What do solo travelers do when they have to visit the loo on a train? Do you take your bags with you? Lock them to the overhead? Trust someone to watch them?
In the past, I used a cable lock to secure the bag to the overhead and make sure all the zipper compartments had locks. But I'm open to new suggestions.....
That's a tough dilemma--I would probably trust someone to watch them and then try to be as quick as possible getting back to my seat--using something like a bungee cord to make it more difficult to get them down from the overhead quickly might be a deterrent. If you have a backpack with electronic equipment or medications--stuff you absolutely need-I'd take it with me.
When the train is moving I don't worry about my bag. When the train is in a station is when I check to be sure my bag stays where it belongs. When going to the "loo" I take my small pack with me.
I have traveled quite a bit on my own and love it. I met a fellow solo traveler this summer and we both found only 2 things we hated about solo travel, no one that speaks english to take your photo and having to use the bathroom in the airport or train station with no one to watch your luggage.
Personally I put everything I don't want stolen in my day bag eg. ipod, camera and never let that out of my site (of course I also wear a money belt). For trains I find you often have to put your bags in the racks at the ends of the car and you can not always have your eye on it, so someone can hop off with your bag at any stop. I have to travel with a lock anyway for hostel lockers so I bring a bike a coil with me, and use the lock for my locker on the bike coil. I am always prepared to lose my luggage just in case it happens. The only country I found this was not necessary was Switerland.
I guess I have never worried too much about this, though I did watch a show on TV that filmed the German police showing how easy it was to steal peoples luggage on the trains and at the train stations. Unbelievable how easy it was. Especially when folks are buying coffee or asking for info, they tend to just leave their bags sitting on the floor behind them. I usually keep my suitcase in either the overhead rack or sit in one of those seats that has a space behind it. Using a cable lock sounds like a great idea. Telling a seat or compartment partner that you are going to the dining room or loo is also acceptable. I have seen people get up and leave their purses and laptops on their seats. This is one reason why I try and limit how much I drink while traveling.(just kind of dislike the train toilets anyway) At the airport, try and go to the bathroom before you pick up your luggage, then you don't have to worry about watching it. One always has to wait for a while anyway. I have sometimes wondered why we rush to the luggage carousel, peering anxiously into the gaping hole for our bags, when we know there is no earthly way that our bags have been unloaded yet and made it through the airport. Wishful thinking? Oh gosh, I think I got way off track here. sorry.
I may have the simplest solution of all. I leave my suitcase in the luggage compartment at the end of the car CLEARLY 3/4 unzipped. Message...nothing here of interest dear thief (I do the same thing when leaving my bag in the trunk of a rental car only it's totally unzipped). This method works two ways...as my husband can attest. Anyone who graps your luggage loses most on the floor (or on the driveway in my husband's case...he's never caught on) and clearly there is nothing worth stealing. (Passport etc in money belt). As for going to the loo on the train I always find a decent sort and ask them to watch my stuff (gestures work if language fails). MOST PEOPLE ARE REALLY DECENT. Really you'd think the world was made up of con men and thiefs to read the popular press etc. Disclaimer. In the 3rd world all bets are off. Desperation will make a thief of any man when his childeren are starving
Frank,
I've used several methods for quick trips to the WC on trains. I usually chat with the other people in the compartment, and if they seem to be reasonably reliable and honest, I'll take a chance and leave my main pack there for short times. I always secure this to the rack with one of the straps when I first enter the compartment. My Daypack always stays with me though.
If there's no one to watch my Pack, I'll leave it locked to the overhead rack for a few minutes, but only if the train is moving. Again, the Daypack stays with me.
Happy travels!
My bag is light enough to carry everywhere with me. It's a convertible carry-on that wears like a backpack and weighs 15# fully loaded.
I use a very light cable to connect it to something permanent lock but wouldn't count on that to stop a thief if I wasn't present.
