<p>I love my son. An e-mail from him waiting for me this morning:</p>
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<p>He’ll be OK.</p>
<p>Oldfort: carry all you want in your bag but put your credit card and pass port in a waist belt under your clothes.</p>
<p>I agree–would carry those things that would ruin my trip if lost/stolen against my body in a waist security belt under clothing (e.g. passport, credit cards, license, some cash). That has helped me have worry-free travel, especially when I am in places known for pickpockets and worse. I carry what I am using for the day in a more accessible location, like a front pocket or shoulder bag. It works for me & H. H & S & D have also traveled in this manner pretty worry free.</p>
<p>VH - Great email… yes, it sounds like he will be ok. How nice that he said thank you. </p>
<p>For other readers - If you wear a pouch under your clothes with the paperwork and “big cash”, remember to keep some small spend money in your pocket. That will minimize the need to go to the concealed pouch.</p>
<p>Yes, the whole point of wearing the pouch under clothing is to keep it there & hidden. You put your “walking around” $$$ in your pocket, purse, bag or somewhere readily accessible. It’s for peace of mind.</p>
<p>oldfort: Re Post #60 – Thieves have no qualms about taking the entire bag.</p>
<p>My D had her wallet lifted directly out of her daypack when she was studying in Vienna. She’s pretty sure it happened in the train station, so a large, packed bag, especially if it’s held on your back, or even over your shoulder with an opening accessible from the back, isn’t impenetrable. Luckily, her passport was back in her room. We were able to have her pick up an emergency AMEX card that day, and they would have given her a cash advance had her friends not already done so. Getting a new ATM and MasterCard to her was a bigger hassle, because Citibank would not send them anywhere but to her home address or a local branch, and they do not have retail bank offices in Vienna. So, even though AMEX is not accepted everywhere, it was very handy to have had an additional card on our account issued for her that could be replaced immediately. There are still AMEX offices overseas in many cities. The other advantage for AMEX is that they issue additional cards with different numbers, so if one is lost, all do not need to be replaced. Her MC was on my account, and all the cards on that account had to be replaced. </p>
<p>It’s a stressful and challenging experience, but I hope your S can try to enjoy the last days of his trip. It could’ve happened in NY! (And I live there…
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<p>Visa offers this option, too.</p>