12 Tips for Safely Carrying Money in Europe

“If you lose your credit card, cash, or passport on your trip to Europe, you’re not without options—but it goes without saying that your trip will go much smoother if you can hang onto these trip essentials…

Travelers in our Fodor forums recently shared their tips for keeping money and other necessities safe while traveling abroad…
For example, some minimize pickpocketing risk by investing in an inconspicuous day pack, or splitting cash and credit cards with a travel partner…

Below are some other useful strategies…

Tip #1: Don’t carry your wallet in your back pocket
“Resistant at first to the idea of keeping his wallet in his front pocket, my husband is now sold on the idea after several instances where he detected his back pocket being checked out by a stray hand, (we were in crowded areas).” — brioche

Tip #2: Divide and conquer
“I put my 1-2 day’s need of cash in my wallet. If there’s extra cash I have, I split it up into various inside zippered pockets within my bag. CC and ATM cards go inside other pockets in my bag.” — yk

Tip #3: Do not treat a money belt like a wallet
“A money belt is not a substitute for a handbag or wallet. It is essentially a ‘body safe’. You do not access it during the day or in public. It is for the surplus cash, back up ATM and/or credit card, passport.
Not for your walking around money — use a handbag/wallet just like you would at home.” — janisj

Tip #4: Or ditch that money belt all together
“A million years ago when I started traveling I used a money belt all the time, and carried a nifty backpack or daypack that just screamed ‘tourist.’ Now, I carry a regular purse that is big enough to hold a pocket umbrella, map, camera and whatever guidebook I am carrying that day, but doesn’t advertise ’strange person in a strange land.’ I finally realized that I live in a major metropolitan city that is a huge tourist area, so if the way I’m dressing at home isn’t attracting pickpockets, I should try to replicate that when visiting another tourist area.” — tejana

Tip #5: Get crafty with your clothes
“I usually travel in the fall and have my black microfiber raincoat. I made a pocket with a zipper and sewed it to the inside of the raincoat so I can carry something in there. I use a money belt but only keep out cash for the day. If I keep out any large amount, I separate it and carry it in different places on my body. With using ATMs it isn’t like when we would carry large sums of money from home.” — bratsandbeer

Tip #6: Don’t make a scene rifling through your money
“The best way to carry money is QUIETLY, wherever you are…Distractions are just as likely to make you leave something behind, or carelessly turn your back…There’s no need to fear pickpockets once you’re aware that they will work tourist areas. Carry as little with you as you can, so it can be as close to you as possible.” — tomassocroccante ” (via fodors.com)

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