Extended Stay America

Wear A Moneybelt

Wear A Moneybelt

When people ask us for travel advice the first thing we say is wear a moneybelt.  

What kind of travel advice is THAT?

We think it's the best kind.  Nothing will ruin a trip faster than to lose your passport and credit cards or cash.  The best way to protect them is to wear a moneybelt.

We've seen leather belts with a little zipper in them.... and people ask how can you get anything in there?  That's not what we're talking about.  Travel moneybelts are small, zippered nylon pouches that you wear under your clothes.  They're usually about 5 inches by 12 inches.  (12 cm x 30 cm).  You wear them around your waist, either in the front or in the small of your back.

That little compartment is big enough to slip your passport in.  Paper airplane tickets fit.  You should put credit cards, debit cards, and your driver's license in there.  Once you've gotten cash from the ATM, keep just enough for one day in your wallet and put the rest in your moneybelt.

We use them anytime we go away from home for more than a day trip.  When we're traveling, we put them on when we get up in the morning, and we don't have to worry... all those valuable documents are safely tucked away with us all day.

When you arrive in a foreign country, you've gone through passport control, then you've probably found an ATM for money.  Now before you do anything else... find a Toilet or WC (in most countries they are marked as Toilets or WCs not restrooms).  You can put that passport, ATM card and most of the money away in your moneybelt in privacy....  

Don't say you'll put it away later.  Wear a moneybelt now and USE it.  This is one time when you're most vulnerable....  You're jet lagged, taking public transportation into town, juggling your luggage.... You're a prime target for a pickpocket.  If you stop and tuck everything away, you'll have greater peace of mind.

If you need more money or a credit card during the day, there will always be a restroom or a private corner where you can dip into your moneybelt safely.  Once you're done with your transaction... put your credit card back in your moneybelt.

Keep a good photocopy of your passport with you.  Sometimes that will be enough to show to the hotel desk clerk.  If they need your passport to register you, you can always get it out for them in a lobby restroom or in your hotel room and bring it down later.

We put the passports, money, and paper documents inside a plastic zip-lock bag.  If you get hot and sticky, you might sweat through those money belts.  The plastic bag protects your documents and money.

And here's a story for you.... We were in Gombe National Park in Tanzania... We had a wonderful two days observing chimps in the wild.  As we were taking the boat trip back to Kigali to catch our flight, a storm sprang up over Lake Tanganyika.  Waves started crashing on the beach where we were supposed to wade ashore.  

We'll cut out the drama here, and just tell you that my spouse ended up in the water.  The good news is the airline tickets and passport were just fine because of that zip-lock bag.

There are neck pouches that some people prefer.  Which ever style you use is up to you, but wear a moneybelt.  It will give you peace of mind.