What is the best moneybelt to get for travelling? I'm aware these things can get a bit uncomfortable in hot climates so are there ones that are made of towel type material/cotton?
When do you use these things because I can't imagine wanting to carry round my passport at all times?
Reply to this I wear my moneybelt almost all the time when I travel. I even wear it in bed and take it to the shower.
If you want to swim make sure that somebody you trust is looking after your moneybelt. Usually the owners of family run guesthouses can be trusted with this in Asia. Nevertheless check everything when you get it back. Check between travellers cheques and cash to make sure that none of them have been replaced with sheets of paper. Never leave your credit card with anybody in Asia. Also dont leave your moneybelt in your guesthouse room or beach hut. These are easily and frequently broken into and robbed.
When you are in countries which have hostels with safes you can leave your moneybelt in those. I do that when the safes dont cost extra.
I suggest you get used to wearing a moneybelt even if it is not so comfortable. Having your passport stolen would be a huge pain in the a$$ while you are travelling.
The types of money belts which lie flat against your stomach are usually made of something that looks like cotton. Some of the others are canvas. Some have a fake leather back that lies against your stomach that prevents your doccuments getting damp from sweat. I usually have one that is also big enough to fit my wallet, cigarettes...
Reply to this Are any of these worth it:
Belt bank - belt with hidden compartment for money (one of the advice items for Asia it to keep $100 with you at all times)
Aquapac - waterproof to 5m for swimming.
Leg one randomly: http://www.goplanetgo.co.uk/products/security-leg-wallet
I just can't see it practical that people would take an aquapac with them while swimming?
What would you do if not in a family run guesthouse but in a random hostel instead?
Is it not better to leave you moneybelt in the guesthouse than walk around with it at night?
Are shoulder type holsters any better? Money belt on the stomach in hot climates just sounds uncomfy 😊
Reply to this I like the sound of that waterproof one. I have been thinking about getting something like that.
It would be a useful one to have if there is just nobody you can ask to look after you moneybelt.
I think it is important to have some kind of compartment to keep most of your money in and then you can just put around 10 dollars in the main part to take out when you are paying for something. Muggings are not common in Asia so if you are wearing your moneybelt you will be unlikely to get robbed. No need to buy an expensive moneybelt. Just a 15 Euros one with a couple of compartments in it will do.
If I stayed at a hostel I would put my moneybelt in the safe if there is one that I can lock with a key or have a code number for. Otherwise I would wear it all the time. You could ask others who have been staying there for a while if they have had any problems with the staff. If they have left their valuables with the staff and had no problems I would too.
Take your moneybelt at night unless you are planning to get so drunk that you dont trust yourself to look after it.
I think the stomach moneybelts are the best. It is easy to take them off and put them on and easy to take things out and put things back in when you want. This is the one that most travellers have.
Reply to this Aren't you always supposed to keep them on you though, i.e. don't let anyone know they're there. Keep money in them but spending money you actually use from a wallet or pocket not the belt?
Reply to this Yeah, keep your moneybelt on all the times unless you have someplace safe to leave it.
I usually put my wallet in my money belt and put most of the cash in a zippered pocket(the pocket is part of the moneybelt. They sometimes have a few pockets). Yeah, I take the wallet out of my moneybelt when I want to buy something. It usually only has 10 or 20 dollars in it.
About not letting anybody know it is there. Yeah, dont announce that you have 2000 US Dollars in the zippered pocket of your moneybelt.
Reply to this In some places(like South and Central America) it may be an idea to keep your moneybelt completely concealed all the times and put the money you are going to use for the day in a separate place. Muggings are a bit more common there.
Reply to this I really like the actual belt bank. it looks + functions just like a belt, but has a zip on its reverse for stashing notes. no room for change or passport, but very handy. left on trousers when not worn it has avaided room thieves before!
Reply to this I have yet to use a money belt, but think I finally need to get one for my travels.
This sounds like such a "duh" question, but I've always wondered how comfortable and concealed is it when you're wearing a tighter shirt? I don't know if maybe I am totally in the minority here, but I prefer to wear my shirts fairly fitted. They're not necessarily skin tight - but they definitely fit to my shape. For any girls (and guys) that don't wear big loose shirts when traveling, how does it look with your money belt underneath?
Reply to this Hello Ashley 😊
The flat ones which lie against your stomach are very concealed if you are not wearing something which leaves your stomach exposed. They can only be used for holding flat, thin items such as passport, cash, plane tickets........
I usually wear one which is a bit bigger. I put it under my dress when I am going on an all night bus or train journey. It gives me the pregnant look so I suppose it is sort of consealed or disguised at least. One time when I was in Thailand with my daughter with this under my dress a Thai man asked me if the baby I am carrying will be a boy. :D
Mel
Reply to this The tighter ones I doubt you'd see but then they are tight so I imagine could be uncomfortable for a whole day, just have to try I guess.
There are other options, e.g. shoulder holsters, leg holsters, etc.
Reply to this I tried a money belt and never felt comfortable. I prefer to keep everything in a flat bag worn on the chest and supported around your neck. It's easy to get to without having to remove your clothes. It can hold your passport/travellers cheques as well if necessary (although who uses cheques these days!)
John
Reply to this Can you actually wear thew stomach ones elsewhere, e.g. under jeans/trousers/shorts - might be more comfy than on the stomach?
Reply to this Yep - I wear my money belt between my underwear and jeans... I barely notice it now. I try to keep it as empty as possible.
One additional thing I do is keep the contents in plastic zip bags - I don't want my passport/money ruined by rain or sweat - I also keep a piece of rigid plastic the same size as my passport with the passport - stops it bending and getting ruined.
Ditto to everything Mel said as well - but I do sometimes leave it in hotel/guesthouse rooms - locked inside my locked up backpack (pacsafe) - I try to weigh up the likelihood of my hotel room vs. me being robbed - parties/nights out - I'm probably more likely to be robbed! (or do something stupid!)
Reply to this I was watching something on the outdoor life channel and a tip someone gave for if you need to leave your money belt behind is to pin it in the folds at the top of curtains in your hotel room. I've personally never done it, but it does sound like a spot that thieves wouldn't think to look at.
Reply to this if you get one just make sure you use it all the time. I took mine off on a bus trip from KL to Singapore, i got off the bus in a hurrry at the border crossing and left my bag etc on the bus while we went through the walk through bit and the bus picked us up on the other side. It wasn't until i went to pay for a hotel later that day that i realised that $1000US had been stolen from it.
I wasn't used to wearing it and thought i would just take it off to get comfortable. Wish i had of kept it on now.
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