Safest way to carry cash...

[brett]

You will have a difficult time finding a place that takes travellers cheques. And if you do, there will be a service charge attached. The only exception may be in some of the international 5 star hotels. Most banks will charge a hefty service charge. Handling paper is expensive.

 

[Fishingmn]

I like this Eagle Creek money holder with loops that your belt fits through. This way you don't have to dig down into your pants, or do some embarrassing maneuver to get to your money.

RFID Blocker Hidden Pocket - Money Belts & Neck Wallets | Eagle Creek

That's the exact same one I use - works well for me.

 

[audreyh1]

How about American Express Traveler Cheques? You can get them in euros and they are safe and "may be refunded if lost or stolen". You can keep some on your person and some in your hotel safe or hotel room.

I assume that any bank and many merchants would honor them or most hotels will cash them for guests. I admit, I haven't used them for decades, but Greece may be a special situation where they are worth the cost.


https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/prepaid/travelers-cheques.html

No one will take them. Really. Thing of the past.

 

[rodi]

I like this Eagle Creek money holder with loops that your belt fits through. This way you don't have to dig down into your pants, or do some embarrassing maneuver to get to your money.

RFID Blocker Hidden Pocket - Money Belts & Neck Wallets | Eagle Creek

My husband has one of these. He likes to say "There is no safer place than near the crotch of a 63 year old man." LOL.

 

[pb4uski]

I'm just curious... don't Greek merchants accept credit cards? If not, then why not? From the merchant's perspective they get their money in their bank right away at a small discount so what is not to like about that? Plus, it is a convenience for customers so they'll get more business.

The only "bad" thing is there is a record of the sale so it makes it harder to cheat on income taxes than cash, so perhaps that is their reason for not taking credit cards? That between the CC fees and the taxes that they have to pay because they can't cheat the cost is high so they won't take them?

If so, then they deserve what they get. I personally would be very hesitant to travel with a lot of cash on my person, even in the US, not to mention a financially troubled country with high unemployment.

 

[brett]

Many of the smaller family hotels do not accept credit cards. They want cash. Same with some restaurants. Also, not at all unusual to find those that do accept credit cards will not accept Amex because of Amex high vendor fees. This trip we are taking about $2500. Partly because of the situation in Greece (everyone wants cash) and partly because of the exchange rate. Our currency has been dropping and the euro now costs about eight percent more that what we paid.

And for those that do, it is not unusual to obtain a discount by paying in cash-as much as 10 percent.

Alternatively, some of those that do accept credit cards do so with the addition of a 3 percent service charge.


We just booked/paid for five nights in an island hotel in Sept. We did pay in advance and we did use our credit card. We received a twenty percent discount but we had to pay a 2 percent fee for using the card-so net 18 points.


It is not uncommon for us to travel with as much as $1200 in cash when we are in countries like Italy or Thailand. Never an issue but we are careful. Would we do this in US or Canada? NO, because there is no advantage. When we are travelling we typically withdraw the largest amount of cash we can from an ATM-sometimes simply to pay for a hotel stay. We pay prevailing FX fees (no admin upcharge), walk back to our hotel, and score a 10 percent discount.

 

[mpeirce]

I'm just curious... don't Greek merchants accept credit cards? If not, then why not?

Tax evasion.

Same reason many folks want tips in cash.

Here's a reference

Greece Struggles to Get Citizens to Pay Their Taxes - WSJ

 

[pb4uski]

That is sort of what I figured. Then like I said before, they deserve whatever they get.

While I would like to visit there, no way until I can do so without carrying a wad of cash with me.

 

[Meadbh]

While I would like to visit there, no way until I can do so without carrying a wad of cash with me.

I agree. There are plenty of wonderful places to visit, many of which make it easy for tourists to feel safe.

 

[RetireAge50]

Why be all touristy with all these gadgets. Just do what you normally do with your money and be aware of your surroundings.

 

[brett]

I really is not like a big wad of cash in our wallets. I wear a neck pouch and keep the money there, along with my credit cards.

We never, ever flash money or credit cards about. We see tourists doing this sometimes and just shake our heads. They may as well have a big red flashing S sign on top of their head.

 

[Bamaman]

I once was the victim of a pickpocket at the foot of an escalator going into the Paris subway system. A man tripped, and people started falling on top of him in a pile. And the pickpockets went into a frenzy.

When in Europe, we use credit cards anytime we can. We don't carry many Euros, and then it's in a pouch around our waist under our clothes. We go with 2 ATM cards with enough $ to get us through our trip.

Greece is not in normal times, and everyone's going in there with a pocket full of Euros.

 

[Meadbh]

A friend went to Greece in April, before all the drama. She reported that nobody would accept credit cards. She used hers only twice, in the airport. It was common knowledge that cash purchases were used to avoid taxes.

 

[brett]

The person who did the bathroom renovations in our last home was paid in cash...this was part of the deal. Lots of cash deals where I live in Canada.

One result...over the past number of years there has been a huge increase in the number of $50. and $100. bill denominations that are in circulation. Cleary not as bad as Greece or Italy but still fare from uncommon.

 

[braumeister]

I once was the victim of a pickpocket at the foot of an escalator going into the Paris subway system. A man tripped, and people started falling on top of him in a pile. And the pickpockets went into a frenzy.

This is half of the problem, IMHO. European pickpockets are not only more prevalent, but far more skilled (due to constant practice) than their US counterparts.

The other part of the problem is that credit card fraud (theft, copying, skimming, bogus charges, etc.) is at least as common over there as in the US.

So whatever you do will be some sort of compromise. Personally, I prefer to use cash as much as possible to avoid being locked out of my credit cards while traveling. But instead of carrying a lot of cash, I get new infusions of local currency from ATMs on a regular basis. My Schwab debit card has no fees of any kind and gives me a good conversion rate, and I try to only use ATMs that are inside a bank building.

 

[brett]

^ This is EXACTLY what we do and how we do it.

 

[Badger]

I took one of those money carriers that you hang around your neck, cut off the straps and sewed the top where the zipper is located to the top inside of my pants with the zipper at the top facing the pants. I can then pull it out over the top of my pants and the zipper then faces on the outside to access the contents. Flip it back over and tuck it back inside when you are done. Easy peasy and can be hand stiched so you don't need a sewing machine.

If carrying a wallet I tuck one side inside my pants and the other between my belt and the outside of my pants. Since I usually wear my shirt outside my pants it doesn't show to tempt pickpockets. I would be difficult for them to pull it out anyway but it does make it easy for me to access and then put back.

Cheers!

 

[DTCS]

For the past couple of trips to Europe I have used a Pacsafe chain wallet. I attach the chain to my belt and keep the wallet in my front pocket. It also has a Velcro closure and a zipper. The chain is long enough that you don't have to remove it from your belt to get cash or a credit card. Only complaint is that it can be bulky with lots of cash.


DTCS

 

[Koolau]

In situations where I am concerned about pick pockets (or even being robbed - rare) I use a "sacrificial" wallet. It might contain a 20 or 10 wrapped around 10 or 15 singles. Enough to make a robber think they have enough for their next fix and not enough to cry over if lifted by a good pick pocket. Mine even has fake credit cards - nothing that would fool anyone - except someone in a hurry to get a away. For serious walking, I wear Goldtoe (over the calf socks) and can secret cash in the tops. Don't do this going through airport security