I'll explain a situation about the 'target' thing.

A tourist/traveller gets to a train station walks passed everyone to buy a ticket at the counter.

For some reason (either lack of prior planning or a mistake or whatever) they don't have the money to pay for the ticket out of their money belt.

They expose their 'secret stash' in a way that sets off alarm bells to all of the would-be thiefs that are reading newspapers, waiting for friends, drinking coffee etc etc.

The added embarrasment, hassle or whatever of having to find your money belt when there is a line of people behind you waiting for a ticket can be enough to quickly erode that free and easy confidence...

Anyway, my point on this is that you should do everything possible to be confident when heading through 'high risk' areas and one of the best ways to do this is by preparation.

If you feel confident using the money belt - go for it. If not and you still want to use it, practice with it at home before you go.

--
Rob - http://www.robstravels.com

I plan on simply duct taping all of my important documents and money to my body. On one hand it will hurt everytime I rip off chunks of flesh and hair to access 100 baht, but on the other who messes with the maniac who's mutilating himself just to buy a banana?

skobb, you may be on to something. but i thinkj duct tape is still too insecure. how bout superglue?

I say that the human body has plenty of natural pockets that us travellers ought to try and exploit for hiding our money and passports.

I mean, passports aren't THAT big... prisoners do it all the time and if it's good enough for prisoners...

oh lord girl, i can't believe you went there...
it's the 12 year old boy humor again...
but seriously though..hehe..sewing pockets into your clothes is so easy---especially with dresses...I bought amoney belt a while ago, and I never use it...I just built a solid chain for my wallet and don't carry a lot of cash. makes it easier and you don't have to worry about having a money belt.

Menudio,

Hehe...natural pockets.

Just think of the scene you'll make at the airport when you go to get your passport out...

GreyCat, do you wear a lot of dresses?

It just had to be asked.

"Never for me the lowered banner, never the last endeavour." -- Sir Ernest Shackleton

oh man...there are just so many jokes that are asking to be told. but i'll keep my mouth shut (or my hands still, rather) for once.

Rob, I hear ya mate, but the scenario you describe just sounds to me like not thinking ahead. If you're heading to the train station to buy a ticket, then you could always duck into the loo for privacy, raid your money belt and get out what you need, then once you have your ticket nip back into the loo (either in the station or on the train) and tuck stuff away again. Or, before you leave the hostel, you could take out what you need.

I always think of a money belt (thanx to Nick) as containing passport, tickets, big money stash - it's the stuff I need, but not necessarily on a day to day basis. If you know you'll need something out of it, you go where you can find some privacy and remove it. Digging through your clothes to your waistbelt and digging through of course is going to draw attention - it's a dumb thing to do, and should be avoided whenever possible, but it's a dumb thing that can be avoided by a bit of forethought.

Cheers, Anthony

So, since the waist belt seems the way to go, who can name some models, brands, online sites for buying the best ones??

Thanks!

"Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling." –Margaret Lee Runbeck

Furthering on Ant's bit - you should always keep a really small amount of cash in your pocket to pay for small things like a bottle of water, a transit ticket, things like that. With smaller bills you're less likely to be noticed than if you pull out, say, a crisp $100 bill out of your waist packet to buy a coffee.

I can't think of a situation where you'd have to pull your waistbelt out in the middle of a crowd that can be avoided with a bit of preparation.

"Never for me the lowered banner, never the last endeavour." -- Sir Ernest Shackleton

I love my leg belt. I store my passport, credit cards plane ticket etc in it, clip it around my leg just above the ankle and pull my sock up over it... dont even notice its there! I find i only need the moneybelt when actually travelling between places anyway. Once you are at a destination, lock all your stuff away in the hostel and just take money for the day with you. If you need id or anything just bring a photocopy of your passport.

Sometimes i think neck and waist pouches might not be safe enough in high risk areas... i know plenty of people who have been mugged and almost always they have been frisked or had their shirt lifted up to check for a money belt.. so if you are wearing a waist belt always tuck it under your pants...

cheers,

james

G'day!
The original question in this post was how to keep everything safe well swimming. My cousin just came back from a long trip and gave an interesting tip. When you get to the beach try to set up near a family with a baby. This is because someone will always be there with the baby! Say hi when you get there and be nice, then when you go swim, ask politely if they can keep an eye on your stuff!!
Good luck

Heh, at least someone (the Scientist) was paying attention.

With regards to regular moneybelt use, I spent most of my time in Thailand wearing surf shorts with no useful pockets. In order to keep my important items close at hand, I bought one of those cheap moneybelt type things that was lightweight nylon and came in a lot of different colours. Designed more as a lightweight waist pouch than a moneybelt to be hidden.

I kept my documents and money in there, larger bills in a seperate compartment from the one I used to pay for things with. I never really tried to hide it and wore it a little bit low on my hip with my shirt covering about half of it. When I wanted to buy something or put a receipt away, I'd just pull my shirt up to access it.

The point for me was more to have it in a location that was easy for me to be aware of and where I felt a bit safe having it (unlike a back pocket). It was also convenient to just grab and take with me when I would shower at a hostel or something.

I would have felt a bit out of fashion doing that while travelling in N. America, but the Thais love rockin the waist pouch and I figured there was a good reason for it.

I bought a lifeventure water proof body wallet type thing, it had a water proof (i'd say splash proof) compartment. Plus it's very flat so hides down the front of my trousers perfectly. No-ones going down there to mug me ( I hope!! )

As for swimming with passport's, plane tickets? I'd prefer to gamble leaving them on shore with someone I can trust (see above posts) rather than loosing them in the bottom of the ocean.