Safety of a Travelon handbag from pick pockets

Where are you going?

So sorry, Spain. Malaga, Madrid, Sevilla, Granada, maybe Barcelona.

I'm not a big money belt person - I prefer crossbody bags, wired or not, and your Travelon bag sounds like it would work very well. I've been traveling throughout Europe for 25-30 years, including Spain, and have never had a problem. But I also travel solo and I think that helps, as I'm concentrating on my surroundings, rather than talking to someone else.

That said, I think if you are careful and keep your wits about you when you are outside or in crowded areas (especially Barcelona), you should be fine. There will be others that disagree with this philosophy, as many here prefer money belts. But it really depends on your level of comfort.

Thank you for your perspective! Noted.

Nothing is 100% guaranteed. I have traveled with my travelon bag with no difficulties for years. It doesn't mean that there couldn't be a problem in the future, but I have found this method works well for me.

I'm an older female solo traveler so am security conscious. I use Stashbandz money belt because it lays flat and you don't have an unslightly bulge. It's for deep storage; money, credit cards, debit card, passport that I don't use everyday. I don't use the hotel safe because I'm getting a little forgetful.

I take a very small crossbody Travelon purse with zipped pockets. It carries what I need daily but is so small that I can't overpack it and hurt my neck. It holds my phone (on a tether so I don't lose it), RS travel wallet, daily supplies, sunglasses and phone charger, cord and earphones. I clip a small packable souvenir shopping bag to the outside; lightweight (1oz) and handy if I need to carry anything I buy, water bottle etc.

As for your husband I have no clue beyond a money belt. My husband refuses to travel, but I'm sure men here will give you ideas.

Pickpocket is a crime of opportunity. They aren't going to cut your purse strap. If you leave your phone on the table, it may be gone. If your husband puts his wallet in his pants' pocket, it may be gone. If you leave your purse open, something may be missing. The best deterrent is to be aware of your surroundings and keep a hand on your belongings.

Agreed, never 100% foolproof. I like the travel bag ( we have got used to calling it the man-purse) as you can keep reading glasses, iPhone, water bottles, a small bottle of hand sanitizer besides the usual money etc. Will think it over. A money belt is not a big investment, but just one more thing to pack.

I use both a money belt and a Travelon purse, for different purposes. Honestly, I forget that I even have the money belt on. In it I keep my passport, my emergency contact info, an extra credit card and some extra cash. Very, very rarely do I have to access it while out and about away from my hotel as it is for deep storage only.

I feel more comfortable using a Travelon instead of a regular purse when traveling, to keep a credit card, some cash, my phone, kleenex, lipstick & chapstick, etc....just regular purse contents. I have probably at least five or six different Travelon purses in various sizes and configurations. Depending on the trip, I will pick one or possibly two to bring with me. The safety features are probably overkill, but that's fine with me.

I also sometimes will bring a super-lightweight backpack (Eddie Bauer's Stowaway Packable 20 or 30 liter) with me for the day, especially if the temperature is likely to fluctuate a lot while I'm out. It is good for holding a jacket and/or scarf, an umbrella and maybe a couple of snacks.

Yes, I never bring a regular purse when travelling just the Travelon that we share. We’ll be doing the Camino 115km our last week so will have a backpack ready. Thank you! All very good counsel.

I use both.
I take a lightweight crossbody bag that holds my glasses, little notebook, a small packet with a couple of ibuprofen and acetaminophen pills, hand wipes, a small amount of cash only, tissues, lip balm and a fold up shopping bag.
Sometimes I also have a travel umbrella in there too.
In my money belt, which is now a Travelon one (I love Travelon products, they seem to me to be so practical.) with three zip pockets; I always have my passport, credit card, debit card, info about emergency contacts and about where I am currently staying, with the host’s or hotel phone numbers, and a copy of my travel insurance info.
It goes under my clothing, hence why I wear separates, not dresses, on warm weather trips.
I sometimes put my phone in there too.
It sits very flat, with zips at the front.
If my phone is in the crossbody bag, it is held in by a tether to the inside of the bag.
I also “lock” the zip on the cb bag with a small carabiner the same colour as the bag.
I am often alone when traveling, and friends laugh and say I travel as if I’m about to be mugged at any minute.
Makes me feel safe, so why should they care!

Question for Horsewoofie: Do you wear the Stashbandz over or under your pants…assuming you wear pants and not skirts.

I have always wondered about these metal reinforced purses. Has anyone had their purse cut off their body or known anyone who has this happen? I can understand zipper locks maybe but have always thought these purses were playing into an urban myth.

A crossbody bag kept in the front of your body always completely closed, seems adequate to me. I do keep my passport in a neck wallet under my clothes however.

Carol, I wear the Stashbandz under my leggings. I prefer leggings to other types of pants, stretchy and pack light. I wish Stashbandz would change their website pictures to show that it goes under pants for security. I also color coordinate so if I’m taking black leggings I wear a black Stashbandz, or navy and navy, so it’s less obvious.

Hi, for me it’s just a decision of how much of a hassle it would be to replace whatever was stolen. I don’t love money belts, but I love my freedom more to not be concerned as I’m enjoying my day. That’s why I carry my passport, credit cards & ATM cards in my money belt.

My crossbody purse has my expected money for a half of a day, my phone, reading glasses & a few misc. I do like that the Baggallini crossbody purse has the extra clips to secure the zippers which I use if walking in a crowded area or anytime I won’t need my phone for photos for awhile.

When I brought my adult daughter to Europe last year, that was a stipulation of her coming with me. I needed her to wear a money belt, so we weren’t wasting her precious time in Italy in case we were pickpocketed. She is very responsible and even then, we had a pickpocket blocking a door on the Rome metro who had my daughter’s crossbody purse opened. A local woman yelled at the pickpocket and she exited quickly. We joked about it afterwards that she received the full experience traveling - didn’t ruin her day as it might have otherwise.

Barcelona has a notorious reputation unfortunately now as a pickpocket city; be very careful, so you can have an enjoyable time there.

I wear a silk money belt under my shirt and pants. It only holds my bank cards, passport if traveling. My cross body satchel has my phone, glasses, small money for the day. Do not hang it on the back of your chair in a cafe. Do not put your phone on the table if you are sitting outside. Use the ATM inside of a bank when it is open and then put your big money in your money belt while facing away from everyone. This is the only time you should access your money belt out in public. Passport is normally in the hotel safe. I never worry about pick-pockets with this combo.

For hotel safes, put things in there that you know you will remember, besides your passport - Daily meds, your hairbrush, etc.

My friends who don't travel like me (which is all of them) don't understand, so I love this discussion! I have a stashband and just ordered another a size bigger since I've put on a bit of weight recently. It feels just like the top band of my workout pants, so I don't notice it, but I can keep my passport and credit cards there. I also like the idea of adding emergency contact, insurance and lodging info (thanks to those who mentioned it). I wear it under pants, but I've also worn it over leggings when I'm out exercising, mostly just to make sure it fit well and stayed put. It did. Kind of like spanx, it can roll up if it's too tight, hence the bigger size, hopefully just for my January trip.

I also have a few travelon bags. I try to be aware of my surroundings, but I'll admit that when I got into an unexpected situation on my last trip, I was rattled and everything was happening so fast that it wasn't until I'd been on the metro for maybe 10 minutes that I remembered the need to be aware of pickpockets and sure enough, I'd left my purse unzipped. Thankfully no one bothered anything, but it was a good reminder to me that like some of you have said, being extra cautious upfront makes for a more relaxed trip overall. I want to enjoy my surroundings so I'm happy to take extra precautions in ways that don't really impact my joy.

@New to Europe, you might find this article helpful about pickpocketing in Europe. I actually just came across it this morning in my google feed and found it had some pretty good information in there. The Savvy Backpacker is one of the bloggers I trust to give good information. https://thesavvybackpacker.com/pickpockets-europe/

Do pickpockets cut wire straps now or may be best to switch to money belts under clothing?

For me it’s not an either/or question. I use a money belt for deep storage (passport, extra cash, extra credit card, ATM card) and I don’t plan to access it while out and about, unless something unusual happens. I use a crossbody purse for things I need during the day-phone, credit card, small amount of cash, etc. I have used a Travelon purse, and it adds extra piece of mind, but to me it’s not as comfortable to wear as a regular crossbody purse. It’s heavy and the strap is not flexible (but that’s what makes it “slashproof”).

My husband prefers the “hidden pocket” pouch for his deep storage option. I think it’s important for each person to have control of their own passport/credit card etc.

I’ve never seen a slashing. But I have seen someone try to grab something out of someone’s hand from motorcycle

So if somebody comes out alongside you and tries to grab your wallet, your purse, and they’re on a moving vehicle, and it won’t break because it’s strapped to your body with a metal chain, what is going to happen?

You are going to be pulled into the road. When you are hit by the bus, you will have your wallet in that. As for me, I’m giving up my wallet.

I vote for the travel bag. I never use money belts.

Thanks everyone for great tips and links. One more question on safely securing your phone but having it quickly accessible. I see lanyards and harnesses used. My iphone weighs 8.7oz.

A lanyard, but a long one so you can tuck it into a pocket.

Since I travel alone, I keep the things that will get me back home (passport, credit cards) under my clothes in a neck wallet or money belt. Only what I need for the day is in my crossbody bag. These days my phone is almost indispensable (tickets, access to $, etc.) so I keep it on a wrist lanyard tether when using it, and when not using it is stashed in a locked zipper pocket that is next to my body (not the outside of the bag). BTW a long time former RS guide Sarah Murdock posted not too long ago about having her phone grabbed while in Barcelona. She had it on a neck lanyard which may have saved the day. Not saying this will happen to you, just pointing out that theft and pickpocketing can happen even to the most experienced travelers (even Mr. Steves has been pickpocketed).

Based on your original post though, whatever you decide to use I strongly suggest that you not put both of your important documents and valuables in one bag - that seems far too risky (to me).

As I read the responses, I'm concerned that New to Europe is not only not using a money belt, but both she and her husband will share the same Travelon purse. It sounds problematic at best; a disaster at worst. What if you are separated?
How will you have access to money/credit card? Even worse, what if you lose your purse which holds your money, credit cards, passports? What are you going to do then? Everything will be in your one and only purse.

The days of the skilled and professional pickpockets of Barcelona of popular imagination, who are able to slip into your bag or pocket and take whatever they want without you even knowing, are long gone.

The reality is these days the criminals in Barcelona just go for a hit-and-run tactics by overwhelming the victims with sheer numbers of people while pushing or shoving them to the ground and grabbing whatever they can within reach, then they make a speedy getaway it's all over within a few seconds.

Here's a good video of an American couple who are victims of robbery in Barcelona, they describe well the current preferred tactics of the criminals, most of which aren't actually from Barcelona but are foreigners who prey on unsuspecting tourists.

https://youtu.be/I4ZjaXDQNok?feature=shared

The best is to know what areas to avoid as there are quite a few no-go zones interspersed with the touristy areas. Also very important not to show off any outward signs of wealth.

Thankfully this is mostly an issue only in Barcelona, most of the others major Spanish cities you have nothing too much to worry about, they don't have the same issue with violent robbery as Barcelona does.

A money belt is not a big investment, but just one more thing to pack.

It's also not a big thing to pack.

I wouldn't wear anything that couldn't be cut off my body in Barcelona specifically, because a friend of mine had her collarbone broken a few years ago by thugs trying to get her crossbody purse.

Thank you Carlos. Reality check for tourists for sure. We've been reading up on spots to avoid so noted. All the eggs won't be in one basket so to speak re: Travelon and money belt. I will likely wear the money belt; he, the Travelon with one credit card in each and crucial documents with me, he will carry water, reading glasses, a little cash etc. I'm just really curious about cell phones and modes of securing them on your body if anyone has any good practices to share...thanks

Plenty of past forum conversation on phone tethers and lanyards, here's a search to get you started https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=6m&filter=Travel+Forum&query=phone+lanyard&utf8=%E2%9C%93

If you use an around-the-neck lanyard, keep in mind that the charging port will be pointing upward, and rain (or something else) can get into the port. That is not a good thing. I've now bought some fiddly little rubber stoppers to fit into the port when I'm not charging the phone.

acraven
I remember you mentioning that problem before. It just occurred to me that I need to worry about that, too. I don't use a lanyard around my neck, but my phone is port side up in the slip pocket on my bag.
https://www.amazon.com/TITACUTE-Carrying-Protectors-Compatible-Samsung/dp/B085T5L9T6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1S4IP5FOOXJF6&keywords=Samsung+charging+port+plug&qid=1705429874&sprefix=samsung+charging+port+plug%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-4

I have used a Travelon bag for all of my trips to Europe. I never felt the least bit like I was being targeted in Spain, although I skipped Barcelona. Malaga, Seville, Granada, Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba all felt very safe to me. I did read a review for a Travelon bag where she said somebody in Paris had tried to cut the strap on her bag and the wire saved it from being stolen.

I have a friend who went on a tour to France and they almost all somehow managed to get their phones stolen, on the metro they think. I have a feeling they stood out a lot as a clueless travel group because they seemed shocked that anybody would want their phones. If you notice the locals don't wear travelon or anything, just regular purses. They just don't look like tourists.