Why I’ll never use a money belt again
Ah, is there any piece of travel equipment as maligned at the money belt? Some travellers swear by it, to others it’s nothing more than a useless piece of equipment.
On the surface of it, you can understand the appeal of a money belt. Fastened underneath your shirt, it provides a secure, reliable way to store money on the go.
But it’s not always so convenient.
Debbie Campbell, who you might remember as one of the senior nomads who were using their retirement to travel around the world with Airbnb, isn’t going to bother about taking a money belt next time she goes away (and why you shouldn’t either).
Debbie writes, "Travel Guru Rick Steve's hails from Edmonds, Washington very near our home in Seattle. When we first got the idea of full-time travel we attended one of his seminars on traveling in Europe that included some safety and packing tips. The best tip we took away from the talk was to purchase Rick Steve’s brand "travel cubes" (a packing lifesaver) and, as it turns out the worst advice was to use a money belt.
“We carried it around with us for months until we decided if ever there was a place to use it, Rome was it. Michael strapped on the money belt and we tucked our cash, photocopies of our passport ID pages, and our debit and credit card inside. Maybe we got the wrong belt but we felt it was awkward to get things in and out – especially in hot, sticky clothes.
“And as you tried to nonchalantly fumble around under your shirt at your waistband to take out cash you looked more like tourist than if you had on brand new tennis shoes and wore your day pack in the front! It gave us a laugh and we never used it again.
“In our three years of traveling full-time we've never been robbed. I did leave my wallet on a bus in Jerusalem and a left bag on a train in Amsterdam – and miraculously got both back! Our approach is to dress plainly, don't carry your passport unless absolutely necessary, limit the cash you have on hand and never flash money in public. Also be aware of your surroundings and the people around you when in crowded places – especially tourist attractions and when using public transportation.”
So really good points there. Where do you sit on the money belt fence? Do you think it’s a sound investment or a waste of time? Share your thoughts in the comments.
To follow Michael and Debbie’s adventure around the world, you can visit their Senior Nomad blog here.
Related links:
Spot what’s wrong with this carry-on luggage
Best ways to handle money on holidays
10 money mistakes we’re all guilty of making on holidays