Best way to carry money in Europe

February 10, 2016 11:00 AM

I will be travelling to France, Italy, and Spain in a few weeks, and I'm trying to decide the best way to carry money with me. Many sites have recommended money belts, but this seems weird and awkward for actually paying for things! I would feel weird untucking my shirt and reaching into my pants in a fancy restaurant, for example.

I am a woman, and my usual money-carrying approach in the U.S. is just a purse. I often wear tighter pants or skirts without pockets, so I don't think a wallet will be a good solution. But, articles online seem to suggest a purse is unsafe in Europe. Are pickpockets really so much more of a problem there than in major U.S. cities (where I honestly do not think twice about carrying a purse)? Are there good alternatives that will keep my money + phone safe without having to constantly reach down the front of my pants?

posted by rainbowbrite to Travel & Transportation around Figueres, Spain (42 answers total)

Warnings about Europe being especially risky for pickpockets is just nonsense. Bring your purse.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 11:04 AM on February 10, 2016 [24 favorites]

I carry a small cross body purse (although more because I want a lightweight bag since I'm on my feet all day, not because of safety issues). Pay attention to your surroundings and you'll be fine.

Another option is a jacket with internal zipping pockets - I do that sometimes as well.
posted by something something at 11:08 AM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

I have never carried anything except a purse when traveling in Europe. The thing that makes tourists a target for pickpockets is not their purse-carrying ways, it's that they're distracted. Be aware of your surroundings and monitor your belongings normally -- keep your purse with you, zip it shut when you're walking around, yadda yadda.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:08 AM on February 10, 2016 [14 favorites]

Yes. Carry your money like you normally do.

When you find yourself in large crowds (especially in tourist areas) be careful (like you normally do).
posted by jazh at 11:08 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

You shouldn't need much cash. Just get a credit card with no international transaction fees. I've had good experiences with the Barclay Arrival+ card; it even works with chip-and-pin vending machines in Europe.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:09 AM on February 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

I carry an abbreviated version of my wallet (1 form of ID, 1 or 2 credit cards, transit card, and some cash) if I'm going out, whether that's here in a major US city or abroad. That plus good situational awareness works for me.
posted by evoque at 11:10 AM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

I keep that day's cash-on-hand in a purse for traveling, but the rest of my cash, cards, documents are stashed someplace safer (e.g., a hotel safe).

I have also had all my moneys & docs in a purse - on a day where I'm changing lodging, say - but no matter how much I'm carrying I am attentive to my purse: it's across my body, and the bag part is in front of me or under an arm. And fastened closed. I don't walk away from it, or hang it on the back of a chair, or leave it loose on a table.
posted by janell at 11:10 AM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

This has never been an issue for me. I just keep my wallet in a purse that zips and if I'm concerned, I keep it in front of my person rather than just hanging on my shoulder. Some people get crazy with things like decoy wallets but if you keep your wits about you like you would normally, you should be fine.
posted by kat518 at 11:11 AM on February 10, 2016

It kind of depends where you're going. Just like in the US.
However, tourists, especially young and female ones, do get pickpocketed more often than us regular folks. And tourist places like the queue infront of the Sistine chapel attract a lot of riffraff.
However. As a European who is often a tourist in Europe, I say use a purse and pay attention to your surroundings. Don't carry tons of money and carry a copy of your passport rather than the real one.
posted by Omnomnom at 11:12 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

I felt really secure with a shoulder bag from PacSafe. The straps are steel reinforced (so they can't be cut), the bag itself is protected with steel mesh, and it's not fancy/expensive looking.

Are European cities less safe than American ones? I really doubt it. However, I'd be less sure of knowing where is safe and where is unsafe in a distant city, and I'd be much more upset to have to deal with problems if I were on vacation (or worse, business) in a lovely place where I didn't necessarily know the language well.
posted by amtho at 11:12 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

2nding that it's just standard good practice, in the US or abroad, not to have ALL your important everything on your person at once. Keep your passport and a credit card in the hotel safe when you're going out and about.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:13 AM on February 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

Behave as you normally would in a large US city: be aware of your surroundings and don't leave your belongings unattended. Breathless warnings about purse snatchers and muggings and thieves, thieves everywhere! in many parts of western europe are often unfortunately based more on racism and xenophobia than on actual booming petty crime rates.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:14 AM on February 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

Pickpockets are real, and particularly active in some European cities. Madrid, for example, is well known for them. (I speak from sad experience.) They are not everywhere -- they tend to be in crowded locations like markets and subways. This doesn't mean you can't carry money normally, but it is worthwhile to make sure you're using a cross body purse with a clasp, and keep your hand on it in crowds. Be aware that some pickpockets work in groups and so if you get bumped off balance, make sure your hand doesn't move off your purse. Also, don't carry everything with you. Put the stuff you don't really need like extra credit cards, cash stash, passport, and similar items in your hotel safe. Most of all, as noted above, just stay alert.
posted by bearwife at 11:14 AM on February 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

Also, don't judge anyone on their appearance. The pickpockets that victimized me and my husband in Madrid were, and this is typical, neither of color nor poor looking nor in any way different from anyone else. They were smooth and aggressive and fast, and I am still kicking myself for not taking the basic precautions I outlined in my poor comment above.
posted by bearwife at 11:16 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

I've never been pick-pocketed in several trips to Europe, but in the last year 3 members of my immediate family have had their wallets taken while vacationing in Amsterdam, Paris and Nice. They all might have well written "tourist" across their foreheads with how they were dressed, so do your best to dress like a local and you'll be safer. No silly zip-off pants and Tilly hats that invite thieves to go through your pockets.
posted by krunk at 11:17 AM on February 10, 2016 [7 favorites]

You can also just carry a purse as you would usually, then use a money belt as backup in the unlikely case that you lose your wallet. You can decide whether the peace of mind is worth the discomfort. In the belt, you can carry your passport, backup credit card, etc.

In the old pre-ATM days, near the end of the last millennium, we used a money belt to carry the few thousand dollars (in traveler's checks or, in some countries, cash) that we'd need to travel for several months, transferring needed amounts to a wallet or purse each morning.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:18 AM on February 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

I feel like the moneybelt recommendations hinge on the pre-ATM idea that if you're going to Europe for two weeks, then you need to take >$2000 in cash and travellers checks. If I were carrying around that much cash, then yes, I'd put most of it in a money belt or otherwise near my skin, and leave out only enough for today's needs, possibly leaving most of it at the hotel safe as necessary. It just feels weird to have that much value on one's person, so money belts etc are ways of making it safer.

However, since all recent traveling has involved paying for larger purchases with a credit card and getting incremental amounts of local-currency cash from ATMs, I'm never really carrying more valuables with me than I do at home. Be big-city cautious, don't have more cash than you need, and have a secure location at the hotel that includes a backup credit card and the number to call if your primary card got stolen.
posted by aimedwander at 11:23 AM on February 10, 2016 [6 favorites]

I'm a petite woman and I've traveled around Europe by myself. I carried a crossbody purse and used a normal wallet and never had a problem. Be aware and you'll be fine. The major cities in those countries are not any more dangerous than New York would be.
posted by monologish at 11:26 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

I still do use an under-clothes pouch for my passport and bank cards because I do get distracted - that's part of the point of why I'm going - and I don't want to leave those in my rental apartment and I don't trust myself to remember to grab them from the hotel safe - but a crossbody purse for the day's cash.
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:26 AM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

A purse is absolutely fine. I was about to write: dress like a local, then krunk did. Public transportation can be a problem: always keep your purse in front and keep a hand on it when in crowded places or public transportation.
I went with my girls to Barcelona last week, and was pleasantly surprised to find it had become much safer to walk around the city since I was there last time ten years ago. I've never had any bad experiences in France, and in Italy, the places to be extra alert are where there are really many tourists.

Last year, a man tried to steal my phone out of my pocket. I grabbed his wrist and got him to give it back to me. He was very well-dressed - looked like a well-off businessman. So yes, prejudice will not guide you here.
posted by mumimor at 11:27 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

Warnings about Europe being especially risky for pickpockets is just nonsense.

This is an absolutely false statement.

The other above advice is good. In addition, read up on Paris Scams.
posted by kanewai at 11:29 AM on February 10, 2016

Nthing leaving your passport in a secure place at your hotel, and only carrying the cash you will need during your outing. If you need an ID (say, to check out a museum audio guide) your driver's license will do.

Most places in Europe take Visa, so you don't really need to bring much cash anyway. Find out if your bank has a relationship with any banks where you're going, so you know if there are any free ATMs you can use. For example, BofA has a partnership with BNP Paribas in France. Free ATMs all over Paris!

In crowds, esp on public transportation or popular tourist spots, keep your hand on your purse, and keep it in front of you.

My husband's passport was taken by a pickpocket in Europe last fall because he A. kept it in the back pocket of his pants B. didn't immediately brush off a woman trying to get him to sign a "petition," so he was distracted. While some people working the line at a tourist spot may just be trying to make a living, be cautious.

If I sound alarmist, I'm not - I lived in Europe and the whole time never had a problem with pickpockets. Just use your head.
posted by Pearl928 at 11:33 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

addendum: I've only been to Europe a handful of times, and yet have personally witnessed half the scams in the article I linked to. Paris, Rome, and Barcelona seem to be particular hot spots.

Oddly, the streets of Naples - the city with the worst reputation in Western Europe - were perfectly fine. Maybe there just aren't enough tourists there to attract the organized gangs.
posted by kanewai at 11:35 AM on February 10, 2016

Pickpockets are real, and particularly active in some European cities

Yes, this. It's not all cities or everywhere in one city or even at all times of year or of the day. But there are places where it is a real, actual problem. I know so many people who have been pickpocketed including locals. So the first thing to do is research where you're going, see if it's a noted problem in that place and what to look out for there. Public transport and tourist attractions are often target areas for example.

Then take care as has been described. A bag that zips firmly shut that can't be easily grabbed from you and that is in your attention span and under your control at all times, plus a lot of situational awareness is the main thing. And don't talk to anyone approaching you with a clipboard or paper and asking if you speak English.

And check the law of the countries you're going to, it's likely that you're actually required to have your original passport on you at all times. In which case carry it, because you can't assume no one will check and there will be no sympathy if you don't have it with you.
posted by shelleycat at 11:38 AM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

There are lots of signs in the London Underground telling tourists to be careful of their belongings. I saw a documentary once about an ex Pick-pocket who said these signs served the opposite purpose they were designed for:

Tourists saw these signs, and immediately checked their bags and pockets etc. to make sure their wallet was safe, unknowingly illustrating to pick-pocketers precisely WHERE their valuable goods were kept.

Just be wary, have a zip up bag and heed lots of the EXCELLENT advice above.

In London especially, be VERY careful about putting your phone on a table in a restaurant or bar or even coffee shop. In Canada where I live, no-one bats an eye at standing up and going to the toilet whilst leaving their phone on a table as long as their friends are there. This is a mistake in London, my very close friend's phone was swiped from the table top without her noticing, and she hadn't even gone to the bathroom or left the phone unattended.

Thieves are quick, they operate solely on a split second opportunity and take it - quick as an arrow.

You WILL be fine if you keep your wits about you! It's like any big city really, you just have to keep your eyes open.
posted by JenThePro at 11:38 AM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

The old trope of roaming packs of pickpockets is, yes, largely a thing of the past, but there are plenty of scams people will use to distract you while someone else makes off with your stuff. The best advice is to be aware of your surroundings and trust your gut (c.f. the oft-recommended The Gift of Fear). "Dress like a local" is actually not helpful advice, as any New Yorker will tell you- what makes you stick out is not just your clothes (though dressing like an obvious American is a big tip-off), it's more in the way you walk, the way you're in a state of constant distraction, the map you're carrying around, etc.
posted by mkultra at 11:46 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

Nthing a cross body bag. I use one with a securely fastened strap, zippers over interior compartments, and flap over that. I've also gotten into the habit of keeping my hand over the flap. One of the compartments has a smaller, zippered pocket that I put my wallet into. I only carry what I need for the day and the rest is left in the hotel safe. When I'm seated, the strap stays around my neck and the purse is either beside me or in my lap.

I also use a pocket that loops around my belt and tucks inside my jeans, but that only contains what I need to get back to my hotel if I'm pick pocketed. Any interior pocket (like one inside a jacket) would do as well.
posted by jazzbaby at 11:47 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

Cross body purse, under your coat, should be MORE than safe.

Just be mindful and have a healthy suspicion of people who are in your personal space or who seem to be trying to distract you.

I've been pickpocketed twice, once in San Francisco, once at ATL. My Dad got pickpocketed in Prague by that whole 'flock of kids thing." They only got his driver's license because my Mom refused to let him have anything more than that because he's kind of flighty. SHE fought them off by swinging her arms and screeching like a banshee. My best friend got pickpocketed on the Metro in Paris.

We were on an excursion in Barcelona, from a very small cruise ship, we knew everyone in our party of about 15 people. Suddenly there was a guy with a guide-book in English under his arm, acting like he was part of the group. We totally called him out. "Hi! Haven't seen you around? Where are you from?" He clearly didn't speak English and he seemed really confused that we even noticed him. He went away as quickly as he joined us.

So yes, it happens.

1. Make a copy of your passport in case you need an emergency replacement. Keep it in your luggage. Hell, make a couple and keep them in different bags and different places. Leave one with someone back home.

2. Disperse your few cards into different bags, wallets, pockets, etc. That way they don't get everything all at once.

3. Only withdraw the cash you'll need for each day or two. ATMs are all over.

Once you've done these easy steps. Relax and enjoy your trip.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:49 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

I was pickpocketed as a tourist (on a bus, not in Europe) despite being a pretty savvy traveler, and experienced a traumatizing 3 months of visa hell afterward, so I am way more cautious than most. But I don't use a money belt or any other contraption. It sounds like this is maybe your first time traveling to Europe, so chances are high that you haven't developed a guard against common tourist scams (which are absolutely real, but very easily avoided).

Now, when traveling, I carry a purse with a closed opening (zipper or flap) positioned so that my hand rests naturally across the opening. I like a cross-body so that when my hands are busy, I can shift the purse so that it's on the front of my body. When sitting down, the purse always goes on my lap where I can feel it.
posted by acidic at 11:55 AM on February 10, 2016

You're safer not carrying around a wad of cash.

No matter what contrivance you use to hide the cash, you need to remove it and open it to get your money. That is a vulnerable moment. Even if you leave it attached to your body, someone may see you and then, later, threaten you and force you to hand over the cash.

If your cash goes, it's gone. If you lose a credit card or an ATM card, you can call the issuer, cancel that account, probably get sent emergency cash locally, and have a new card expressed to you.

I carry credit card(s) and ATM card(s). Every few days I grab the equivalent of a few hundred dollars from an ATM machine. I use the credit card in the same situations I use it at home.

At my departure airport, I buy just enough of my arrival city's local currency to cover contingencies getting from the airport to the hotel. Sometime the next morning, I'll hit a cash machine.

So, if I'm in the UK, for example, I'll arrive with about 100 pounds in my pocket, and never have much more then 200 in my wallet.

To avoid card issuers flagging your first use of the card out of country as fraud and immediately freezing the account, call them before you leave and tell them when and where you're going. Be sure you get their emergency phone number, and be sure you keep it separately from the cards.

Some American banks have deals with European banks that cut ATM and exchange fees a bit. It's worth asking about.

Yes, pickpockets exist. The risk, especially in crowded urban locations, is non-zero. Crowded tourist sites inhabited by hordes of distracted gawkers with their heads in the air are obvious targets for thieves.

So, if I was hanging out at the Eiffel tower, or shuffling down Oxford Street in London, I'd be extra careful.

Otherwise, it's a generic risk we face everywhere.

I travel with a wallet and a small zippered camera bag that looks a lot like a rectangular purse (about 12x10x3 inches) with about $4000 worth of hardware inside. I wear a light zippered jacket with a zippered inner pocket. When I'm in a crowded worrisome area, the wallet goes in the zippered pocket inside the zippered jacket.

Anything hanging from a strap can be grabbed by slicing a blade through the strap. I'll usually slide my right hand underneath the bag and hold it as it hangs from my shoulder in crowded areas where I'll be bumped and jostled. Sometimes I'll just wrap it around in front and hold it to my abdomen.

That's traveling. I lived in London for a few years and never took any precautions and never had any problems.
posted by justcorbly at 12:03 PM on February 10, 2016

Use a belt for the big money, use a purse for a dinner's worth of cash, otherwise use your visa or master card whenever possible, be watchful, avoid to look too much like a hapless tourist, or to act waywardly tipsy or whatever, keep your bags close to yourself, and you'll be fine.

The problem of talking about "Europe," "risk" and "pickpockets" is that Europe is big and diverse. I've seen people enter a Paris café in plain daylight, grab handbags and run. I've been in a tram in Amsterdam where someone got a large knife pointed at them to release their cash, at four in the afternoon. Teenagers in sleepy and boring Borås, West Sweden, get knocked over their heads for their iPhones... But I've also seen a Taxi driver in Spain who ran, violin case in hand, to catch up with a violinist who stupidly had forgotten her instrument in the car, in order to return it.
posted by Namlit at 12:20 PM on February 10, 2016

Pickpockets are very much a thing in capital cities. Staff at the Eiffel Tower went on strike last year because they were sick of seeing their visitors having to walk a gauntlet of jostling organised pickpockets. The Facebook group "I know someone who got robbed in Barcelona" shows some scale of the problem and variety of tricks involved, worth a look as many cities have the same tricks being run. As a Brit I keep hearing how Chinese tourists in London are preyed upon by pickpockets, until recently this group tended to use credit cards less and carry around bigger amounts of hard cash making them prime targets. Personally I have never been robbed in 45 years of living in Glasgow, but adding up all the weekend and week-long trips and I've spent maybe 8 weeks in Barcelona and got robbed of a $300 camera once and had someone try to steal my wallet another time. You are very much more a desirable target as a tourist not just because you are likely to be distracted, but because you are more likely to be carrying around more cash to buy museum tickets, gifts etc. than the average local who just needs to carry enough for a day or two of minimal purchases. From my own experience :- my backpack and camera got robbed in an Internet cafe when I made the mistake of having it below the desk next to my feet. One person acted drunk and asked me questions I didn't understand, his accomplice must have grabbed the backpack. With the wallet, I was going through a Metro turnstile and it didn't turn. Thinking there was a problem with my ticket, I tried again and as I went through I felt a hand reach for my wallet. Thankfully I felt it in time and grabbed tight to his wrist until it fell out on my side of the turnstile and the thief retreated. A second later with my grab and he would have had it. I guess he used one hand to impede the turnstile to begin with in order to create the distraction. So I would carry a money belt in a big city for not for using several times a day. I would keep my passport in it and one credit card and some money. Losing a credit card or money is a nuisance but losing a passport is much more complicated and more of a nuisance. Then as a guy I would have maybe the money I would use in two days if I didn't use a credit card, plus another card in the wallet for in restaurants or shops. I would try to use the credit card where possible to avoid depleting my cash reserve but I like a reserve in case a card gets declined. Always good having more than one card in more than one place on your body. There is an issue now of stolen phones having big bills run up in short time periods like a few hours, so if your phone is stolen it needs reported quickly to your carrier. Maybe a site like Rick Steves would have tips in a forum specifically for women. I know many people have their purse and mobile on a sidewalk cafe and someone will come up on a scooter and shoot off with it quick.

So caution is in order as you are much more likely to be target for pickpocketing and petty theft, even if you think you are dressed like a local, career criminals will likely know a tourist. However there are millions going to Europe on holidays and most don't have problems. For me it was quite noticeable 1 crime and 1 attempted in a short period abroad vs a lifetime without a single incident at home. On the plus side there's much less violent crime and in particular fewer guns about vs the US, less of the robberies where people get beat up as well as robbed, it's nearly always petty crime but that's still a nuisance. If it's an issue that worries you then definitely getting a cross-body bag with a strap that can't be quickly cut with a knife is a good investment, and maybe if there's a travel insurance option which takes the hassle out of reporting thefts and replacing cards that might be worth it for peace of mind too.
posted by AuroraSky at 12:33 PM on February 10, 2016

Bra stash! I use mine a lot when taking my kids to museums or amusement parks and I want both hands free and not to have a purse bumping around. It fits a license and a credit card and a bit of folded cash. It's surprisingly comfortable even if you're getting all sweaty. While pickpocketing does happen, you're unlikely to get pick-boobed. And it's a little easier to reach in to your bra strap than to go through the whole shirt-untucking ritual.

You can also consider the money belt/bra stash/whatever solutions when doing tourist attractions/museums, and when going out to dinner carry a regular purse to avoid the untucking ritual.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 12:43 PM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

One common pickpocket scheme that I know has happened to friends while traveling in Europe but never heard of happening in the US is where someone will spill something on you and then offer to help you clean up, and while you are distracted, someone else will grab your phone/wallet/purse. So, do be aware of that. Otherwise, all the advice above is good.
posted by jaksemas at 12:46 PM on February 10, 2016

I've lived in Chicago for more than a decade and I firsthand witnessed more petty street crime during my two months in London than in all the time here; I don't think it's an exaggeration to say this type of crime is worse in Europe.

But as long as you're not a complete nincompoop you should be just fine with your purse. Keep it zipped/fastened, keep it close to your body, don't do dumb shit with it, don't wear bright green t-shirts that say I'M CARRYING CASH and fall asleep on the train, etc.

Diversify your cash holding locations, though, just in case something (anything! you could drop your bag into the sea!) happens. Don't put every last payment method and form of ID in your purse. Which you shouldn't do anyway.
posted by phunniemee at 12:49 PM on February 10, 2016

Why would you take a load or indeed any of cash with you? Alert your bank you're travelling and hit the cashpoint on arrival. I've never flown into an airport that didn't have several different cashpoints. Even if the first one doesn't like your card the next one will.

When you're out and about during the day, put a small amount of cash, an ID and 1-2 cards in your normal wallet for use as normal. You're never far from a cashpoints in all the countries on your list so don't feel the need to withdraw a lot of cash at any point. I find the transaction fees are much more affordable than the cash you're losing if you do get pickpocketed.

Stash any other cards, your passport, any more cash in a different place. My personal favourite way of doing that is to take a sandwich bag (ziplock) and place all such items in it. This either goes in the hotel safe or another pocket/bag.

If I'm gone for more than a couple of days I also have a second bag for my home country currency and cards I won't need outside my home country. This normally stays in the hotel, sometimes in the safe, sometimes not, depending on how much cash it actually is.

This system has served me well. I have tested it all over the Eurozone, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, India, Beijing, Indonesia, South Africa, all over the western USA, western Canada. Be sure to tell your card issuer you're travelling and have their number to hand in case they block your card anyway. But there is no need for lots of cash or money belts.
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:03 PM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

I used a money belt on my first trip to Europe, and I sweated all over my passport and the blue from the cover ran onto the picture page and airline employees gave me crap about it (actual CBP people didn't seem to mind it) for the next five years until I finally gave up and replaced my unexpired passport just because I wanted to be done with it.

So if you use a money belt, put your passport in a ziploc (my current passport *does* seem more waterproof than my original, but still, better safe than sorry!).
posted by mskyle at 1:06 PM on February 10, 2016

My husband and I travel a decent amount, and although I usually just keep a hand on my bag, my husband is paranoid by nature and doesn't even trust hotel safes. So he wears an around-the-neck pouch in which he keeps our passports, an extra credit card, and the bulk of our cash. We take out as much cash as we estimate that we'll need for the day, but usually just use credit cards. We usually don't use that much cash. Most places around the world take credit cards now.
posted by telophase at 1:06 PM on February 10, 2016

When my wife traveled to Europe she purchased a safety purse. It's essentially the same as a purse but it's slice proof. That includes the reinforced shoulder strap. Should be easy to Google a retailer.
posted by Splunge at 3:54 PM on February 10, 2016

Pickpockets are definitely real. However, I carry a cross body purse. It's leather (so not easily slashable) and zippered. I make sure to keep it zippered and put a hand on it, especially in crowded areas. I have never been pick-pocketed.
posted by ethidda at 4:44 PM on February 10, 2016

I use a pouch or money belt as storage, to be accessed only in private.

I reposition my cross body messenger bag often: in front for crowds, on the side offering the worst option for a grab and dash thief. The less obvious risk of cross body carry is injury from not being able to release before the grab has pulled you off balance.

Suddenly surrounded by a group of locals? Spin. Seriously. A wobbly spin with a moving center that is under control will make them step back and laugh. I carry expensive camera gear. I've been surrounded 3 times. Spinning dispersed them in seconds.
posted by Homer42 at 7:12 PM on February 10, 2016

Spaniard here. Yes, pickpockets are a problem. Not so much to us locals except at local holidays when there are large crowds around, but they zone in on tourists because most of the time they won't even complain to the police because of the lack of time or language skills. Basically, the more touristy and crowded a place, the more likely it is to have pickpockets around.

Places like the Plaza Mayor in Madrid and Las Ramblas in Barcelona are infamous for pickpockets and scam artists. Barcelona is particularly bad because so many tourists come in cruises and will only be there for a few hours. Outside of Spain, I have also witnessed the "swarm of children" tactic in Italy. Sometimes they carry cardboard pieces so you won't see their hands below.

I really recommend you carry most of your money stash in a money belt or pouch inside your shirt, and money for 1-2 days in your purse. You move money from the belt to the purse at your hotel room. Keep also the phone numbers to use to cancel credit cards at hand (but not in the wallet) in case they get stolen.

I've heard that the most common assault way is grabbing your handbag and running away so fast so, be careful and have a nice trip.

We call that "el tirón". Sometimes they do it from a moving motorbike, so keep your handbag crossbody. Keep your handbag always zippered up. If you are in a public transport like the metro or a city bus and it is very crowded, keep it in front of you and if needed grab it (or if you have a backpack, you can also wear it in front. Nobody will stare at you), because crowded public transportation is also a hotspot for pickpockets.
posted by sukeban at 11:00 PM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]