We are heading to Firenze and Venice in a bit. I typically like to travel light. (I tend to put things down when looking at something in a shop, so I don't like to carry too much.)
Can my husband and I get away with him having a small day bag and me not carrying anything? (ei no purse or bag for me)
I don't see why not. When we are out and about I carry a purse and DH carries nothing.
Why not??? No rule that says everyone has to a bag. We have done it for years with just one small shoulder bag.
Sure. The one thought is what if you decide to split up for a couple of hours - he goes to a museum, you to a church or whatever. You will want some way to carry a small bit of money and id, phone, any other bare necessities. Do you wear clothes with pockets? Can your stuff be in a tiny bag inside the day bag? Otherwise you're tied to him to buy anything, and you're stuck together. One of you wants to linger in a store then you both do - the less interested person can't go grab a coffee without figuring out how to carry money.
I've been looking at the antitheft bags, but I don't know if I want to buy a bag and a purse, or just a bag...
I have a lightweight Eddie Bauer travel jacket with a zippered pocket on the inside which is large enough to hold money, credit cards, etc. ... even my I-phone. So everything is handy and secure.
If the temperature gets up to 80 F or so, I would not want to be without a way to carry a water bottle in addition to the other items mentioned above. And I always have a paper map with me.
I've been looking at the antitheft bags,......
Skip it, anti-theft bags are over rated, not needed, are heavy and expensive. Invest $10 in a good money belt and wear it.
I brought an antitheft bag for my first trip and it really is overkill. You dont need to buy one. Just get a small cross body bag to put your necessities like reading glasses, chapstick/lipstick, hand sanitizer, a few Euro + change, maps, cellphone, etc. Credit/debit cards/ cash/passport should go in a neck pouch or money belt. Carry your own bag in the event you get separated from your husband.
Anti-theft bags aren't heavy. They might, however, be overkill for what you need. What I like about them is the locking zippers making for frustrated pickpockets.
I bought an anti-theft bag once, I felt like it got a lot of attention. I prefer a simple messenger bag with a closing flap.
You could get by with just money belts and and few Euros for your next gelato in a pocket. I usually only carry my cross body purse if we're riding a Metro or have a city pass type card where it's handy to pull out the card several times a day. The other reason is if we really needed a map for the next few hours.
Otherwise, our hotels are always very central, so we stop in during the day for a quick break. We don't carry water, etc. because it's in our hotel room.
