PBH / Colombia / Start Forums▼ (active) Travelguide Cheap hostels Pictures

Some sugestions for travel safety

Once in a while someone posts info that they've lost all their papers.... People traveling can/are nervious, anxious, exicted, forgetful.... A little preparation may help to solve that problem.

I have a pair of pants that I only use for travel. They have four seperate Velcro pockets located on the front of the pants. I put nothing in my back pockets. I also use a money pouch that is hooked through my belt loop. That pouch carries my passport and some but not all of my cash. The pouch nestles in my groin and can't be seen. Everytime I have to use my Passsport, ID, cash or whatever reason for accessing my pockets, when I finish what I'm doing I take at least a minute to review that everything is in order and has been put back its proper place. I don't care if I inconvience another person for only one minute.

I lost my wallet in Panama a few years ago and it was a real nightmare. In at least 2 places I keep copies of important numbers (cards and phone numbers, Passport and ID's). I 've a system for my card numbers in which I change the sequence of numbers. That way if someone finds that info, it can't be used.

When traveling with my backpack I have a hand strap that attatches to my wrist and to the back pack. Anytime my backpack isn't on my shoulder, I use the strap. The strap has a long enough cord that I can access the backpack without removing the strap from my wrist. I haven't lost my backpack yet.

Just a few sugestions.

LWA

By Lowell on Feb 10, 2005, 10:23 in Friendly Talkzone.

lpdiver says on Feb 10, 2005, 10:31:

So thr border agents Get a good whiff of your balls...LMAO...jejeje

Tony

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

adrimm (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 10, 2005, 12:16:

Cash When travelling I usually keep a small amount easily accessible (in a purse or pocket) so I don't need to dive into my main $/CC stash everytime I want to buy something small (thus divulging it's presence). I replenish $ from the stash when I go to the washroom. Documents like passport and planetix are usually left at the house I am staying at.

Since I don't usually spend vast quantities of $ I don't carry around too much in my stash anyhow. The purse I keep close, but if anyone were to steal or pick it they'd not get much (but hopefully enough to think that's all I have on me).

0 funny, 0 helpful.

VanMan says on Feb 10, 2005, 15:08:

hiding stuff
I like to swallow my belongings so no one has access to it until I go do a number *2*. I find it very secure this way.

For further travel trips, goto www.badtraveltrips.com

0 funny, 0 helpful.

poco says on Feb 10, 2005, 21:53:

Get a "???" Don't know the name,, get one of those pouches that hang on your neck,, one with a couple of pockets,, these are made for passports. Saw a person use one of these, got one and will never be w/o when I travel with a passport. Good place for a little cash and pick pocket proof.

Good for holding your airline boarding pass and other stuff. Usually leave passport in a safe place but have a current photocopy with current page showing entrance time and date, hate to think about loosing a passport but necessary to carry if requesting extensions.

I usually wear a loose shirt when traveling and keep the pouch "hidden", so to speak, and at the same time it is easy to access,,, this is not good for T-shirts !!!!

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miguel says on Feb 11, 2005, 02:03:

Poco I think you are talking about the Eagle Creek travel pouch; made out of silk, can hang around the neck or waist, and available at REI for about $15 usd. They work great. Also, the first thing that goes into the room or hotel safe is my passport, and I keep a photo copy on my person while in country.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lionheart says on Feb 11, 2005, 14:45:

pouch warning Do not wear it around your neck, it is highly visible and thieves know immediately where to look and steal. With a knive they cut the band/string and yank it out of your shirt, sometimes painfully. Instead, tie it around your torso somehow, under the arms or over the belly maybe. I saw a thief in Southern France use a knife ... with two swift cuts, one to cut the string, the other to cut open the shirt with some skin, and within a few seconds all was over and the pouch was gone.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 11, 2005, 14:51:

I had one of those pouches hangin around my neck on one of my visits...never again! People were asking me if I had gained some weight recently...now I understand the reference to the gringos with a lot of weight under their belt.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.