Hey all,
Planning a trip to Rome, Venice and Florence. I am really worried about pick-pockets. With that in mind, does anyone have suggestions on pick-pocket proof clothing for both men and women? Looking for pants and jackets since it will be in October. I came across the website Clothingarts, but they are a bit pricey. I already have a security bag to carry. Just looking for extra protection.
Suggestions greatly appreciated.
Just wear a money belt
Keep your passport, credit cards and large amounts cash in that
I like my SCOTTeVEST. When I feel like I need a little extra security, I zip all of my important things in the inside pockets. For an October trip it will give you an extra layer of warmth if needed.
I use a money belt or a neck pouch if you prefer. Then all you need is a pants pocket that zips up for any daily cash and credit card. Only used tickets and gelato money are kept in the open pocket and I'l willing to part with both if someone "earns" it.
It is smart to take the warnings seriously but in all my trips I was the subject of a maybe one attempt on the Rome subway. It was so bad it literally felt like someone tugging on my pocket trying to get my attention.
Just have a system, keep everything secured, watch out for distraction attempts and otherwise don't overthink or worry about it too much.
My $.02, have a great trip,
=Tod
I wear the Clothing Arts pants and shorts on all my trips to Europe because I don't like worrying about losing my credit cards, cash or passport. They are designed to keep your valuables safe even in crowded areas. They also are made of a nylon material that feels like cotton and washes in the sink and dries fast.
Disclaimer: I don't have any ties to Clothing Arts, I just like things that work well.
I also like Scottevest and Exofficio jackets and vests with inside zipper pockets . Scottevest is getting expensive, even with their sales, but I have been picking up the brand on EBay ( even new, with tags NWT).
I still keep my passport, second credit and atm card in my neck holder, under my clothes. For my next trip, I'm going to try a spandex- type waist wallet under my clothes.
I also use a Bandolier phone case with neck strap, which keeps me from dropping or losing my phone. The style I use has a snap pocket, where I keep small amounts of money.
My husband and I have Apple Watches, and now it's so easy to pay via watch, you don't even need to get a credit card out. This has worked well in our last three Europe trips.
Safe travels!
Ps
I don't carry a purse, just a backpack for snacks, guide books, and raincoat.
I like the idea of a Scott vest but not the price, if you look on that site named after the river you'll find a lot of imitators.
It also turns out that many versions of Dockers have a zipped pocket or two, poke around their website (they go on sale often at stores like Macys).
I will just throw in that I was in Italy last October. I think it was warmer than normal plus I don't tolerate heat very well. I'd have roasted in a jacket in Rome, Florence and Venice.
I vote for either/both a money belt around my waist under my clothing as deep storage or a purse with an internal zipper compartment I have secured with a caribiner and split ring as well as a caribiner fastening my purse shut.
Plus long ago and far away, my first RS guide told us all to wrap a hand around the zipped side of our purses as we were going thru crowded areas.
I have worn the feather- light Scottevests in the summer, and wasn't too hot. I did keep the vest unzipped, unless I was in a very crowded area . The inside zipper pockets are very strategically placed and roomy.
First, pickpockets are over discussed. They are a concern and if you are careless they might be a problem. We have traveled for nearly a year in Europe over the past 50 years and have never had a problem or close to a problem. But we could be hit on the next trip. We do take reasonable precautions including a money belt worn under our clothing and NEVER accessed in public. All our clothing have pockets that are secured by buttons and zippers. The clothing has been acquired from Sams and Costco to REI. I have seen some advertised "pickpocket proof" clothing that I think looks dorky and expensive. I only need a couple of pockets that are secure not every pocket needs a lock. How you handle yourself and your belongings is more important than being enclosed in a wire cage.
I just looked at Rome's weather for the past three years at the end of October on timeanddate.com. The highs ranged from high 60s to high 70s. Not vest weather or jacket weather for me. The last thing you want is the perfect vest/jacket for all your valuables only not to be able to wear it because it's too hot. Even the evenings were in the 60s. If "cajun" is any indication of where you live, you might feel the need for a jacket/vest in the evening.
I wear a small, light under-clothing neck pouch that is just large enough for my cell phone, passport, credit cards and pocket tissues. I found it on Amazon for under $20. I might have a Euro or two in there but never large amounts of cash.
Try not to worry too much. Just be prudent and keep your eyes open. There have been three attempts to part me from my purse (Cann, France)/the interior of my backpack purse (Rome)/and outside zippered compartment of my suitcase on the way to the train station in Barcelona. No one got a thing. I know how to yell, "HEY" really loudly!
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. This is our first trip to Europe and I just don't want to be miserable without a jacket if I need. We are both pretty warm natured but I would rather be prepared, because I would not enjoy myself at all. Also, I don't want to pack the entire closet. I want to travel as light as possible. I will continue my research.
Thanks a bunch.
Hello
We have been to Italy several times and the last time, I was pickpocketed in Cinque Terre. My cousins were with us and I was watching them so much, I ignored my space. Lesson learned
Use a money waist belt or Eagle creek makes a great pouch that you attach to your belt and the pouch goes inside your pants. I also highly recommend if keeping a wallet or anything in your pocket, to put it in the front pocket and put a rubber band or two around it (harder to pull out). Be aware of your surroundings at all times, but this is not exclusive to Italy. My friend was at Atlanta airport and his laptop was stolen when he bent over to plug in and had a few seconds of difficulty.
I think the vests and jackets can be too heavy, but that is my opinion only. Good luck and have fun
I mentioned this for another thread of questions about cameras, but it’s worth repeating. Pacsafe has an excellent line of products with security features of all kinds. I have several handbags and gender neutral shoulder bags from them that I have used on different trips and also to golf tournaments and outdoor events. Locking zippers and cut proof straps and exteriors. REI carries a limited selection, which is where I first discovered them. The travel product website. Magellans has a slightly less expensive line of products. I personally favor items that I can wear inside my clothing for passport and debit card. If you know the type of thing you’re looking for you can do a general search on Amazon and there’s a good chance you’ll find an option. If the quality isn’t good, just return it. . I am also always looking for clothing where a security pouch or pocket can be added or otherwise attached. Columbia has a line of lightweight shirts with rollup sleeves that have hidden pockets.
My husband found a nice looking travel vest with interior pockets at Duluth trading company three or four years ago.
Sometimes random Google searches work as well as anything to find a specific type of apparel. Good luck.!
What is the point of a money belt concealed under clothes? Do you access it and for what?
Every time you need your credit card, do you sneak off and go into your money belt?
If you have a safe hotel or a safe in your hotel room, why not leave things there?
What do people carry in that money belt and what do people not carry in that belt?
Seems most of us are cashless anyway. So you need to have your credit card with easy access. Not in a money belt.
So the money belt for all practical reasons is superfluous. You will not likely use it. A neck wallet would be better. Much easier access.
As for pockets. If I have something in my pocket I put some tissues on top of whatever is in the pocket. A thief’s fingers will encounter this first and throw them off.
Thanks for the tips. I have been searching for a while now. I like to know what others do and suggest. All very handy.
... I was pickpocketed in Cinque Terre. My cousins were with us and I was watching them so much, I ignored my space. Lesson learned
I understand your anxiety since this is your first trip to Europe. As mentioned, I think the threat is overstressed. The quote above brings up another very important defense - situational awareness. Be attentive but not paranoid. Think about situations where you are most likely to be a victim and try to avoid them if possible. Pickpockets are looking for easy marks and if you look inattentive or distracted, they'll hone in on you. Read up on some common techniques used to distract and make you a target, such as the survey takers.
Have a wonderful time. Take reasonable precautions. We've been to Europe a number of times, including Venice, Florence and Rome and so far have not fallen victim to pickpocketing.
Pickpocket stories may seem to be overstressed, but it can be the difference between having a great day on vacation vs. spending the whole day in paperwork trying to replace credit cards, passport, etc.
I always wear my money belt while traveling in Europe - learned from our first RS tour years ago. When my adult daughter came with me last year, here’s what happened in Rome: During our last metro ride in Rome, our daughter learned why money belts are so valuable! Instead of a major issue of stolen credit cards, money or her passport, she now has an extra “travel story” to share. A girl was trying to prevent us from getting beyond the opening space of the metro door without first being robbed. She had my daughter’s purse zipper half open in the tight space, but there was nothing of value to her inside. Another woman started yelling at the pick pocketer, so she exited the metro car at the next stop.
My husband also had €10 taken from his front pocket - leftover from our money from an earlier lunch, while we were in Bologna in the 2000’s. We weren’t in a crowd. I was busy taking a photo of an ancient overhead sign, and a woman wouldn’t leave him alone. Soon after she left, he released what happened.
My husband uses the money belt that hangs vertical from a belt loop instead of the one worn across the waist.
What is the point of a money belt concealed under clothes? Do you access it and for what? Every time you need your credit card, do you sneak off and go into your money belt? If you have a safe hotel or a safe in your hotel room, why not leave things there? What do people carry in that money belt and what do people not carry in that belt?
I carry my passport & primary bank/ATM card in the money belt. Larger amounts of money too
Petty cash goes in my wallet along with my credit card. The wallet goes in breast pocket of jacket or front pocket of pants. Cell phone also goes in the front pocket. I carry my passport with me because that's what you're supposed to do
"What is the point of a money belt concealed under clothes? Do you access it and for what?
Every time you need your credit card, do you sneak off and go into your money belt?
If you have a safe hotel or a safe in your hotel room, why not leave things there?
What do people carry in that money belt and what do people not carry in that belt?"
I am a solo traveler. I have with me 2 debit cards and 3 CCs. If I am going to get money from an ATM I put one debit card and one CC in my small wallet in the zipper compartment of my purse. My passport, extra CCs extra DC, Global Entry card go in my money belt. I also keep my cheat sheet of passwords in there, lol. If I have just been to the ATM and have a couple hundred in cash, I keep out about 50 whatevers and put the rest in the money belt. I don't need easy access to anything in my deep storage money belt.
I have 2 debit cards because I've had one not work on a trip so now I carry two. I have 3 CCs because I alternate charges between 2 of them and have the 3rd just for the credit limit on it. I only carried 2 until the pandemic then thought I might need a higher credit limit if I wound up being quarantined, had extra hotel charges and perhaps a new airline ticket.
I don't use hotel safes. They are easy to break in to. I would also be stressed that I might leave something in the safe when I left. I also want to have all valuable papers with me in case an emergency exit from a country needs to be made. I know that sounds paranoid but...suppose your hotel was located in an area with a natural disaster or terrorist event and you could not get back to it? With my CCs, DCs, money and passport, I can go anywhere.
This is a diversion but I was in Yellowstone last June when the floods happened. There were people who were staying at some of the hotels that had gone out sightseeing for the day and who were caught in road closures, not allowed to get back to their locations and had to leave their stuff in the hotel room when the park closed precipitously. They were allowed back in in about 10 days to pickup their stuff. In all my yearly visits to the park I'd never imagined that there would be such a wide-ranging closure. Except for the fires of 1988, there never had been. Completely unimaginable. Until it was.
I will add that I was pickpocketed on the Metro in Paris a few years ago. They did not get anything but my pouch of OTC meds. I will say that I nearly had heart failure when I noticed my purse had been gotten in to but did not go thru anything until I got back to my hotel in private. Here is what I posted at the time:
BTW, I am always happy to answer questions about what I personally do which might not work for others. This forum is a place for all kinds of questions and no one should feel embarrassed to ask anything.
Oh my Gosh!!!
Y'all are a wealth of information!. I thank all of you for sharing your experiences. I'm super nervous but so excited.
I am with Pam a hundred percent. She laid it out well. That is almost exactly what we do except we carry three debit cards.
I was recently in a relatively new hotel in the US. There was a label on the front of the in-room safe with complete instructions for opening if the code is unknown. And it worked. I assume that the plan was to remove the label once the safe had been installed. Someone forgot. The next time I see that brand of safe I will see if the master code unlocks it. Also, in London a couple of years ago we appreciated the 50 pound note that someone left for us in the safe under the mat. Bought dinner that night. My attitude is that if it is on me, then I know where everything is.
I think one problem with a money belt is some people try to use it as an hidden billfold. They wear it behind the belt buckle so that it is easy to get to. There was posting here a few years back where someone lost all the cash out of his money belt. Standing in a tight ticket line, pulls up the money belt from in front. unzips it, and was distracted by a bump to his left and turned in that direction when someone says something about him dropping something on the ground and points to it. By the time he says no, no and turns back to his money belt it is empty. Or my favorite, the gal who had her money clip and credit card taken from her bra.
We both wear our money belts in the small of our back under our clothes. If it is hard for me to get to it, it will hard for someone else.
I agree about not using the hotel safe; look it up on YouTube if you forgot your number combo, and you will be able to open it.
But, if you do decide to use the safe, I heard that some people will place a shoe in the safe, so they don’t forget to remove their valuables before checking out of the hotel. On the other hand, they might be hopping out of the hotel with only one shoe if there was an emergency - LOL!
just to be clear, it's not fair to safe hotel safes are easy to break into. they can be easy to open because there obviously has to be a master code. just like anyone with the proper key can get into any room at a hotel. it's their place!
