To keep your passport, cash, debit, credit cards and other items safe from theft— think layering like you do with clothing. When you only carry one large purse or bag and you lose it, then you lose everything. It’s wiser to separate items and place your most valuable possessions in locations not as accessible to purse snatchers or pick pocketers.
First Layer – Undergarment Security Pouch
Contents may include:
Passport, extra credit & debit cards, extra cash, additional ID, e.g., driver’s license, extra medical insurance card, emergency phone number list, other valuable items, e.g., rail pass and maybe your mobile phone in certain locations.
This pouch is worn under your clothes, crossbody and under one arm or you can hang it from your neck under your clothes and down the front of you.
With an adjustable strap you can lengthen or shorten the bag to either leave it hanging loose or tuck the bottom into your pants.
Note: I do not wear this pouch every day. I primarily use it on travel days when I am changing accommodation location, or if I am planning on obtaining cash from an ATM or money exchange. Just make sure when you are not wearing your pouch that it is kept in a secure location, like a hostel locker or hotel safe.
When I need easy access to pouch, particularly at an ATM, I hang it down the front under my top or loose-fitting dress. In a secure space at the ATM, I pull my pouch out to access my debit card. Then I put debit card and cash into my pouch and drop it back down under my garment before exiting to the street.
When traveling overnight on buses or trains, I may even place my mobile phone in the pouch, and wear it while sleeping.
The pouches listed in Trains, Buses, Hostels SHOP are slightly longer in length than most other pouches making it easier to store dollar bills without folding the bills. This makes the pouch less bulky and keeps the paper bills in better shape since some countries are very particular about the quality of certain currencies.
First Layer Alternative – Waist Pouch Lightweight
This pouch is used to carry the same contents as the under garment pouch above except it is worn around the waist under your clothes.
Waist pouches worn over your clothes are not as secure for traveling particularly the ones with side release buckles. Look for a lightweight fabric pouch for comfort and to reduce bulkiness when worn under clothing.
These pouches are also great for easy access to a mobile phone. Additionally they provide a secure place to put your phone if you often use headphones attached to your phone while traveling.
Note: It is advisable to never leave a mobile phone sitting on your lap or on a seat tray when traveling on buses or trains, especially if you might fall asleep. You may find your phone gone when you wake up.
Second Layer – Day or Evening Crossbody Purse/Bag
The purpose of this bag is to carry just the essential items needed for a day or evening outing.
Contents may include:
- enough cash for the day or evening
- one credit or debit card if it may be needed
- a photocopy of your passport, or your passport if you are in a secure area and you need easy access to it
- the address of your current accommodation
- your emergency medical insurance card
- transit card or transit tickets
- any other small items you classify as essential. Larger non valuable items can be carried in the third layer.
Small crossbody bags are the most secure because they can always stay on you even when you sit down to eat. Hanging them in the front as opposed to on the side and using zipper pockets for valuables makes them less accessible for pick pocketers.
Small lightweight bags can also be worn under a jacket in case of rainy weather or for additional security. Like many others I found it difficult at first to downsize to a small bag.
I reduced the size of the bag I needed by putting my sunglasses and reading glasses in an attached glasses case. This actually made my glasses more accessible. I can now switch between reading glasses and sun glasses without digging through my purse.
By using a crossbody tote as my third layer it has allowed me to move more items that I use to carry in a larger bag/purse.
Third Layer – Crossbody Tote with Useful Packing Pouch
This lightweight, crossbody tote contains only items that can be easily replaced. When touring an area it’s a handy bag to carry a water bottle, a sandwich, snack items, a jacket or sweater, hat, rain coat or umbrella.
The attached pouch is the perfect place to store, hand sanitizer, wipes, tissues, toilet paper, Band-Aids or any other items you may need on a day trip.
Using a tote with a strap that goes crossbody means it won’t fall off your shoulder as easily and you will not have a tendency to set it down and leave it somewhere.
When your outing includes riding trains and buses, a crossbody tote is handier than removing a backpack every time you go to sit down on a bus or metro train.
The crossbody tote will also hide your crossbody purse/bag making it less visible or accessible to others.
Additionally the crossbody tote has many other uses such as:
- carrying groceries back to the hostel,
- hauling dirty clothes to laundry, or
- carrying towel and other items to the beach.
When flying I use my crossbody tote as my personal item.
Once I am in a secure section in the airport, I put my small crossbody purse inside my crossbody tote along with the other items I want easy access to on the plane, i.e., book, water, pillow, sweater, etc.
The tote is then my allowable personal item and it’s small enough to be stored under my seat for easy access.
At home, I tend to use one purse that I dump everything into. So, it does take a bit of getting use to when I am on the road and using three separate places to store items. However, I have found that it is definitely worth being organized and knowing that all my valuables are not in one place.
Especially as a solo travel, I don’t have a backup partner to borrow money from if I lose my debit or credit cards. Adding a couple of extra lightweight bags and the time spent organizing my items in each of them, has given me peace of mind and it could save my valuables from loss!
For more travel information and a packing checklist, get a copy of the book, Trains, Buses, Hostels & Home Stays.
