Solo Travel

The Pacsafe crossbody bag (haven't seen the Travelon one) is different from wearing a belt or pouch UNDER your clothes for the reason that one is visible and one is not.

I have known loads of people who swear by the Pacsafe brand, but in my experience carrying one of those bags visibly shouts - hey - victim here!

If you are truly worried about your money/passports, you should probably look at something to wear underneath your clothing. The tourist 'safe' bags all look alike to me as an American, and they probably all look like targets if you're truly worried about pickpockets.

Somebody else will come and say something completely different in a few hours, so not to worry.

The cross-body bag is for things that need to be readily accessible, like a purse at home--your walking-around money, the credit card you normally use, maybe an ATM card if you plan to get money that day. The moneybelt is for excess cash above the day's requirements, back-up cards, etc., if you don't leave them in your hotel room (which is my preference) and on days when you are changing hotels. You don't want to have all your critical financial things in one place.

Although the most common type of theft afflicting tourists in Europe seems to be lifting of a wallet, entire bags can be taken, so if everything is in the bag, you're in a pickle.

There are alternatives to money belts like neck pouches and hidden pockets. I don't find my money belt uncomfortable, but as I said, I don't use it when a locked suitcase in my hotel room is an alternative.

This subject comes up very, very frequently. If you have time on your hands, you can find a lot of earlier threads in which we all say the same things over and over again. If nothing else, we are consistent in our views!

Leave passports and cards in the hotel if you are going to wear one of those bags, just carry walking around money in it. A moneybelt is for stuff that you wont access regulary.

We have a Pacsafe bag and much prefer it to money belts - which neither of us can tolerate - for stowing our valuables. I don't think they shout "victim" at all, and less than walking around with the chest clutch or death grip on a regular bag, as I've seen some tourists doing. Like any other bag, you don't want to hang them off the back or a chair or place them on a table where they could be easily snatched.

It comes down to whatever you're personally most comfortable with.

On days when you aren't catching a flight, leave your passport in your hotel safe and carry a photocopy of the photo page. I left my passport at my cousin*s apartment near Venice then travelled to Milan and checked into my hotel using the photocopy. And I always keep my big cash bills and a credit card in my money belt. After many years of travel I find that to be the way to go for safe, worry-free travel. I keep another credit card easily accessible, but it has a small spending limit.

I agree with Acraven. A money belt and a purse, whether it's a pacsafe or not, are best used for different purposes. The stuff for that day's use goes into the bag. The stuff you can't afford to lose goes under your clothes in a moneybelt, hidden pocket or neck pouch (I prefer the latter). I would never carry everything in one place (a purse). It may be slash proof, but it can still be stolen. And it can still be picked if you aren't careful. I've never heard of someone's moneybelt (when correctly worn) being picked.

I wear a neck pouch under my clothes with my passport and money in it. Never had a problem.

I am 63 and female,travel solo a lot, and would never go out without my under clothing money belt.
I wear it at the back , so it sits in the curve of my lower back; and I put everything in it into a ziplock bag first to protect it from sweat.
I carry in my small cross body bag only enough cash for that day, plus map, water, etc.
Cards, extra cash, and ID are in the moneybelt.
I leave my passport in my apartment or hotel, and just carry a photocopy when I'm out for the day.
If you are solo, you will want to take all precautions for safety, as you will have no one to immediately help if you lose your cards, wallet, etc.
Then once you are all protected and set up, you can be out and about knowing that your cash, cards and PP are tucked away safely! and you can relax and not worry!
If you need to get at the moneybelt, go into a changing room or bathroom to access in private.
People have laughed at me; but I also keep 100 of that country's cash, and copies of my passport, bankcards and numbers to call for help with card loss, plus the address and phone number of my accommodation, in a tiny ziplock bag under the insole of my shoe I am wearing out that day.
That way , if you are robbed of everything, you have some backup.
Of course, that only works with closed shoes, not sandals. :)

I, too, agree that the crossbody bag and the money belt serve different purposes.

You should NEVER access your money belt when out in public. It's deep storage. You'll get lots of different opinions on carrying your passport vs leaving in at your lodging. I always carry mine. It is the only documentation that you are in the country legally. I put it in a small ziplock bag in my money belt to prevent it from getting wet if it's hot. I seriously doubt a European law officer would stop to question a gray-haired, overweight obviously American female tourist but I also want to abide by the rules of a country. I also keep the rest of my money and credit cards stashed in the money belt.

Your crossbody is for what you'll need during the day. I was pickpocketed in April in Paris. I thought I was being careful and had safeguards in place for my purse zipper which I had not engaged. They got only my OTC meds and daily toiletries, no money or cards which was excellent. I only had in there what I could afford to lose-about 50€ and a credit card.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/oops-sort-of-pick-pocketed-on-paris-metro-yesterday

I just go with the regular purse I would use at home. The Pacsafe's seem heavy to me. YMMV

I looked into the Pacsafe when i first started to travel. I thought they were too heavy for me. Some reviews talked about the slash-proof strap as cutting into their shoulders. I carry a nylon purse...Baggalini or LeSac. Something easy and washable.

I use a money-belt as previously described and walk with that death grip on my bag. Just kidding.

I swing it as carefreely as I can. Just kidding.

It’s somewhere in between those two scenaerios.

It’s somewhere in between those two scenaerios.

For me too, Becky. :O)

Thank you, everyone, for your replies. I’ll get the money belt but I’ve ordered a small Travelon too. I returned a very small PacSafe bag that did seem heavy. I’m going to a Maylasia next month and Italy in October do I’ll gave a chance to compare the two. I like the $ in the shoe idea too. I was listening to RS yesterday on NPR so I looked up the Solo Travel Forum. I was trying to avoid a money belt so I just put my question out there for your opinions. By the way, have you ever watched the video on YouTube how easy it is to open zippered luggage with a ballpoint pin? Try it. I did. Your items are not safe in a zippered suitcase.
https://youtu.be/9JvmAktLvFg

You are right; a zippered suitcase can be opened very easily. Which is why I keep electronic devices and prescription meds in my purse or tote when I'm changing hotels. I don't travel with other things of value. But I figure, if my suitcase is mixed in with a bunch of others, and mine is not expensive, why would a thief target my bag in particular? It could always happen, but I can only worry about so many things, and repeated sad experiences have taught me that I need to focus on retrieving my credit card from vending machines, waiters, ticket sellers, etc., when my transaction is complete. Failing to do that has caused me a lot of trouble.

Wearing a money belt will help you avoid almost all of the major issues that could ruin a trip, especially if you’re traveling solo. I always wear a money belt and then bring a small Baggalini purse for my next meal’s cost, tickets for the day and coins. I replenish my purse when I’m in the restroom or back at our hotel.

I do wear my passport in my money belt, two ATM cards, a credit card, and the rest of my Euros.

I also wear a neck "money belt" that I hook under a bra strap and tuck under the side as I detest it around my neck. Works well and doesn't bother me at all - holds passport, extra cash, credit cards I'm not using, etc. I would suggest getting a money belt or neck "belt" and experimenting with it. You may find you have a more comfortable way to use it. The main thing is to have it hidden and where "fingers" can't get at it.

I have a small PacSafe bag that I put everything for the day in. It is large enough to hold my iPad mini, my cell phone, etc. Rarely do we stay in a hotel/lodging that has a safe so we need to be prepared. I'm a bit paranoid, but maybe it's just overly cautious. Husband was pick pocketed Argentina with his cash in a front pocket - gone.

But no matter what you do, be aware of your surroundings, wear your bag in front, don't be distracted, etc.

Unfortunately, I travel the same way here in the US in big cities.