Traveling with an iPod

Best advice would be to keep it tucked away when not in use, and be aware of your surroundings when using it. Not sure of your normal mode of use, but if you are the type of person that always has it going while you are walking around, my opinion would be that it would not be wise to use it as you are trying to navigate an unfamiliar city whether you are on the street, in a train station, or touring a sight. Hotel room, on the train, sitting enjoying the view on a square would be OK places.

I would imagine it is the same way you would keep your wallet safe. Would you be wearing something that has an inside breast pocket or your front jeans pocket? Put it in there. I thought I would be using mine during my Parisian trip. I was ready to put mine in my front hip jacket pocket that has a velcro enclosure. It turned out I only used it on the airplane.

I would say, just don't wear it when you go out and enjoy the sounds of a different culture.

This has been discussed before. In general, you should be OK. However, the main comments were why do you want to have your iPOD on while you're being a interested tourist. A good part of the whole travel experience is what you hear along with what you see, touch and taste.

Ditto to prior posts - unless you're listening to a walking tour, save the iPod for trains, planes, and your room at night. Also, don't take the typical white-colored iPod headphones - they make it so much more obvious to a thief that you have something good to snatch. Opt for black or something less obvious.

Tegan, i remember reading a post a while back about how some like to listen to music that will enhance your travel experience while on the location, like Beethoven in Vienna for ex. But unless thats really the reason, i wouldnt suggest having it just with some tunes from Madonna on there, like others said, it is so much more of an experience to listen to the "chatter of the city". Also, if you are listening to your ipod in public places, it makes it that much easier for you to be distracted, and then for some theif to come up and for something else of yours to be taken. I would suggest for you to make a specific playlist on your ipod, so you don't have to keep bringing it in and out in public changing songs.

Thanks for all of the replies. I agree about the sounds being part of the experience. I would only use it on the plane and in the hotel/hostel at night. Thanks again! :)

Tegan, I usually travel with an IPod and so far haven't had any problems. However I do agree with previous posts on a couple of points.

First, DON'T use the standard white ear buds. They're like a "red flag" to thieves, and there have been some incidents of "snatch & grab" theft in various places in Europe (thieves deliberately looking for IPods). If they get the impression it's a cheaper brand, they might not be as interested.

Also, IMO it's not a good idea to use this in crowded public places (town squares, Subway, etc.), as it's difficult to be "situationally aware" if you're distracted by the IPod. I normally limit use to long train rides and in the Hotel room at night (with the exception of listening to Rick's audioguides of the Louvre, etc.).

Happy travels!

Unless you want to listen music in your hotel, I would not walk around with an Ipod or anything else in my years. Not because I ama fraid of beeing stolen, but I want to concentrate on sightseeings and hearing the locals.
If you still want to carry it with you, keep it inside your coat, don't expose it to the world.Like you would with your wallet or other personal belongings.

As my wife says to her students...You can bring any piece of electronic gadgetry you wish as long as you can carry it by yourself AND you don't come crying to me when you lose it.

So, if it's OK with you to possibly lose it or have it stolen then go for it!

I'd tend to agree with the other comments, i) pay attention to the culture around you and not your ipod, ii) it's a signal to thieves, etc . . .

What I do have to add is this: You may actually appear to look like more of a local on the subway if you are listening to your ipod. For example, in DC last summer all the people going to work listened to them while all the tourists were listening intently to the garble coming from the conductor and looking up at the station map.

Best to use it on the plane and for audio tours though. It's really not as big of a deal as you'd think.

I agree with above posters. I take my electronics with me including my ipod and psp but its only for on the plane or bus. I don't carry it around with me. You might miss hearing something like the church bells going off at the Roman forum or a car honking at you to get out of the way. You can take it but don't take it out on the streets. ALso if you are worried about extra safety in your room I have a portable safe from pacsafe.com thats great. Slash proof and a pain in the butt to get in and out of.

In addition to what others have said, you can get some great podcasts before you go on your trip that you can use while you're there! There are tons of them. Don't forget a way to keep your iPod charged. I don't know exactly how that works in Europe (i.e. different voltage?)....

Lots of bags made by pacsafe.com have internal pockets fpr ipods with a small opening for the headphone jack to pass through. This way the ipod is securely locked in you bag.

I use the metrosafe 200 and it has this pocket.
http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=21

A good reason to bring an iPod might be to make use of some of Rick's podcast tours or others like them available online.

I have loaded some Gregorian Chant on my iPod and plan on listening while touring Cathedrals and Chuches. I also have Rick's Italy podcasts that I will use. I don't foresee too much of a problem in these situations but I try to always be aware of my surroundings.

I agree with everyone else, unless you are on a scenic tour with no tourguide speaking then keep the iPod in your suitcase. It is nice for train rides though or even river cruises.

I just saw a pacsafe thing specifically for an IPod. I'm not sure what it costs or which model it fits, but you could check pacsafe.com