body messenger bag or a hip pack, worn cross body. (no one wears them around their waist)

No, you are not required to carry your passport in Germany. Makes your life easier if you have it on you and they don't have to go to your hotel with you, but you are not legally required to have it on your person.

The “overkill” lies in the number of times this issue has been discussed in this forum. I wonder if there is any chance the webmaster would block the topic? It is the same responses every time it come up.

@Steve - Agreed !! This topic has been hammered to death, with some of the same posters repeating their views over and over and over again (ahem, speaking of "obsession"). Those who see the good in moneybelts will wear one, those who don't, won't. If an unsuspecting new poster asks about this, any one of the dozens of links on the topic should give them all the pros and cons to consider.

Yes…it does seem to be the most talked about topic here.
Solo female traveller here.
I wear an underclothing money belt while traveling….everywhere but in the UK, as I am at friends or family homes there, not hotels or rental apartments.
It really would be a monumental pain to replace stolen cards and passport while traveling 9,000 kms from home.
I feel more secure and don’t worry when I’m out and about.
If a pickpocket wants my crossbody bag with lip balm, bandaids and a few wet wipes,they are welcome to it.
I’ll have my really important stuff in my “deep storage”.

Well if you want to block this topic then please also block carry on versus checked, cash or no cash, carry a passport or don’t…etc etc etc. There are lots of topics with repetition…easy enough to skip the topic if it is irrelevant to you.

For good or ill, the RS forum consists for most of the 25 posts on the first page. I doubt that the search function is used much. I have trouble finding it. So, "repetitive topics" are only such for those who live to post on the RS forum. For most non-crazy people, if they don't see it right away, they post about it.

I have lived and traveled overseas for 25 years, in Europe and Africa. I have never had a money belt. I never carry my passport with me - I leave it in my accommodation. Never been mugged. US Passports aren't really that interesting to folks anymore. I don't ever use cash. I know that if something were to happen to my passport (I am much more likely to misplace it), then I can easily go to the nearest Embassy and have an emergency passport the same day. If I was in a situation that required me to show my ID to the authorities, then I would make use of the rule that I have a reasonable amount of time to show my ID, with the exception of Italy where it is required to carry your passport.

A seatbelt saves your life. Carrying a moneybelt won't save my life. It is overkill and North Americans are often easy targets, in my opinion.

If you lose a US passport and go to get a replacement, it is more than likely it will be a temporary passport and will not be accepted everywhere. This includes several countries in Europe.

I also bellieve a European residency card is tied to your US passport. A temporary passport will not be registed with your residency country.

This and many other topics do come up from time-to-time. However, individuals new to this forum may find the information/comments helpful. I would suggest if you don't need or care to read the information in a particular thread you skip the thread. Seems it would save you some aggravation. As for me, I enjoy reading others perspectives. Oh, and I sometimes us ea money belt and sometimes I don't. Last trip I use a Scott-E-Vest which is another thread that's be repeated in the past.

Happy and safe travels everyone.

Traveler Girl

Never leave home without your Tilley, zip off pants, money belt and passport holder.
In over 40 years of global travel, I never felt a need for a neck wallet or money belt. 90% of my travel was solo. On foreign trips, I almost always carry my passport in a front pocket. I carry my wallet in a back pocket. I have survived the train stations in China, India, wandered aimlessly in Naples, Detroit and Washington, I have never had my pocket picked, and except for ending up in the wrong neighborhoods from time to time, never worried about being robbed.
I do use hotel room safes, but only when I am in the room.
Do as you please and do what you feel is necessary.