Moneybelt or Hotel Safe

Jon, I hate money belts with a passion and have never used them. I do, however, use hotel safes with frequency. Why wear a sweaty money belt when a hotel safe does the same thing?
I have carried my normal purse all over Europe and the U.S., and I have never been robbed. Not to say it could never happen, but to me, a sense of awareness is better than any money belt.

We carry our important stuff around with us, and have never used a hotel safe. I really think that some of the comments are overblown when it comes to personal security. We have never been hassled, burgled, jostled, bumped, picked, or anything else. It might be the presence we project. My wife had a cross-body bag and carries her important things in that in a opera wallet. I carry mine in the inside zippered pocket of my Royal Robbins Global Traveler pants in a Rogue wallet. My passport goes in that pocket too. If we are carrying a lot of cash we each have used a neck wallet, or I use a hidden pocket. Do what you think you need to do to feel safe. You will figure out what's best for you.

I have never used a hotel safe, and frankly don't remember if any place we have stayed in Europe even had one. We usually stay in apartments or B&B's. Many people have never had anything stolen from them. Good for them. I am vigilant and aware at all times, but it happened to me. We were on a VERY crowded RER train in Paris. We were packed in like sardines. I was standing on my toes because there wasn't enough room for my feet to be flat on the ground. You get the idea. My crossbody purse was 'safely' in front of me. I was nose to nose with another passenger and couldn't even see my purse. When a bunch of passengers got off the train I realized my purse had been unzipped and my wallet was missing. I was lucky that my passport was in another location. We were on our way to the airport to return home, so it didn't ruin my trip, but if it had happened earlier it would have been a big problem. As it was, my first day home I spent my day at DMV, the bank, etc. to replace those things I lost. I also had to file a police report because my debit card had $1200 of charges from the person who took my wallet. Since then I wear a money belt (neck wallet hanging over one shoulder with the wallet under my arm) or have my husband carry my stuff in his. I like having my important things with me in case something happens. What if your hotel burned down? Not likely, but it could happen. I've also heard of hotel safes being accessed by staff. There was something on the news awhile back about hotel safes having a code that allows anyone to get into it. Don't be too paranoid, but do be careful. Have a great trip!!

Monte, you've never been jostled or bumped? Haven't you ever taken public transportation in a big city? It is pretty hard not to be jostled. I'm not saying the "jostlers" are pickpockets ... just that it is pretty common to be packed like sardines on the London underground or Paris metro or Rome buses. I often skip the moneybelt but I always do things to reduce my risk of losing everything and sometimes this means using the hotel safe. I have two credit cards and two ATM cards. I often will leave the backup set in the hotel safe and keep one of each in an interior pocket of my purse. I figure if my purse goes missing, I have something to fall back on. I have had my wallet stolen coming out of the tube in London and I don't think it had anything to do with the presence I projected. I lived there and knew my way around; however, I was coming out of the very crowded Notting Hill Gate station on a Saturday morning (market day) and had my purse dangling behind me (my mistake). Because I lived there, it was not a big deal as I went home to my flat where I had food in the fridge, a phone to call the card companies, some extra cash, etc. A lot of what you do depends on the level of risk that you want to accept. On my vacation, I often choose to mitigate the risk by diversifying.

I use the hotel safe. Having worked in the hotel industry, I can vouch that the only person who is going to be able to access the safe is the manager. Considering there are multiple brands and models of safes, how could there just be one code to get into them? This is a fake rumor. Most of them open with special keys, but this certainly is not a univeral feature on hotel safes around the world. Have to wonder about those hear-say rumors. Imagine this happening. This is 2012, most hotels are listed on Trip Advisor just waiting for your review, good or bad. In all of my many years on that website, not once can I recall that people reported items stolen from a hotel safe. This would ruin the reputation and business of any hotel where this happened. Anyway, this subject gets discussed on the Helpline on almost a weekly basis, and no one ever agrees. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter, as there is no wrong or right way, so do what you are comfortable doing. Hotel safe, money belt, neck pouch, or a secure messenger bag. (not a back-pack)

And we never use the hotel safe as our passports we stolen from one in 2004 in Canada. We go the money belt route and feel better that way. Take the precautions you can and then have a good time.

Thanks folks, just wanted to get some extra opinions on the subject.

My 2 cents: Early morning departure, excitement, so many details to remember...someone in our group forgot to check their hotel safe before checkout. Oh boy... So when I do use the hotel safe now, I leave a note in my shoes to remind me to check. Have a wonderful trip!

I have always used a money belt. I like to keep my passport, license, debit card, credit card, and big money in the money belt and keep a small amount of money (20-50 euros) in my pocket. I have put some things in the looking safe, when we had one in the room. But whenever I did, it seems I alwyas need to have my passport or whatever with me and here it was back at the hotel. Murphy's law I guess. When I am here at home or traveling in the united states, I always have my credit cards, drivers license, health insurance card, etc.. on me. So I do the same in Europe--I just keep it in my money belt. It's funny that I carry all on my critical info in my wallet, as many guys do, and never give it a thought. But when I go to Europe, I use a money belt--things are probably more secure in the money belt than in the wallet I use on a daily basis.

I think it depends on a person's comfort level. For some, having important stuff in their money belts allows them relax and enjoy the trip better, so what's the harm? Others feel a hotel safe is safe enough. I tend not to frequent hotels with safes, though. Last summer in Paris, we stayed in a garret in a building owned by a family friend of my husband's, and since there was no safe, I opted for a neck pouch and felt very good about it. I use a crossbody bag too, but my main fear there is leaving it behind in a restaurant or something. Especially after a glass or three of wine :P My husband never travels with a money belt or the like (and he's been around the world), but since we're about to go to the Olympics and fear that the Olympic Park with be pickpocket central, he might start!

Laura, I've never been to London or Paris, or Rome, and probably will never be. Do they really jostle people there?

I always use the hotel safe, and only wear a money belt when travelling. Christine, I could be dead drunk and not forget my purse,, I have carried one every day of my life for last 35 years and it would be like losing a limb! I agree if one is not accustomed to purse they could forget it though,, BUT,, a purse should be impossible to forget since it should be in your lap or have the strap wrapped firmly around your legs,, I never, ever would leave a purse on the back of a chair or loose on the floor or table in Europe, that is a incident waiting to happen!

Monte, assuming that you are serious, watch the first three minutes of this BBC video on the London Underground. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JowTyzuosFw You'll definitely see some serious bumps and jostles.

I'm very seldom serious. Life's too short.

Pat, since I live in New York I don't worry about my purse so much. I tuck it out of reach, but I wouldn't keep it on my lap in a restaurant in Paris anymore than I would do that here. That's just me, thoughlike I said, everyone''s comfort level is different. If my valuables are in my neck pouch, I don't need to worry about the purse as much. (PS - I lived in Bronx for years and NEVER had anything stolen from me, so I am pretty savvy. But I have been known to leave my purse on the hook on a bathroom stall door, for instance. I am just forgetful that way.)

My crossbody purse does not leave my body except in our hotel, B&B or wherever we are staying. It is on me at all other times, so there is no way I can forget it.

Everyone is different. There is just no way I could keep a bag on my body through a whole meal, especially in a nice restaurant where I am trying to relax. I don't usually forget it! But the whole point of the pouch is that if I lose the purse, it's not a disaster because the really important stuff is in there. But if having the bag on you at all times is what makes you comfortable, then go for it. I would never advocate my way over anyone else'smy point was rather that would should all do what we need to in order to ensure our peace of mind, and for everyone, the level of security needed is a bit different.

I think that as long as you use it as it is intended to be used, some kind of "deep storage" (money belt, neck pouch, hidden pocket, etc) is the safest way to protect your valuables. I like having my valuables on my body at all time and knowing that they are secure. The only time I ever had any problem was the only time I have stayed somewhere with a room safe. I still took my stuff with me during the day, but I thought it might be nice to keep it in the safe while I slept. I don't know if there was a power glitch during the night, or what, but the next morning the safe wouldn't open. The manager tried his master code (there is one), but it didn't work either. He finally had to get a special screwdriver, which might be difficult, but not impossible, for a thief to have, and take the safe apart to get it open. As a result, I missed my train and had to redo my plans for the day. I stay in a lot of "simple" places, family run Pensionen and Privatzimmer, and I don't think any of them have had safes. (Of course, I could just give the owner my stuff for safekeeping while I am out.) The places I stay in run about €30/night. I think if I stayed in places with safes, I'd probably spend as much extra on room cost as I could lose if I just hid stuff in my suitcase.

christina,, I was thinking more of lunches in cafes etc, but I am careful everywhere with my bag,, I have never been pickpocketed in the States, but I have had two attempts in Europe( both times I foiled them!)... Europe is not like North America.. and I have travelled a fair amount in Europe, sometimes solo, when losing a purse is a catastrophie as there is no travel partners back up credit card or cash to rely on.
I agree one must do what they are most comfortable with,, and no one way is the only way. Lee, the only room you will get in Paris for 30 euros a night will be a shared dorm in a hostel, and I am so not going there! lol

If you feel better wearing your money belts, then go ahead and wear them. It doesn't really matter what other travelers opinions are if you or your spouse are uncomfortable at the thought of leaving important items in your hotel room safe. For the purposes of your poll, I feel perfectly fine leaving the majority of my valuables in a hotel safe or a hostel locker when they are available. And when they aren't available, I've found a few creative places to stash some valuables that apparently work just fine as I lived out of a hotel for work for a whole month which had no safe in the room and nothing was taken. I carry a purse and distribute a day's cash and a credit card in different places on me (not just in the purse), but I also don't walk down the street with the purse wide open dangling off my shoulder or hanging on the back of a chair at a restaurant. Even if I did lose the money, a day's spending cash is not going to stop my trip and I always have a 2nd credit card on a different account stashed back at the hotel in the event something happened to the primary card and i had to call to report it lost or stolen. Except for travel days, I don't carry my passport on me in Europe. Some people will say you must have it on you at all times in case you are stopped and asked. But in all the trips I've made to Europe, no one has ever asked me to produce the passport unless there is a plane, train, long haul bus or a hotel check-in involved.

I have found most safes in rooms are bolted down and can be opened only by the number code you use to lock it. But I did find a hotel where the safe was opened by using all zeroes. I found another that wasn't bolted down. Just check these points and you can be fairly sure it will remain locked and secure. Also, just put a "Do Not Disturb" tag on your door. It's just another precaution. It helps keep out the hotel staff. I also sewed in some velcro into the left front pocker of the pants I wore. That worked great along with a money belt. I've switched to the one that attaches to the pants belt rather than the self-belted one. Its much easier to access if you really need to get at it quickly and it stays drier since there's another layer of clothing between it and your body. Just stay alert and be cautious. I've never had a problem in over 30 years of travel.

Just returned from two weeks in Vienna and Rome and never carried a money belt, neck pouch or hidden wallet. When in transit between cities and airports, I kept the passport, money cards and big bills in a zippered front shirt pocket. I kept my very thin wallet with a little cash in a deep front pants pocket. We otherwise used the room safes.
This is much easier to do during colder months as you would have at least a sweater, and perhaps also a jacket over the front shirt pocket. I used to use a neck pouch and HATED it!