Rick Steves' Simple Money Belt Advice Can Help You Look Less Obvious To Pickpockets

Anytime a traveler plans a trip to Europe, the typical worry that sits in the back of their mind is the looming threat of pickpockets. It seems that everyone who's visited a country with a high risk of pickpocketing has some kind of story to share, whether they lost a few bucks in their pocket or they saw someone's phone get snatched on public transit. The destinations in Europe where you're most likely to get pickpocketed are pretty popular among travelers, like Paris, Rome, and Barcelona. While these snafus may make you reconsider traveling to these pickpocket hot spots, Rick Steves is a fierce advocate for the money belt as a way to fight back. 

Money belts, or any form of hidden storage pockets, are a must-buy for European travel. This travel essential can secure your important documents and money, with pocket space for bills, passports, and credit cards. The belts sit around the waist under the wearer's clothes. It can be easily tucked into the waist of the pants and removed when necessary. However, some well-meaning travelers may make themselves more obvious to pickpockets by improperly using their money belts, such as by overstuffing them or pulling them out too frequently. Luckily, travel guru Rick Steves has some suggestions that will make sure you stay off a pickpocket's "to rob list." It all comes down to minimizing the amount of time you spend with your money belt out in the open and how you utilize your minimal pocket space. Point blank, don't let pickpockets see your money belt!

In his money belt blog post, Steves suggests not exposing your money belt too often for purchases. "You don't need to get at your money belt for every euro," he writes. "Your money belt is your deep storage — for select deposits and withdrawals." He recommends keeping a day's worth of money — an amount you wouldn't miss if it got nabbed — in your pocket for easy access, adding that, "a zipper, button-down flap, or Velcro strip sewn into your front or back pocket slows down fast fingers." This way, you don't have to show off your money belt every time you're buying the best gelato abroad or grabbing a souvenir keychain for mom. The more your money belt is in sight, the more pickpockets can tell where you're actually storing your valuables.

While a money belt is supposed to hold valuable items, refrain from stuffing your belt too much. Money belts are not made to be packed to the brim with every bill, card, or receipt you have. While there is ample pocket space, Steves recommends leaving what you can in your hotel room and only bringing necessary valuables. Think passports, ID cards, one to two credit cards, and some backup bills in case your convenient pocket money gets swiped. When money belts stay on the lighter side, they stay discreet and fit comfortably under your clothes, making them easier to pull out for use. If you pack a money belt too tightly, it could start to get bulky and awkward to wear, which will immediately stick out to a stealthy pickpocket.