I have a travel purse that’s cute enough, but the only thing I don’t like about it is you can only wear it on your shoulder or cross body. It’s hammered gunmetal with little silver studs on both sides. I like to wear purses typically on the crook of my arm or hold the handle. But the crossbody is great for sightseeing.
However, it’s going to be cold and I’m not sure how much walking outside we will be doing. I have the one that I carry now that’s not too big, but no shoulder strap.
I have a hobo bag that is light and has both types of straps…but it’s big.
Ideally a purse where the straps can’t be cut and the bag can’t be slit. But I’d say the cross body one sounds like the more secure of the two you listed.
Cross body. I like having both hands free. My favorite purses are purses that can be a cross body or a backpack purse - I like having arm freedom when I walking and when traveling it’s simply safer to have the purse on your body. You don’t have to set it down anywhere and take the chance of leaving it. Adjust the straps if you can so it’s at a comfortable spot on your body.
Agree with cross body for travel, though I like satchels in some circumstances. Since it will be cold, test drive the strap length with your outerwear. A cross body leaves your hands free and if you are walking any distance, you will appreciate that comfort and ease of movement. It also makes it possible to make your purse less conspicuous if you have safety concerns in a particular. area. Have a great time.
For some reason when we are traveling I always seem to end up being the pack donkey, so I like having my hands free to carry other things. One thing I dislike about my cross-body purse is that it tends to slide off the shoulder of my winter coat!
I have an itty bitty cross-body wallet purse that I use when traveling. It holds my money, cards, phone, etc. and I can snap by sunglass case around the strap. It’s also small enough to get into most stadiums. If I have it under my clothing, the airlines don’t notice to count it as a carryon and I can then use a larger bag for other items.
I have a kate spade cross body that my phone can fit in the front flap and I put my other stuff in it, then I put it over my head and shoulder facing inwards.
I face the buckle (on the flap style) inward also and in winter I put the purse on under my coat. I got pick-pocketed several times on crowded subways and buses when I was young and never felt a thing before I got smart to the purses with long enough straps to go over my head and crossbody. These days sometimes I can get away with an RIFD neck pouch for only my passport, credit cards and some paper money when we’re traveling and sightseeing. I just stick it down the neck of my top and stop worrying that someone will stick their hand up my shirt and try to yank it off and my hair is long enough that you really don’t even see I have it on my neck. The nylon ones are light and you can get them for ten bucks.
I used to travel with a cross body bag until I read several reports of straps being grabbed by motorcyclists driving past and the woman holding the bag being dragged. I now travel with a short strapped shoulder bag. I have several that tuck right under the arm leaving little strap available to be grabbed. I was hesitant to switch, but find them easier to use than my old cross bodies. It seems that some of the weight is carried against the body and my shoulder doesn’t get tired or sore. I’ve been on the road for the last week and a half dragging all and sundry in my bag. Feet feel it, but no problems with shoulders.
Just came back from a three week trip…so this topic is timely.
I have two main bags I use to travel. Both have anti-theft properties. Straps with metal inserts to prevent cutting, locking zippers and slash proof nylon material. One is a back pack and the other a cross body. I wear that cross body over head and across the shoulder. I’ve also worn the backpack towards the front when in crowded conditions.
This last trip, cruise, several hotels stops in a couple of cities and air travel, I stopped carrying the purse (brought the cross body) and wore a special travel vest. https://www.amazon.com/ExOfficio-Womens-Flyq-Lite-Vest/dp/B00KR9SA06. It was perfect for a day of sightseeing.
It has numerous security pockets for ID, cash/CC, glasses or such and a zip pocket across the back for passports. I brought a subset of my CC cards and left the others in the hotel or cruise ship safe. At times it was a bit bulky because of the stuff I’d stashed in the pockets, but I felt completely safe and hands were free. We then also brought one of these types of backpacks https://www.amazon.com/bago-Lightweight-Foldable-Backpack-Travel/dp/B07BVBWMN9. H would stuff it into one of his jacket pockets and if we needed the space or carry ability we use it, if not, it took up very little space.
I found not carrying a purse at all to be very liberating.
