We're used to being careful with valuables, wearing money belts, etc., when in Europe but this will be our first time in Vienna and then visiting Slovenia and Croatia on the tour. Do we need to be similarly cautious and wear money belts, etc.? Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thank you,
Gina
As a rule of thumb, ALL major cities have pickpockets. Carry all your important documents and extra money in a money belt .
My wife got her purse stolen in Amsterdam
I have been to Europe many times. When we went to Villefrance, we were told it was safe to carry a handbag. Guess what? I had someone try to steal my purse. Luckily, I was strong enough to hang on to my bag. If you want to carry a bag, get a Pacsafe product. Better safe than sorry.
I'm just as careful on a tour as I am when traveling alone. You won't spend the entire tour surrounded by tour people, and not sure why you wouldn't be careful even when you are. I usually trust tour members while on the coach, though. ; )
Thank you, everyone, for your quick responses! I should have written my question more precisely. How prevalent is pickpocketing in these areas since there's a difference between being constantly on guard as opposed to being careful and prudent? After having traveled in Japan and Korea the last few years where pickpocketing is rarely an issue, we just need to adjust back to traveling in Europe again. I was hoping that pickpocketing would be less common in the cities of Slovenia and Croatia compared to cities like Paris, Barcelona, and Rome where we've had friends pickpocketed despite precautions. Thank you again!
Pickpocketing can obviously happen anywhere (well, maybe exceptJapan - ha!) but Slovenia and Croatia generally see much less of it, especially outside the big cities. Vienna is not a Rome or Barcelona, but it’s a city so I would tend to be more cautious there.
”… there's a difference between being constantly on guard as opposed to being careful and prudent?”
I think your second half of the question is exactly why I do wear a money belt always while in Europe, including the RS Best of the Adriatic tour last year and both times we were in Vienna (beautiful city by the way!). When I have my money belt with my passport, credit card, large Euro bills, and ATM cards, I don’t have to be “on guard”. I can relax and enjoy my surroundings without worrying that someone is trying to steal something substantial.
I think money belts or neck wallets (which I prefer) are examples of being careful and prudent. And I agree, they reduce my worries about being ripped off, so help me enjoy the trip more.
We didn't have problems in Vienna but that really means nothing for assessing your risk. I haven't been to Slovenia or Croatia. But I think caution is appropriate anywhere in Europe. And you're used to money belts etc., so why not?
Having been to Vienna recently, I would have no concerns about pickpockets. And honestly I don't bother with money belts, neck wallets etc - my money and cards go in my wallet, which goes in my pocket. If the area is crowded I have it in my front pocket rather than back. Never been (successfuly) pickpocketed in decades of travel in Europe. My view is, if you don't wear a money belt at home, why would you wear one when traveling?
I've been to Vienna three times in the last 15 months. It's a wonderful city.
I wear a moneybelt all the time and I'm always aware of my surroundings. If you don't like the moneybelt you are currently using, there are numerous styles.
I like the "hidden pocket" type and have been using this style for 32 years.
My neighbor had her purse stolen out of her shopping cart at a grocery store here in my middle sized "safe" town USA. It can and does happen everywhere. My personal approach is to consider what am I willing to risk losing or have to spend time replacing if it is swiped/lost while I'm on holiday. The answer, for me, is to keep my passport and most credit cards/money safely stowed in a neck wallet worn bandolier style under my clothes so I don't have to worry about it. That's my cautious and prudent approach as a solo traveler in every single country I have visited regardless of pickpocket prevalence.
We were just in Dubrovnik, Korcula and Split in the last 2 weeks. Dubrovnik was busy but really felt like tourists, except at night walking back from a tour. Korcula was practically empty and lovely, not a single worry. Split just felt different, we had no issues, but we also carry a small pacsafe bag locked and loaded. Would never put anything in pockets there. Pay attention to your surroundings and trust your gut feeling. Even with an arm over the bag in crowded situations, the locked bag helps us enjoy our time.
Here are some reasons why I wear a money belt when traveling, but I don't at home:
So, sure, be more cautious when traveling.
To the question, you are going to some pretty low risk places. Google the top pickpocket cities in Europe and none of your stops will be in the list.
I take precautions for a lot of the same reasons I listed, even though I live here and I do know a bit more and do have a support network and won’t end up losing a lot of money with changing travel plans. It’s still a hassle to replace my US bank cards long distance.
But I dont fool with a money belt. They are great if that is what makes you feel safer. I trade that for comfort and enjoyment and ease of transactions. The next step down is anything with a zipper that stays close to your body ... all the time. Never hang it under the bar and forget it (I know someone who did).
I just push my money clip deep in one pocket and my flip phone deep in the other. If its a crowded metro line, I put my hands in my pockets. Its habbit now.
I suspect a lot of the loss to pickpockets is really just dropping things or forgetting things. But we always look for the worst cause that isn’t our fault.
But no criticism no matter what you decide. The goal is to be relaxed, whatever that takes, and enjoy.
The two times I have been aware of pickpocketing attempts on us were on a Vienna sidewalk and a train platform which continued on to the train at Milan Malpensa airport. I
I will be securing my valuables as much as I can on the same tour.
Like CL, we have a pickpocket problem in our small city USA that no one has heard of. This is a place where people leave doors unlocks and cars running in the parking lot. (Not me, but many others.)
If I am traveling, I prefer to have a money belt or something that I feel secure keeping my passport and money in so I do not have to worry about it all the time, just like I would in Rome, Paris or London.
Thank you again to everyone who responded to my question! I really appreciate your taking the time to share your experiences and advice. It seems it would be prudent to go back to our money belts (I have to say I don't find them particularly comfortable to wear) with a minimum of valuables in a small pacsafe or similar purse.
This last trip I spent 2 weeks in Vienna, went all over using public transport especially into the working districts ....absolutely no concerns about pickpockets. I went solo , and had on me the hidden pocket and neck pouch.
Take the usual common sense precautions, no need to be overly concerned...I wasn't
