Crisp new bills and saving for a trip.

[Faux Pas]

Yeah, if you go with the pouch or the money-belt plan it's a good idea to wear it a bit before you go. It can itch or get in a bind under your shirt. My big mistake though was to put my keys to my suitcase locks in it so when the beeper went off going through airport security in Frankfurt I had to remove my sweater,  unbutton my shirt and lift my t-shirt to get it out of the pouch for the security guys. 

UGH! -

What is a travel pouch? That fanny pack?


FO, I would not travel to FSU without the travel insurance. Well worth it for the price IMO

[Gylden]

The key is to use common sense and not let paranoia gain control.

David

Now here is a novel approach!! true wisdom!!

Of course it would be more of an adventure to pack one of those folding army shovels and sneak out into the park at night, bury the cash and make a treasure map in order to find it later. (of course allways carry the map in your sock)
 

[ECOCKS]

What is a travel pouch? That fanny pack?


FO, I would not travel to FSU without the travel insurance. Well worth it for the price IMO

I think what he is talking about is the pouch you wear around your neck under your clothing. That was mentioned up-thread a bit.

[dbneeley]

Over the years, I have accumulated several different things--including a money belt and a silk security pouch that fits under the shirt. The money belt is obviously limited in capacity, and the bills must be creased to fit into it. I do use it a bit, mostly in the aim of keeping cash in several places so it is unlikely that all could be lost or stolen.

The silk pouch is nice, in that silk is far less likely to cause any sort of irritation to the skin than most other materials. In it, I carry the bulk of any cash I am taking with me.

However, you don't want to have to retrieve cash from under your clothing when you are in a store or other public location--prospective thieves see that and immediately know where they must look for your cash, after all. Thus, I transfer what I think I will be needing over the following several hours to my front pocket.

If a money clip doesn't work for you, a good-sized rubber band can work quite well. As you become used to handling cash in this way, you can even simply keep the bills folded over in the pocket without a problem.

As for losing it--if you keep your keys and other items frequently accessed in one pocket, and your cash in the other, there should be no reason to lose it since you only go into that pocket when needing cash. In addition, although it looks rather clunky perhaps, I also found one of the old plastic coin purses--the kind that opens when you squeeze it--and put my coins in it. That way, I don't have to fish in my pocket for needed coins and the bills become disturbed less. I have found that typical billfolds are far too bulky and thus obvious in the front pocket, especially when they also contain a coin pocket. I also have the cards I access regularly in the pocket with the cash--debit card, driver's license, that sort of thing.

The U.S. is now issuing passport cards, too--they are not good for international travel in the place of the regular passport except for Canada and Mexico, but for potential identification they seem useful. Also, should you lose your passport, having one of those cards makes getting a replacement in the nearest U.S. Consulate a much faster and simpler proposition. (Here in Ukraine, when I am at home in Donetsk I carry the passport card with me and leave the passport itself at home. I do take the passport itself with me when traveling elsewhere in the country or of course when I am leaving it.)

Since I'm right handed, I keep cash and cards in my left pocket and my keys and my Fisher space pen in my right, along with a small pocket knife if I'm not flying anywhere. Since so many shirts don't have pockets these days, I also take a small leather "portable desk" that handles 3x5 note cards in one back pocket and a small Russian dictionary in the other one if I don't have a jacket or coat with pockets. When I do have jacket pockets, I put the dictionary and note card holder there.

If I'm going to be out after dark, I also carry a small LED flashlight. Illumination on the streets in Ukraine at night is well below what is typical in U.S. cities. When coupled with pavement that is too often uneven, if nothing else the light makes walking easier and safer. It also makes negotiating the stairs and the door lock at the flat easier when there is no light there.

Speaking of flashlights--I believe it is very good practice to have at least one with you when you travel. Power outages also happen with some regularity in most areas, and having a small light at hand can be extremely helpful at such times. (We average one power glitch a month or slightly more--lasting from a few minutes to many hours at times).

This may seem elementary to most of you, but many who have not traveled extensively obviously have their own ideas which may or may not seem the most prudent in a new environment.

David

[Forever Optimistic]

The silk money belt I own is large enough so that bills would not get creased. After having read the comments about creases I have become less concerned about them anyway.



Back to the subject of the money clip. If travelers are concerned about creases in their bills, then why carry bills with a clip or rubberband? The bills will sustain much more wear when they are carried this way instead of in a wallet, money belt, envelope, or something else.

Neither the money clip nor a rubber band would work for me. When I have carried clipped or loose money it was lost within a matter of hours. Decades later I still remember the first such experience in childhood when I was sent to a supermarket and I lost the loose bills. After a couple of these incidents in my adult years with small amounts lost, I will never do it again. I cannot begin to imagine carrying money this way in a location where theft is a concern. My cash would be gone in minutes instead of hours.

I carry a small LED flashlight whenever I travel. It has proven itself useful in a few situations. I vaguely recall there is a regulation regarding batteries and air travel. Since I have not flown anywhere in nearly 2 years I will have to re-read airport security rules on batteries, computers, and other items.

[Faux Pas]

Neither the money clip nor a rubber band would work for me. When I have carried clipped or loose money it was lost within a matter of hours. Decades later I still remember the first such experience in childhood when I was sent to a supermarket and I lost the loose bills. After a couple of these incidents in my adult years with small amounts lost, I will never do it again. I cannot begin to imagine carrying money this way in a location where theft is a concern. My cash would be gone in minutes instead of hours.

I carry a small LED flashlight whenever I travel. It has proven itself useful in a few situations. I vaguely recall there is a regulation regarding batteries and air travel. Since I have not flown anywhere in nearly 2 years I will have to re-read airport security rules on batteries, computers, and other items.

FO, you are seriously over thinking the situation almost to obsession. What you need is a hardy dose of self discipline, self awareness and will power. You can't buy a purse for that. Theft is a concern everywhere you might travel. No more a concern and possibly less in the FSU than where you live now. From your description you are more inclined to lose it than have it stolen. If you lose it or have it stolen from you at home it likely will be no different when you travel, regardless of where that is. Teach yourself to be aware and watch your money. If not, be prepared to lose it.

[Gylden]

I hope there is nothing wrong with having batteries on a plane, as everytime we board you can see plenty of people turning off their phones and some even taking pictures!!

The flashlight is worth gold more often than anything else, both my wife's phone and mine have it built-in.

I remember when I was a boy, delivering newspapers early in the morning. On new years day I allways made a fortune (or I should say found it). So I know that there are people who are prone to dropping money on the streets!!!   

Forgot to add, this passport card idea is fantastic, although it doesn't replace the passport requirements in this adventure.

[Forever Optimistic]

Like I said, clips and loose bills simply don't work for me. I cannot hold on to these things. By contrast, I have absolutely no trouble holding on to something such as a messenger bag at all times.

TSA requirements for batteries while traveling: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/batteries.shtm

Photography forums are a good source of information about traveling with batteries and laptops. While the TSA web page is informative, I have found that real world experience is better. Amateur and pro photographers can tell you a lot about flying with batteries and laptops. As I recall, if you place a laptop in checked baggage, the battery must be removed from the computer.

There is an extra charge for the passport card, so keep this in mind. You will also have to keep two items secure instead of one. I am presently trying to make up my mind about the card. I expect to apply for a passport next month.

[dbneeley]

I had to renew my passport during my trip to the States this past Summer. I found that the best method was to visit the last-minute passport facility in Dallas (there are a number of these scattered around the country). You can't go to one of these unless you are within two weeks of travel, and can show them the ticket to prove it. On the other hand, you get the new passport very quickly (of course you also pay the standard expediting fee). I applied one day around two p.m. and picked up the new passport the next day. I also paid the fee for the passport card ($30 if memory serves). Since my old passport was so close to expiring, it was returned to me--which was handy, as it has my original Ukraine visa stamps in it.

Regarding "removing the battery of a laptop to be checked"--I strongly suggest *never* checking a laptop or, indeed, anything of great value. That is a good way to get to your destination without one.

I do carry a messenger bag on the plane as my "personal item"--and my laptop rides in it. However, I would find that extremely inconvenient to carry constantly at my destination--especially if only to carry cash and my passport. Remember, too, that when you go shopping you'll have to check it in one of the small easily-jimmied shelves in the front of the stores nearly everywhere, or in attended check facilities with no other protection of any kind for the bag. Again, that would not be my idea of a good plan for carrying cash.

David

[ECOCKS]

I do have to say that I checked my laptop hundreds of times at the baggage checks in the groceries and the little lockers. About half the it was in a brightly-colored backpack and I worried that it would attract attention. Never had a problem though. Getting a netbook (7" or 10" screen) is a prudent thing to do since it still Skypes, as the built-in camera and gives you a decent keyboard.

I agree with David though that a good deal of caution and sense is necessary when packing and considering where stuff will go.

[Forever Optimistic]

Not to get too off topic here, but people put laptops in checked bags for various reasons. A photographer often carries redundant equipment. All of it cannot be transported in a carry-on bag. Equipment loss/damage is covered by special insurance. When I visit the Ukraine, however, I will transport my only laptop in a carry-on or messenger bag.

The last time I traveled by air TSA opened one of my suitcases for a random inspection. There was nothing significant inside. The suitcase only had hiking and camping gear. TSA left a notice saying the suitcase had been opened and inspected.

[ECOCKS]

David's point is more about Eastern European baggage handlers' propensity for theft than TSA's search procedures.

[BC]

http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/index.html

Guess some ends up here, somehow..

[dbneeley]

David's point is more about Eastern European baggage handlers' propensity for theft than TSA's search procedures.

Not just in Eastern Europe. The problem also exists elsewhere--there have been multiple arrests in the Miami airport baggage handling staff alone over the past few years for people systematically stealing valuables from baggage--the same has been seen elsewhere as well.

At the same time, some baggage handling operations are pretty amazing, and not in a good way. At the present Donetsk airport, for instance, baggage from incoming flights is put on a flat-topped trailer and positioned in front of the entrance from the aircraft area to the terminal. Passengers grab their bags from the thing and immediately go through the door and on through the terminal. It's quite conceivable that someone could simply grab another bag and leave with it--even by accident, since so many bags look similar.

The possibility of this accidental loss is why I use very distinctive luggage tags and other accessories to make my bags very distinctive when I absolutely must check a bag. While I try to travel with only a carry-on bag and "personal item" (laptop bag), there are times when I must check a bag as well--or, if a small commuter-type aircraft has been substituted for the last leg home I must check the "carry-on" as it won't fit in the overhead bins of some small commuters.

If your checked bag is inadvertently taken by someone who had a similar-looking bag, if it is filled with expensive equipment it is somewhat less likely to get the equipment back.

For all these reasons, I simply will not check a laptop. In fact, when I had to replace my laptop on my trip this past Summer, I bought a 13.3" ultraportable in part because it makes the question of transport so much simpler. (Mine is an ASUS UL30, which is a fantastic machine by the way--3.7 pounds and under an inch thick for less than $600, including 4 GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard disk. I am very happy with it.)

When I must carry more than will fit in the carry-on or the laptop messenger bag, I also take my Scott eVest. With 17 pockets designed to carry a surprising amount without looking all that bulky, it adds considerably to what I can carry on board.

David