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Toger, is this for the plane? Riding safely on a bus? Otherwise, I never carry valuables in one place, hanging out there for all to see. Rome had the worst teams of pickpocket/grabbers I have ever witnessed. (hate to say this but it's true) Pairs of gypsy kids - one for diversion asking innocent questions, the other to grab & run. If you ever see someone holding a square of cardboard or similar for no obvious reason, get away! They hold these up to block your sight of whatever they are grabbing: purse, fanny pack, backpacks, wallets from pockets. Anti-slash is meaningless if someone rides by on a scooter, grabs a purse strap & keeps on riding. You're pulled to the ground, dragged along if you don't let go.
I have been in some dodgy locations, my husband & I traveled for weeks with all we owned in our rolling totes. Logically, we must have been carrying valuables, right? The level of guest houses we stayed in did not have in room safes or front desk lock boxes both of which I use now staying in higher class places - everything goes in there, even electronics. I only carry out on the street the barest minimum: cash for immediate needs, glasses, water bottle, & camera which I wrap in a $2 cloth bag tied in a knot, and slung over my shoulder. If I plan to do heavy shopping (since I don't have an atm card) I carry cash in a small pouch I made to wear under my clothes (NOT that stupid obvious neck thing for passport/tickets/etc that neophytes wear outside their clothes for anyone to grab).
All this may sound paranoid but husband & I would have been screwed if we lost our tickets, passports & money, could not have returned to our country of residence (which some expatriates did & got stuck for 10+ days waiting for new passports/visas). Husband carried wallet w/ daily cash in pants pocket pinned shut with giant diaper pin (no lie!).
So, if you like the purse, sure buy it. But don't expect it to be a miracle device. [Image Can Not Be Found] The best devices are prevention, vigilance & common sense.
About TP, let me preface that this is Far East, Central Asia, India, Middle East info: we stayed in places of the less than $12/night variety. Then we carried TP as the local stuff is thin, crispy & rolls total maybe 30 squares. Now staying in better places I may grab extra for times on the road. Your hotels have it, but elsewhere (dining, museums, road stops, etc) may not or the attendant (yes, many have attendants & you pay to "go") will give you 2-3 squares. (is this TMI? [Image Can Not Be Found])
More questions? Unsolicited advice: If you are sharing rooms & all charging electronics, consider how you will share one free (if that) outlet.
And Steepike, you guys stand up all the time! In countries with primarily Eastern (squat) toilets (no seats), some women buy those cause they're too stiff, too uncomfortable, too scared to squat'n'go. Luckily, I have both experience & flexibility. [Image Can Not Be Found] The challenge is wearing a floor length abaya over long pants & using a squat toilet (way TMI! [Image Can Not Be Found]).
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Toger said:
Truth be told, I've developed my own method of avoiding touching nasty bathrooms (I won't go into the sordid details) [Image Can Not Be Found]
At the very least, I plan on packing this!
I really like that Pacsafe bag. But I don't think it would be big enough for the flight, but great for touring one you get there. You could put it in a larger tote. You want something that is big enough (on the plane) for Kindle/iPad/iPod/camera/book and whatever else you need for many hours on a plane or in airports, and you also want room for clean undies and some toiletries just in case your luggage decides to visit a city different than the one you have in mind. [Image Can Not Be Found]
A good sized tote can be considered a purse, and you can also carry-on something like a backpack with the necessities in it.
My daughter has been to Italy 4 times, and she assures me that they have decent toilet paper there. My guess is, that like hotels in the US, the quality of the toilet paper is relative to the quality of the hotel you are staying in. Seat covers are probably a good idea for the plane, and in public toilets once you reach your destination. She did say something negative about the toilet paper in Japan, but that is a whole nuther thing.
I like the hand/other parts wipes pictured below. They are soft, strong, moisturized, and gentle. I keep them in my purse, glove box, bike bag. I travel with them. I also use them at home – I like to walk barefoot in warm weather, and I use them to wipe my feet between showers. They are great for wiping the gook out of my eyes if I've been sleeping. They can be used on a long plane trip to freshen all the parts that need freshening after a long flight (hit the john shortly before landing).
Germs: I rarely get sick. Have only had 1 cold in the last 7-8 years, but I am prone to catching something when I am in a different environment than home. I think we get used (immunized) to the germs around us, but are more susceptible to germs in new environments. Have you gotten a flu shot this year? Have you gotten the pneumonia vaccine? I would do these before travelling overseas. I double up on my vitamins for a week before travelling. I also love Airborne. I know that many think it is worthless, but the C and zinc in it, and the B-complex I also take (along with a full complement of all the others), seem to help me. I take it before heading to the airport (all kinds of bad stuff floats around in the ventilation system on a plane) and take it again when I get where I'm going.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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Yap and I were typing at the same time, but she beat me to the post. She's right about security. A bit of paranoia is good, too much ruins your trip. Take some simple steps to keep you and your stuff safe and you will have a great time. Whether it's bums at the gas station who want to help me pump gas, or panhandlers on Main Street, or cute little urchins, I am cold-hearted. I ignore unless they get into my personal space. Then I have been known to yell at them, or even chase them - which is to say get into THEIR personal space while walking forward. They usually back off. Sob stories wash right over me. You know how it's said that some people, especially women, look like walking victims? Avoid that and you can avoid lots of trouble. Even the most pushy tend to leave a tough/cold looking woman alone (but not tough and cold to the other people you meet - friendly gets you a long way with most people, and Italians are no different). You do a lot of walking in SF, so that shouldn't be too hard for you. Common sense. The right demeanor. Hidden valuables. Recipe for a great experience.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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Yap, bring the paranoid as it prepares you for the worst. If nothing happens, everyone is happy.
The bag would be for sightseeing only (cash, sunglasses, water bottle, camera, phone), not for the plane. I've a much bigger carry-on planned for that.
I like your idea of cash under my clothes. An actual money belt would make me look like the Michelin Man, but a smallish pouch would work (or I can go completely ghetto and just jam cash in my bra) Yeah, I've seen tourists here wearing those stupid neck things with their passport visible for all the world to see and I've always thought it stupid. At the very least, someone could grab the thing and strangle you.
I'll have to double check, but I think our hotel has in-room safes of which I plan to take advantage since I'm bringing electronic gear.
Good point about the sharing of one outlet. I hadn't considered that (which is funny seeing as I live with that every day in my own place). It might behoove one of us to get a charging pad where the pad is plugged in and the phone just sits on it. I know they're compatible with iPhones and 3 of us have iPhones.
Now that Spike brings up the wipes, I seem to recall one of our party is partial to those, I'll bet she's packing a suitcase full. Another one of my friends is a hand-sanitizer junkie, so we're good with that.
I've had my flu shot this year, but no pneumonia. Airborne is my friend and companion during flu season.
I'm sure I'll have more questions as we get closer.
*edit: Spike, I'll just wear my "don't fuck with me" face that's used on my daily commute and things will be peachy. I weep for my friends 'cause you can tell they're a soft touch from miles away! I'll have to beat them constantly to stop them from giving away money, especially to children.
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A friend traveled to Italy and mentioned the pickpocketing gypsies.
I wonder: for a guy carrying a wallet, would it be enough to simply button the pocket in which said wallet resides? I'm not too worried about getting robbed when we go to Svalbard, should I ever find myself in Yap's Third World, I'd like to be prepped.
Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.
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Pocket-picking is a rare occurrence in Svalbard. That skill requires a deft touch which you just can't get while wearing the jumbotron-sized gloves and mittens (especially the mittens) one must always wear to prevent frostbite/gangrene/limb/digit loss. Put your wallet in your front pocket, or the inner pocket of your parka. That should do ya.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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Toger said:
*edit: Spike, I'll just wear my "don't fuck with me" face that's used on my daily commute and things will be peachy. I weep for my friends 'cause you can tell they're a soft touch from miles away! I'll have to beat them constantly to stop them from giving away money, especially to children.
Yep. The "don't fuck with me face" is the one I have. Some think it makes me look unfriendly. Like I give a shit. And don't discount those wipes during long flights and layovers. Fresh-as-a-daisy is not to improve your appearance to others, but to increase your own comfort.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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Steerpike, imo it depends on the button. You've read about slashers….knife wielders in people smushed crowds, subways, buses, bazaars. They slash and grab so smoothly your loss isn't discovered until they are long gone. You look, it's missing…wtf? When did that happen?
I'd be worried about an obviously buttoned-button (or do you mean like cargo pants with deep side pockets?). Husband's huge pin wasn't going anywhere without his noticing. And yes, we have back-handed grabbers as they reach to explore.
I've traveled for weeks with nothing more than a bookbag so my valuables gotta be somewhere on me. Half of my $, ticket & passport I wore in a flat pouch, neck string worn diagonally across my chest under my dress, pouch resting low on my hip. No outline, no visible strap, no looking like Ms. Michelin. The rest I tied in a black sock which I pinned mid back/low down in the bookbag. That way if the bag were slashed, contents explored, the sock would stay attached & hidden in the dark interior. Or so I hoped. Plus I travel in HOT as HADEs so no shoes/boots to hide in or leg holsters under long pants. For females, an excellent option is loose skirts with specially designed hidden pockets.
Bottom line, keeping up with valuables was a major concern when traveling independently in the back of beyond. Now, on tours, with a guide tasked with responsibility, not so much. Although on last day of trip to China, didn't a husband get pickpocketed losing tickets, passports, credit cards….everything…in a crowded market. Never noticed till he went to settle couple's hotel bill prior to departure. Major WTF, couple couldn't return to US, had no money, group took a collection just so they could eat.
Last trip, luggage gathered in rooms for pickup by busboys, after breakfast couple returns to room, gathers remaining stuff and joins group in lobby for bus to airport. She thinks he has their brand new netbook while he thinks she has it. WTF, gone. Disappeared, never to be seen again. They left that easily identifiable as electronics case in the room with their suitcases while they went to the dining room. Never leave anything portable out – plugged in or otherwise. In the room safe, at the hotel desk, or with you at all times. Yes, sometimes it's a pain but the up side is you get to take it home again.
Have I scared anyone yet? [Image Can Not Be Found] I've only been scared twice…a feeling like I reeeaaaallly should not be here right now. Wandering Karachi at night with husband the only other Westerner within miles. [Image Can Not Be Found] Can't remember the other time.
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"I'll have to beat them constantly to stop them from giving away money, especially to children."
That line definitely will nestle itself somewhere in the best 10 things I've ever read on the interwebs.
You all seem like wise, seasoned travelers, that's for sure. It's kind of sad that exploring the far reaches of the planet comes with such difficulty; not presented by the land, but by humans.
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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I've only even been freaked out in New Orleans. At dusk. Alone. One street past the crowded Quarter heading into residential space. Needless to say, I beat feet back to the Quarter where I belonged.
I've been looking at the underclothes pouches and might invest in one to wear cross-body snuggled in the depths of my shirts. Or just jamming $$ in my underwear. Touch me there and draw back a bloody stump. [Image Can Not Be Found] I've also considered buying myself Visa or Amex gift cards and using those in place of my actual credit cards. That way, I'm limited to how much I load on them and if it's stolen, I'm only losing the amount on the gift card. Cash will be for places that don't take cards. I've also got what's known as a wristlet: it's a small pouch that fits in the palm of my hand and has a strap that goes around my wrist. I don't let it dangle so the risk of having it cut without my being aware is negligible as I'm always holding it in my hand. I use them at theme parks and don't have to worry about my purse flying out on rides or having it sit on the sticky ground.
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I think the gift card idea is a good one. I've considered it, but never done it since my bank no longer offers gift cards. I could have gone to another bank, but I was lazy. Hey, maybe PayPal offers them. The fees might be steep, though.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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The only precations I ever took, streets of Mexico City, Guad, Italy, France, Germany, nothing hardcore, was to put cash, atm card and id in a money belt. I carried what I didn't care if I lost in a cheap wallet. Nikon slung over my shoulder, cigarette drooping from mouth, all black, my basic Ukranian mobster on vacation look. Hell in France I left laptops and camera sitting on the table in my room while I was out. Once in Paris someone came into my room using a key without knocking but I was sitting at the table shooting heroin and torturing an informant, so they left. [Image Can Not Be Found] Seriously, I took everything I could down to the hotel safe after that little eye opener.
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Six weeks and counting... [Image Can Not Be Found]
I bought a proper carry-on (tres chic) as I couldn't bring myself to carry the kitschy faux snake hot pink/brown satin Asian print overnighter that I've had for several years. It just screamed... something. And I wanted a new one. [Image Can Not Be Found]
I also bought a neck safe to wear under my clothes. It's got a fabulously long neck strap and disappears under my shirt when when worn cross body. The strap isn't visable even with an open-necked shirt. It's wonderfully soft and it's just the right size for my passport, room key/card and cash. I'll just have to expose myself to get to it.[Image Can Not Be Found]
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So, what's the preferred method of payment: cash, credit card or a combination of both? Which leads to how much cash to take?
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Depends.
Further response became so twisty & turny & full of details that all was deleted. A whole lot of 20x(if this, then this…)
Simple answer: I bring cash, small bills. Even if majority of trip is pre-paid. Where I eat & shop, local transportation, tips & incidentals….none use credits cards. Banks & atms are a pain to find, visit when open, especially in developing countries. Used to carry traveler's checks but exchange rate is crappy. I convert cash to local currency at the hotel desk, every couple of days. Unless the country has legal money changers, then I use those (better rates).
PM or everyone must agree to tolerate paragraphs of blather. [Image Can Not Be Found]
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If "they" don't like paragraphs of blather, they can skip this thread! Togeraptor has spoken. [Image Can Not Be Found]
Commence to blather, please.
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I used debit cards in Europe and never had a problem. If I'm going into the hillls, I withdraw some cash. Hell, I do the same thing in Oregon. If you were to go where Yapette goes, yeah, cash in small bills.
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I am…help, somebody label me….not an anachronism…but parts of me are not logicially consistent.
Experience with statistical analysis but don't have a debit card. Or atm card. In fact, not sure if "debit card" = "atm card."
I have watched cash-poor tour-mates search in vain for an atm and cash-poor bus-mates watch in desperation as we leave cities before banks open (limited hours, no weekends). In the middlin' back of beyond, I would rather control my own destiny.
Europe in general, cities, areas where tourists congregate, I expect these places will not be a problem. According to this, debit & credit cards in Italy would serve you just fine. (note at bottom about gypsies)
Here's an informative discussion about costs for getting Euros from cc, debit & conversions. Situation is not yours (she's a teen [Image Can Not Be Found]) but getting Euros once in Italy is just what you need to know.
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My experiences are all based on traveling solo or with a friend. Never a tour bus. Never with more than two other people. Thus setting my own schedule and hanging and slacking and annoying people until the bank opens.
Yapette, you are giving me itchy feet. I don't travel so much any more. That is something I need to do more.
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Really convenient linkage about the money, Yap. Thanks! (should have thought of it [Image Can Not Be Found])
Coincidentally, just received updated info from the travel agent (in the form of luggage tags, itinerary, print out of flight e-ticket) and she echoed the same thing about ATMs and credit cards. I think I'll still bring some cash – small bills – for incidentals. I mean, really, buying gelato with an ATM is just beyond the pale. I'll do some digging on the B of A site to see what they say – if anything – about using my ATM overseas. (They once froze my account because I used a competing bank's ATM in the airport when I couldn't locate their ATM. Idiots.) I've already alerted Visa of the dates I'll be there so they won't freeze that card. Still need to alert Amex, just in case.
There's an Amex office downtown where I can buy Euros before I go, so no worries there.
Now that I've read the Fodor's forum, it's interesting to make the difference between ATM and CC card purchases. Good to know.
*edit - I could have a problem using my ATM card as my pin is more than 4 numbers. (mine is before the advent of 4 numbers only). Cash it is! And CC for large purchases.
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