Great that you're going to Spain, and welcome to Fodors. The most important thing about footwear is that's well broken in and you're comfortable walking in it - on hard and uneven surfaces. You'll be doing lots of walking, and likely spending time standing around in museums as well.

My best safety recommendation is to wear a money belt under your clothes for your passport, ATM card and all but one day's money - don't access it in public. I think it's more important that your day bag lets you carry a water bottle.

You might want to do a search for TeacherCanada's posts - he's escorted several school trips and written reports here. I also recommend Rick Steves' "Europe Through the Back Door" and Lonely Planet and Rough Guide's first timer guide books for new travelers. Plus, you'll find a lot of younger travelers hanging out on Lonely Planet's discussion board.

As above, get your shoes in advance and make sure they are comfortable for a whole day of walking. I think sandals and sneakers, and maybe one more pair of something are fine.

Personally I don't like the "safety" type pocketbooks (the ones that have a cable so the strap supposedly can't be cut by a thief). They're heavy & I think it's more what you DO with the bag (don't hang it over the back of a chair in a restaurant, or leave it on a bench in a museum, on the floor of a train or bus, etc.) than any specific special features.

Do visit the Europe forum here on Fodor's and the Thorn Tree at Lonely Planet, mentioned already.

Happy planning!!

I just use some kind of lightweight zippered tote. As above, I also like a purse/bag big enough to stash purchases I make along the way, water bottle, maps, tiny notebook/pen, etc.

I checked out the Pac Safes and also found them very heavy. I travel with a baggalini with alot of pockets and across body strap.

I love my CitySafe shoulder bag. It served me well in Italy and France. The only downside is that it might be too small to be a day bag while you are sightseeing, but it is enough space for your passport, wallet, and camera.

Thank you all for the replies! I checked out Rick Steve's site and found some helpful things. I've been looking at money belts as well as the PacSafe bags, but being on a limited budget I didn't know if I would need a belt if I had a safe bag.
To RainyDay: When you carried your bag did you keep your money in it or did you also use a money belt? Is it secure enough to do that?

If you buy a money belt you can probably buy a cheaper day bag. Plus, the current RS model is a bit elaborate - you may be able to find a simpler one for less money. Wrap the contents in plastic. You can put the belt in the washing machine and reuse it. For my packing lists see mytimetotravel.wordpress.com - you won't need as much stuff for a school trip to Spain, but it will give you an idea of what goes where.

The thing to realize about a PacSafe is that "in action" it is just the same as any other kind of purse!

If someone is able to grab it from you and run (most purse snatchings do not happen by someone cutting the strap of you, which is the entire premise of the PacSafe, having a cable thru the straps). Or pockets that lock. Big deal :-

People lose their bags if they have them off their body, set them on the seat next to them on a train or bus, hung over the back of a chair in a restaurant, etc. A PacSafe doesn't prevent theft more than a regular purse worn securely across your body.

Of course a moneybelt worn under your clothing is the safest.

Hi Phoenix37, I did have a money belt, while using the PacSafe bag to carry a one day amount of cash in a wallet, for the reasons that Suze pointed out above. Although PacSafe has a lot of useful features, such as a cable through the straps and a mesh to prevent someone slashing the bag, a thief can still grab your bag and run away with it. I wore my bag across the chest, like a messenger bag. But I kept some money and one credit card in a money belt.

Hi Phoenix, as a high school French teacher who takes students to Europe each year, let me recommend that you DO use a money belt to keep your passport, money, and credit card safe. Go to Walmart and buy one for less than $10 - just be sure you get one with elastic waist strap as the non-stretch ones can chafe you. I love the suggestion of putting all that in a ziploc to keep the moisture from damaging your items.

Some folks are totally against using backpacks, but as long as you use one that fastens in some way other than zipping, I find a small purse-style one makes a perfect carry-all for my camera, map, water, and personal items. I keep my day money in a small change purse inside a zipper compartment inside the pack. My 21 year old son goes with me on all my trips, and he prefers a messenger bag for his day pack.

It's easy to get distracted when laughing and having fun with your traveling companions, so just pay attention to your possessions and your surroundings and you should do fine. The suggestions above to keep your bag on you - not on back of chair, at your feet, etc - is great advice.

Have fun!

I have an old Eagle Creek Sidekick. It's smaller than the one that is in their current collection. It can be worn as a waistpack or as a purse. When out and about I wear it as a purse, across my body, messenger bag style. Then if we are at a restaurant I strap it around my waist so that it sits comfortably on my lap and is still attached to me. That way, even if I relax and forget my surroundings a little bit, I can't walk away from it and it would be difficult for someone to separate it from my care. This has worked pretty well for the last 15 years or so.

After several years of different bags,last year I seemed to get it right. I had a Vera Bradley large backpack (very lightweight) and a smaller Baggallini purse with detachable strap. I put things like lip gloss, camera, sunglasses etc in smaller bag and would just use it or toss it in the backpack and add bottled
water, guidebooks, etc. I did secure the zipper on the backpack with a twist tie. I always wear a money belt with passport,credit cards,etc. Have a good trip.

From what I understand, you need a bag that you can carry around with you during the day. How about this map bag (http://www.briggs-riley.com/category/productDetail.aspx?id=Map-Bag_601 ) from Briggs & Riley? You can wear it over your shoulder or cross body for comfortable carrying. It has lots of room to hold your essentials like sunglasses, camera, pens, guides and maps, cell phone, water bottle, etc.

I would recommend against using a Vera Bradley fabric bag for a daybag, as mentioned above. Your daybag needs to be made of a waterproof material, take it from past experience, a Vera Bradley can get totaly watersoaked, as well as everything in it. Also, a solid color that goes with everything is far more practical.

Thanks again for all the responses! I get excited when I see that more people have offered advice. I decided to get a pacsafe bag (in black) and also a money belt. I also got a good pair of walking shoes (which I'm currently breaking in) and some nice skirts for those hot Spain days. Any other suggestions about what to bring along would be great!

If you're going in June, bring baby powder.

I just use one of my regular purses that have a strap that goes across my body and wear a money belt. The minute I open my mouth, people know I'm a traveler but I don't like things that say, "I'm on vacation." Nothing can take the place of good common sense.

Keep enough coins and small bills in a pocket and don't dig through your larger bill stash in public. Make sure you're pockets are in good shape, Euro coins get heavy.

If you're worried about someone cutting the strap, wouldn't it be worse if they didn't cut the strap and dragged you with them behind a scooter?

What is the baby powder for? My feet?

Do not take a big flowery bag that is not water-resistant and screams "LOOK AT ME! I'M AN AMERICAN!" I also think that the "PacSafe" bag is not such a good idea." These bags are obvious for their purpose and you will not like carrying the extra weight and awkwardness of this bag. You'll never use it at home again and might just end up buying something on your trip that you'll like carrying better. Vera Bradley? Unless you're in Fort Wayne, IN, you'll feel silly and regret it. Start wearing the Pikolinos now so that they are comfy by the trip. Plan on buying shoes in Spain. They have some of the best shoes on the planet in Spain.

Please, please take a bag that you LIKE that you can wear cross-body so that you are hands free if you want.

That bag should be leather or dark fabric and preferably have a zip and a flap. I have three. The backpack style is a black Prada backpack (they now have them at Costco for around $120) that I can flip over so that the opening is under my arm if I'm in a crowded area. The other two are shoulder bags. One is an older saddle colored Coach bag and the other is black with a flap that I bought in Paris last November. Your passport, credit card and majority of your cash should go in a moneybelt. Pack light means in your handbag also.

Think chic - not clunky - you will not regret it.

I don't know why people call PacSafe CitySafe bag clunky and useless. I use my CitySafe bag in black every day now. It is actually a pretty practical handbag. Here is more info:
http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=25

Vera Bradley bags are also sold in Europe. They can be
sprayed with scotchguard to protect from the rain.

"What is the baby powder for? My feet?"
When I was in Spain & Japan in summer, I was the only person with baby powder. Everyone wanted to borrow it. The heat and humidity can get to you and the baby powder helped provide a layer to prevent chafing. You can put some on your feet too.
I said it as a tip for you, even though this was a thread on handbags & shoes, because it's your first trip.

Thanks GBelle I appreaciate the extra tips!

I too am a fan of the Baggalini purses; they come in many sizes and styles. You can wear a small one across your body and use the larger totes for your carry-on. For comfy shoes try Merrell or Ecco; lots of cute styles like mary-janes. I would never take white sneakers anywhere but you do see younger people in running shoes in grays etc everywhere on the globe. I would not take any Vera Bradley bag to Europe, sorry. You will not have time to find shoes in Spain, if you do great, but do not count on being at the right store when you have a free half-hour or so.

Gee, after all the negative Vera Bradley remarks I do believe
I will rethink taking mine to Europe again. I loved the little
splash of color (mine is a fairly calm color and pattern) to brighten my always very neutral clothes and
the main thing I liked was the great amount of space available in such a lightweight bag. Thanks to all for your honesty on the subject.By the way, yesterday I volunteered where lots of high school girls came through the building and there was a profusion of VB bags.

To me Vera Bradey says "east coast "and "summer" -- I have a tiny one and another large tote-- just would never take them to Europe, sorry. But I am very picky w/ my bags.

A very saavy friend of ours, who grew up in Queens had her wallet picked in the MOMA subway stop turnstile last week, so keep your passport, credit cards OUT OF a wallet per se and closer on your body. I keep this stuff in zippered area within a large tote, never in a separate wallet. Lots of newer jackets and fleece have upper arm zippered compartments for iPods but cards & cash fit very nicely too.

I am in Madrid right now and I am using a small handbag that I got from Athleta - I wear it cross-body and since it is small, I can wear it easily when I sit at a restaurant and so on, plus keep a hand on it in crowds and the metro.

Oh - forgot shoes. For wandering around, I've been wearing a pair of low profile black Sketchers tennis shoes. They are small and light, go with lots of stuff. I know you said not tennis shoes, but I have seen a lot of people your age wandering around with similar shoes. They aren't the clunky tennies that people usually think of.

A normal looking handbag with a zip. Dont get one of those beige travel safty pouches. They are just and advertisement that you are a tourist.

wear a comfy shoes

For sandals and walking shoes that you can walk miles and miles in I would recommend NAOT, they look fashionable (most of them) are extremely comfortable and usually require no breaking in period. They are expensive but the soles are replaceable so they could conceivably last a lifetime if you take care of them. The gladiator style sandals are actually very comfortable around the ankle and look great. http://www.naot.com/html/womens_sandals.html