Questions about Security while Traveling

If you are staying with a host family, then leave all your important stuff at home, like credit cards, passport, etc. Just use a wallet like you would at home. Most hostels have lockers where you can lock your stuff. Just get your camera out when ready to leave the hostel for the day. Otherwise, yeah, I would take my stuff with me into the shower and bathroom. This is when I think a neck pouch is easier to deal with than a money belt. You can wear this to bed if you like. When traveling, consider using a messenger bag instead of a back pack. Easier to take to the bathroom with you and it is easier to watch your stuff inside, like cameras, etc. while out and about. Theives steal from back-packs easily, and a messenger bag is 10 times harder to get into. Have walked around cities with a friend who wore a back-pack, and found guys trying to get into it in full public view, waiting at a street crossing. Also, every time you need something out of the bag, you have to take it off to get into it. Last point, I get hit constantly, every day on public transportation and in stores by people wearing back-packs. I realize they don't mean it, but it happens a lot. Thus, one more reason in my book, not to wear them.

Hi Jo, thanks a lot for your reply. It's very helpful. About the backpack vs messenger bag, as I will bring a DSLR with me, I honestly think that backpack is the most suitable bag as it distributes the weight on both my shoulder, while messenger bag will make one shoulder more tired. By the way, I'm leaving tonight! And any other suggestions are most welcomed.

You wear a messenger bag across your body, not just on one shoulder. This distributes the weight evenly and keeps people from grabbing your bag off your shoulder. What are you going to carry around with you all day that makes your bag so heavy? Maybe think about reducing your "bring withs"? I wear one of these every day, whether here at home or traveling. I never have to worry about leaving it anywhere, as I leave it on while dining, going off to the toilet, etc. and it is comforatable. I even put groceries in it when I go shopping.

Stewart, it's never a silly question when someone is concerned about their safety, that's what these message boards are all about. I just want to pass along, learn the neighborhood you'll be living in and going to school in, always walk with a purpose, by that show confidence and know where you're going. Everyone on these message boards at one time or another was a first time traveler with concerns about the unknown or what to expect. Once you stay in a hostel you'll see how safe it can be if you use common sense and use the security devices available to you. One thing I do is I have a sleeping bag I place my money belt or wallet in the bottom down by my feet.

Jo, thanks for your explanation. I'll have to see whether I can get one cheaply once in Nice. Barry, thanks for understanding my concerns and thanks a lot for the advices. I don't have any prior experience with staying at hostels, therefore I ask about it here so that I know what to expect. I won't bring sleeping bag with me so I guess I will wear the money belt while sleeping to be safe.

1. Think of it more as a safety deposit box than a wallet. You use it to store money you will need tomorrow or next week. Money you will be spending today goes in your wallet. You can just leave your valuables in the homestay. 2. I wear mine under my pants. You should wear yours were you feel it is most comfortable and doesn't show. Note about comfort: it should be light. I had a friend complain hers was super uncomfortable. An inventory of it explained why, she had $5 in small coins (along with the rest of her US bills). Coins from back home go in a zip lock bag and in your luggage. If you lose it, big whoopee. Money belt is to protect large money, passport, and credit cards not loose change. 3-5. If I was going to stay in multiple hostels without lockers I would invest in something from pacsafe.com. Either a large mesh to guard the entire bag or one of their small safes to lock up valuables at night and in the bathroom, etc. 6. Are you talking about a large bag with all your clothes or just a small day bag? If you are alone small bag goes with you. Large bag I would have locked to the luggage rack. However, odds are instead of even bring the small bag consider this..... I am guessing that in your class there will be a dozen or more other people just like you. Visiting France for the first time, with a desire not to just to sit in class and then head home in the afternoon but to see the sights in the afternoons and on weekends. Unless you are really into traveling solo, odds are you are gonna be traveling with 3 or 4 others. So when you go to the toilet on the train you will simply have one of them watch your bag and you will watch theirs. For that reason you may wish to avoid making any non-refundable reservation before you get to France and see what the others want to do and when. If you choose to go with a backpack instead of message bag use a luggage lock on it.