I think that perhaps this issue deserves a post of its own.
As we have all established from the pickpockets and thieves thread there are differing opinions on the use of money belts. I suggest that instead of criticising one another for using one or not using one (whatever the case may be and yes I have found myself being guilty of this) lets turn this topic around.
Why don%26#39;t we use this post to inform travellers how to be secure carrying valuable items in Paris. Remember essentially it%26#39;s all about personal preference be that unbelieveable in your eyes or not but lets use experiences to highlight the dangers to others. Making other/ new travellers aware of the benefits of using or not using a pouch will allow them to make their own informed decision without having to trail through pages of %26quot; You are right and I%26#39;m wrong%26quot;
To keep it simple perhaps we could all answer the first two questions a yes/no and the third with a brief explanation.
1) Do you use a moneybelt when travelling to Paris?
2) Have you ever been robbed in Paris?
3) What is the main reason for wearing/not wearing a money belt when in Paris?
I hope I don%26#39;t regret this post as I am fairly new to this forum but I thought perhaps we could all hold our prejudices to one side and help others :-)
So here is my answer:
1) No
2) No
3) I feel secure holding onto my (cheap) bag and don%26#39;t carry large amounts of cash or valuable items with me (they stay in the hotel safe) so if I was to have my bag stolen it would be upsetting yes but not ruin my trip.
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I never have carried a money belt/passport carrier or other travel bags.
I have never been robbed in Paris or any other city.
I maintain my belongings at all times. I always set myself right with map, money and bag zipped/closed before I set out anywhere. No one rushes me or comes too close.
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I agree with the first two posts.
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1 no
2 no
3 yes, but I dont use the hotel safe either.
The only time I have ever been robbed was in 1977, in Amsterdam, and I was wearing a moneybelt. Wearing a moneybelt makes it look like you have something REALLY worth stealing.
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1] no- don%26#39;t use a moneybelt anywhere.
2] no - never been robbed in paris. i was pickpocketed when i was a student in glasgow 25+years ago. My husband was forced to take money out of a cash machine in London [he was jetlagged and wasn%26#39;t thinking straight]
Lots of pickpocket attempts in Naples on my son and husband
3] I see lots of folk weariung moneybelts and they are not remotely discrete =they are either visible through the clothes, have straps showing or bulge .
If i%26#39;ve learned how to spot them, theives surely have as well.
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1. No
2. Yes. I was pickpocketed as an exchange student in the early 80s at the bustling metro at Gare du Nord when I could ill afford it. What it taught me was to always carry a purse with a zipper with the tab toward the front of me. I still do this and keep some money in my wallet, and some in the inside zippered compartment. I split the credit cards too. Of course, someone could steal my purse in total, but chances of that are very slim compared to the pickpocketing (which is remote too). I use this purse %26quot;trick%26quot; in all large European cities - I don%26#39;t really in NYC since it%26#39;s so close to home and I could recover quickly with national bank branches and/or friends and relatives nearby.
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1) No
2) No - including living there for 16 months
3) When I was traveling with my children I would have two credit cards and cash in different places on me. That way if the worse happened I still had a card and cash. Other money, passport was kept at the hotel. If I was with my husband then I would only take one card and cash out with me. I doubted that we would both be robbed at the same time.
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1) Yes, that or I hide money and docs in other ways too.
2) No.
3) Cause I don%26#39;t want to keep valuables in my purse, keep them in hotel safe mostly, but on the way to/fr use a belt.
When my purse was slashed at a market (not in Paris) there wasn%26#39;t much to be taken in it and even that she didn%26#39;t get cause it was hidden (am sure it was the girl next to me).
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Personally, I find the exercise a little flawed. Do you go without a home alarm until AFTER your home has been broken into? Do you go without insurance until AFTER you%26#39;ve had an accident? Saying %26#39;no I have never been robbed*%26#39; does not mean you never will be. * virtually no one on this forum has been %26quot;robbed%26quot; but many have been %26quot;burglarized%26quot;.
I always use a moneybelt of some kind - my husband didn%26#39;t. His passport went missing from his jeans pocket in Amsterdam, so NOW he uses a moneybelt. While I have always used a moneybelt, I was still pickpocketed on a tram BUT they took only loose cash, no credit cards no passport no tickets no %26#39;large%26#39; money. THOSE were in my moneybelt.
%26quot;Wearing a moneybelt makes it look like you have something REALLY worth stealing%26quot;
- - this implies that you don%26#39;t know how to properly use a moneybelt, but I don%26#39;t really believe that b/c I know you%26#39;re a long-time poster here. But in case anyone else reading that doesn%26#39;t %26#39;get it%26#39;, NO ONE should ever be aware you are wearing one. Otherwise, it%26#39;s somewhat pointless.
1. Yes
2. No
3. So I don%26#39;t have to %26quot;hold on to%26quot; my bag, purse or whatever, or remember to stick my foot through the strap, or fail to keep my eyes on it at all times, or hold my hand on my pocket. Instead, I secure the valuables, then I don%26#39;t give them another thought until nighttime.
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No
No
I don%26#39;t wear one because I don%26#39;t have one. I carry cash and cards the same way I do in busy areas here and I%26#39;ve never really felt that busy areas in France are more hazardous.
The main concession to %26#39;foreign%26#39; is to make sure my travel companion and I split the money supply so that we won%26#39;t be completely destitute if anything happens. But that was the result of an unfortunate incident when companion realised they%26#39;d misplaced a purse just after we%26#39;d gone through security at Gatwick (turned out it was still in the glovebox of the car) and we had to cancel all the cards in it. It gave us something to do before take-off and fortunately, it was an all-inclusive holiday!
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1) Do you use a moneybelt when travelling to Paris?
2) Have you ever been robbed in Paris?
3) What is the main reason for wearing/not wearing a money belt when in Paris?
No, and not anywhere else either. I *have* used a pouch under my clothes with a neck-strap while travelling when for one reason or another I have had to carry a sunbstantial amount of cash. I do sometimes carry a %26quot;murse.%26quot; (Hate that word. Can%26#39;t anyone come up with something better?)
No, nor anywhere else, though I have been the victim of several attempts, the majority of which were pretty obvious. I only recall one such attempt in Paris. I try to be aware of my surroundings at all times, especially in crowded places.
(1) I don%26#39;t see any need. (2) I do not think it makes me any safer. (3) I think it provides a false sense of security. (4) Many wearers of money belts actually draw attention to themselves and what they are carrying. (5) I carry no valuable/irreplaceable documents with me except when absolutely necessary, and no more cash than I need for the day — usually under $100 equivalent. (6) I carry no more than one credit card and one ATM/debit card. This is about the only thing I do that is different from what I would do at home and that principally because of the inconvenience that would be caused if all the cards were lost/stolen when away from home. (7) More often than not other things I am carrying are more valuable than whatever I have that might fit in a money-belt or security pouch.
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