My husband fortunately was wearing a money belt when he was assaulted by gypsies outside a large bank in Nice. They were able to get only his coin purse, which they dropped when I ran up yelling at them.

Well, if you're wandering around looking confused, pulling out maps and reading guide books in the middle of crowded public places its' no wonder you need a money belt. You would probably be even better off with an armed guard.

The key to safety - of you and you posessions - is knowledge and attitude.
First, know where you're going - plan your attack before you walk out of the subway or bus. Second, if you're lost never show it. Move out of the crowd into a position in which you can;t be approached (back into a shop doorway or against a window with no one around) then figure out where to go. Third, always walk with attitude - briskly and with a definite purpose - and practice your "I don't see anything" stare that makes other invisible. (I know this stuff may not be second nature to those who live in small towns like it is for those who live in cities - but it's really makes life much easier/safer.)

At home I don't carry a guide book, map, camera, passport, etc. I can get money from the ATM without any service fees, so I never have more than a few $$ on me.

In Europe I get as much money from the ATM as possible to avoid fees so I hide what I won't need in the money belt. I guess those ATM security cameras have a photo of me hunting for the ATM card in my neck pouch and then returning card and money to the pouch.

I use a pack to carry books, maps, camera, umbrella, water bottle, notebook (journal), etc. Yep, I'm a tourist and I look like one.

I actually carry less things with me when I'm on holidays than I do when I'm at home!! When I'm at home I always carry 2 notebooks, my phone, a big wallet, a book, my hairbrush, some make-up, sunglasses, umbrella, a big bunch of keys, and god knows what else!!

when I'm away I only carry a small wallet with enough money for the day and my credit card, sunglasses, a camera and some notes for the day (I never carry a guidebook with me - I read up that morning or the night before on what I'm going to do that day, and then just take the bare essentials like names of streets/metro stops/restaurants, etc on one list - all of which fits neatly in a small over-the-shoulder bag.

Everything else (ie other money, my passport, etc) all stays in the safe in the hotel room.

In Europe, the residents to not wear "money belts" or the oh so vulgar "fanny packs", why should a tourist? Carry on with your life as normal, use your handbags/purses/wallets as you would do back home. Thieves will prey on anyone that looks like an easy victim, local or not, I don't believe they have such preferences.

ncgrrl:

What ATM fees are you paying in Europe? Are they fees your own bank is charging? (no, guess not, since you said at home you didn't pay anay fees). I've never once paid a fee to use a European ATM. In fact, the only time I've ever had to pay a fee was here in the USA, when I used an ATM at a bank other than my own.

I'm a member of a credit union and have NO ATM fees here. In Europe, I'm charged some type of activity fee of about $1 per use. Yes, I do realize $1 isn't much, but if I go to the ATM four times for 50 Euros, I pay four times as much as one trip for 200 Euros. And since I'm more interested in exploring the city/countryside instead of looking for ATM's, I'll get all the money put in the pouch then transfer back to the hotel safe later. So far, so good.

I think the comparison of traveling with unseen money pouch vs wearing one at home is inequal. At home you know where you are going, aren't lugging luggage and are more aware of your surroundings.

If you are an experienced traveler or from a metropolis you know already how to carry yourself and your money, but an inexperienced traveler should wear an underclothing pouch for passport, cards and money that you won't be accessing often.

I wear one when I am getting acquainted with a foreign place and I am glad I did at that out of the way train station in Rome, I was scared of the odd characters who surrounded me, but was able to walk through them w/o worrying so much about my purse being nabbed.

What's all this talk about fanny packs? tcl, did Fodors 2004 Spain Guide actually use that term? Sounds disgusting. I assume you're talking about what the ROTW calls bum bags. They do make you stand out as a tourist (you can make your own decision as to whether you care about that!), whereas moneybelts don't, for the simple reason that they're not seen.

twoflower,
I guess in the US, it's commonly called fanny packs while it's called bum bags elsewhere. And yes, Fodor actually said that in the guide book. I understand not wearing a bum bag/fanny pack because they do scream out "tourist", but a hidden money belt shouldn't be discouraged as being too touristy because it's not supposed to be seen at all! I know my clothes will alert the locals of my "tourist" status, but there are always tourists in major cities in Europe.

Anyways, I didn't mean for my question to incite a debate on whether or not to wear a money belt. I was simply confused why Fodor thought a money belt would appear "touristy" if no one is supposed to see it.

Some people refer to those pouch belts as money belts. You see roadies wearing them all the time and that's where they keep their money (and their condoms).

What are the percentages of people that are pickpocketed or accosted (spelling?) by Gypsies?
Although I grew up in Chicago, I have lived in Southern Florida for many years. I am quite fearful of going to Rome and Florence although I would not want to miss it for the world. We will take the trains from one city to the next.

I live in Spain in a tourist area and obviously cannot spend my life wearing a money belt, I often use a bum bag for my camera as I like walking the streets of my city taking pictures. I have never been bothered. Pickpockets exist all over the world just keep your wits about you.

Fanny pack worn outside clothes, no.

Money belt/pouch worn underneath clothes, si!

In the US "fanny" is considered less crude than "bum".

but nytraveler - a "fanny" in Europe is not even the same part of the anatomy as a "fanny" in the USA. So comparing Fanny to Bum is sorta irrelevant.

(The novel Fanny Hill was about a prostitute and it was no accident Fanny was her name.)