How do you where a money belt?

Mary, there's a first time for everything. It's better to ask questions here than to not ask questions and have problems or difficulties! Your money belt should be hidden under your clothes....I put only the amount of money that I can "afford" to lose in a small shoulder bag (a Bagallini) along with a copy of my passport; I certainly don't want to lose either of those but I might need quick and easy access--knock on wood...I have never, ever in my 53 years of travel (I was 3 when I first left the US,) had a problem. I have had to access my money belt in public on occasion but I often wear a light-weight raincoat and I turn away from the public while accessing it. I prefer to go to a restroom or fitting room.

So, I plan my day carefully if I'm wearing a dress although I usually wear dress pants but that's just me.
I never bother with a handbag anymore although I certainly used one once I became a teenager when I lived in Switzerland and West or East Africa w/o any problems.

Definitely not a dumb question if you've never been told. You wear a money belt under your clothes. Wearing it over your clothes defeats the purpose of hiding the money belt. For a man, you wear it around your waist, a little below the waist line of your pants. When I wear a shirt that should be tucked in, I put the shirt over the money belt, so the sequence is skin, money belt, shirt, pants. For a woman with a dress, a neck pouch would probably work better. That is assuming the dress's neckline doesn't show too much skin, such that the strings of the neck pouch show. A purse is about as safe as a man's wallet and about as prone to theft. You should carry only a day's worth of cash in there and anything else that you can live without if it's stolen.

From a comfort standpoint - my wife and I prefer the neck purses instead of the moneybelt. I quit carrying a wallet altogether. I just have a hundred euros or so in my deep front pocket and I have no worries . . .Have fun on your trip!

I just want to add that a money belt is not supposed to be accessed throughout the day. It's not supposed to be accessed easily - that's the whole point of it. If you can access it easily, so can a thief.

Mary, as you've already seen, you wear the money belt under clothing, and you don't plan to access it frequently. If you wear dresses a lot, you can use a neck security bag, but I've found that these chafe a lot, particularly in hot climates like Italy. If you are wearing a skirt or pants, I've found it less obvious to wear the money belt under my clothing at the small of my back rather than across my stomach.

Mary, I always tell my students that the smart ones ask the questions! I wear my money belt in back as well. It lays flatter there and is more comfy (and doesn't add to my pooch in front)! I keep it thin by only putting my CC, passport, and my ever important emergency info and stash cash in it. I never wear a dress- skirts are much more practical for me(looser fitting, breezier). I do carry a purse. Here's why... I like to carry my camera in a bag that doesn't scream "tourist carrying camera, come get it". I also like to stow my water bottle, snack/lunch, wrap, etc. in it. I put my sweater/scarf on top so that what's in my bag isn't easily seen. I always carry my purse tightly under my arm, or switch it to the front when I'm in heavy traffic (subways, touristy sites, etc.) As others have related, I also never carry too much cash- I just carry what I think I'll need for the day. I keep the cash in an inner zippered pocket in the purse.

Mary, I have often found money belts around the waist or neck become uncomfortable as the day goes on, especially if it is hot or humid or if you are doing a great deal of walking. Since I rarely access the items put in a moneybelt during the day, I have found a solution that is more comfortable for me. I made a small "pocket" or pouch out of lightweight washable silk, just the size of my passport and important items, with small snaps to close it. I use safety pins to pin it inside my clothing where it is hidden but comfortable. This eliminates the bulk and discomfort of straps or belts and it doesn't matter what type of garment you are wearing. I keep a small amount of cash handy as previous posters have stated.

A related question based on the responses so far: if you're not supposed to access the money belt regularly, do you also carry cash elsewhere for daily purchases? For example, if you want to pay your restaurant bill, do you pull your money belt out at the table and acess your credit card/cash from there? Or if you're in line at a grocery store, etc? Thanks!

It seems the vast majority of people here (in other posts on this wall, etc.) have said that they keep one credit card and a small amount of cash for the day in a front pocket or zipped up in their purse or something like that. At least if you lose that, you just lose some cash and a credit card that you can easily cancel. Money belt is for the irreplaceable items like passport, plane/train tickets etc. If you find you're running out of cash during the day you can always grab some more when you're using the restroom or back in the hotel for a siesta :)

lost my passport using the money belt..forgot to zip it after the borghese gallery that wanted it while holding my camera..no camera allowed..day 2 in rome..learned about the US embassey..and to not bother asking local police for directions.interesting expierence.
i now am using the other kind that i bought for backup: the one you wear around your neck...you KNOW you have it..it just feels more secure..
:§
jim

We're planning our first trip to Italy in June. I actually thought the hotel takes your passport for the length of your stay? No? Do we really have to carry it around all day? what about in-room safes?

Small family run hotels usually will hold your passport during your stay so you don't sneak out without paying your bill. At larger chain type hotels, they don't keep your passport. If the room has an in-room safe I store my passport and other valuables in it. Otherwise, everything goes into the money belt when I'm out sightseeing for the day.

They sell money "belts" that are worn around your leg - stretchy material goes around your calf and has a pocket for valuables. Personally, I wear a money belt across the flat of my back for passport, airline tickets, extra cash (put in plastic sleeve). I use a small wallet for daily amounts of cash, and clip it inside a small purse or day bag.

Re: passports at Italy hotels. Hotels are required to keep a record (for the local police) of who is staying in their hotel. My experience was they would keep your passport for a few hours after check in - just ask for it on your way out (you also leave your room key behind, another topic!). Also, many internet cafes were required to identfy you - I often used my US drivers license for this purpose, it seemed to satisfy them. I overheard a woman arguing with a museum employee asking for collateral to rent an audio guide. She refused to leave her passport, and instead left her American Express Card (my advice: leave the passport)

I don't wear a money belt. I did for my first couple of o/s trips years ago and just found it to be a pain. Also my passport ended up with a permanent curve. I do 2 - 3 trips to Europe a year and just carry my handbag(purse) with me. Inside I will have some cash and one credit card. I leave my other cards and passport locked in the room safe. If I intend to go to an internet cafe I will take my passport to use as id. Having read the other posts I think I will try my license instead next time. Hotels take your passport when you check in so they can do a police check. Some will keep them for the whole of your stay. If you are not comfortable with that ask for it back after a few hours. Touch wood I have never had a problem with pick pockets in all my travels.

I prefer the neck pouch wering it bayonet style under my clothing.

I was glad to find this discussion. I have just purchased a money belt - but have never carried one before. I am looking for advice on changing money. From reading Rick Steve's money advice - sounds like no one uses travellers checks any more. Is the recommendation now to use a debit card at an ATM machine - and are there ATM machines very easy to find in Italy? I have actually never used an ATM machine before - so this will all be new for me. I have always changed money at the airport in the past. Thank you for any advice.

Gail, Friendswood, Texas

Yes Gay, the typical method to get money is now ATM. And yes, they're all over everyplace in Europe so no worries about finding one. Check with your bank about what the fees might be and let them know you're going overseas and when you will be in what country so they don't block withdrawals and you should be fine. Maybe you should go to your local bank and test the ATM to get a little money just to get the feel of how it works so you're not uncomfortable in Europe :) As for the other ATM issues, there are several topics here in the Helpline, just look around and you'll find more answers to your questions!

I too don't use a money belt any longer. My husband does as wallets are more prone to pick pockets. I carry a very small "purse" not much more than a wallet on a strap. I wear it criss-crossed over my body and keep it in front of me. I also carry a back pack for camera gear.

Knock on that wood - We've been safe so far.

Also re; the passport part of this thread - the hotels will generally keep your passport for 24 hours or over night. They all have safes in the office if not in the room. Make use of those safes.

My wife wears her money belt with the container part in the rear on the small of her back. She keeps it tucked into the top of her underwear and between that and an opaque shirt it is never visible and nobody can get to it without her knowledge.

Keep EVERYTHING of value in it--extra money, plane ticket, passport, driver's license, extra charge cards, ATM cards--everything you do not need for the day. Keep just one day's spending money and one credit card in a zippered shirt/front pants pocket (shirt pocket is definitely best) and operate out of that pocket for the day. Do not access the money belt in public!! If you must access it while out and about, do so in a stall in the ladies' room.

We just returned from spending two wonderful weeks in Italy and Greece with no problems as far as carrying money in our money belts. I have a very lightweight belt that has a firm yet flexible pod used to adjust the length of a cord and I chose to wear it under my shirt and around my neck going under one arm so that it rests just above my waist. My wife chooses to wear hers around her waist usually tucking it under her clothes beneath her clothing on her side or leg below the beltline. When she needs easy access she wears it a bit tighter so that it rests on top of her skirt or pants yet under an overblouse. I carried a lightweight canvas zipper bag with short handles that had easy access to keep papers, maps, tour books, wipes,flashlight, etc. and had no problems. Occasionally my wife carried a small purse with a handle that just fit over her shoulder and was held close to her body with her hand. We usually just put things in my zipper bag though to avoid problems.

The alternative I prefer is to get travel clothes with a security pocket sewn discreetly into the waist band. Travelsmith has pants like this. ExOfficio is another good place to go. My black crinkle skirt (that I LOVE) has a small black pouch inside the wasteband and the pouch closes with very sticky and noisy velcro. Beware, though, that some travel clothes consider their "security pouch" as a pocket on the outside leg or something. I do not consider that a "security pouch!" So read carefully the description of the clothing item. Also, ExOfficio has a travel "pocket" thing that clips to a ring inside some of their pants.

I found a neck pouch with a really long string and have found that I can shimmy it around my waist. I actually find that wearing the smaller neck pouch as a waist belt is more comfortable - particularly with dresses or skirts.

I bought a money belt on my first trip to Europe. It was made by Samsonite so I though it would be good. It was really cheap and broke on the second day of my trip. You really don't need a money belt. You should keep your passport and valuables in the hotel safe. I just keep a credit card/ATM card in my front pocket with some money. It's kind of hard for someone to go in your front pocket without you knowing it. When in a crowded area, keep your hand in that pocket. Forget a money belt!!!

I've never carried a money belt. I undertsand the concept- however I prefer to be a little more trusting. I'm aware of my surroundings and adjust myself accordingly. I bring a a little cash during the day and leave the rest at the hotel.

However, if carrying a money belt makes you feel more at ease...

Not a dumb question at all! I am on the small side and found a money belt to be bulky and uncomfortable so I never use one. The neck-style pouches were also very visible beneath my clothes. Instead, I purchased a small cloth coin pouch with a zipper, just large enough for my ATM/credit card and that day's cash, pin it just inside the waist of my jeans/trousers, and wear shirts/blouses that don't need to be tucked in. It lays nice and flat - you'd never know it was there. Passports, larger amounts of cash and any other important documents stay safely locked up at the hotel. Hope this helps!