Vacation and what not tips

[naughtybear]

I am going to Mexico next week by myself and I am wondering how and what I may need to carry with me. I am getting a little concerned about my excursions and how to carry the camera, ID and money etc. Do I need a waterproof bum bag, or something around me neck like a little plastic pouch. Even going to lay out I'll need room keys and cash.


What do you all do?


I mention by myself because when with a group you can always ask someone to stay and watch your things. If I go for a dip in the pool I won't be able to do that, unless I plop myself down and make friends with the people , which I can do.

[Deleted]

I don't use a bum bag. It just SCREAMS "tourist" (not that we don't stand out anyway, but still..)

I have a small cloth pouch that goes on a cord around my neck and inside my blouse. It's big enough to hold a few bills, room key card, a credit card and my smartphone. The bulge can be a little unflattering but it does make getting my valuables a little harder. I always leave my passport in the room. I then have a cloth tote for the rest- water, guidebook, snacks, maps, small purchases.

Pool/beach on your own is tricky if you're in an area where you're concerned about crime. I've left my room key card and glasses under a towel and T-shirt while swimming laps and never had a problem. I wouldn't do that with a smartphone or camera. As clunky as it is, I'd take pictures, then put the camera back in my room.

DH and I visited Rio years ago and when I went out on the beach without him I took nothing- I didn't even wear my watch. Now, without him, I might leave a nondescript towel and T-shirt on the beach but that's it. Are room key cards waterproof? If so, I'd make a little envelope that pins into (or on) my suit. Rio was a good example of a place where I felt physically safe alone on the beach (in daytime) but knew that if I had anything with me that was a theft target I was taking a risk.

[swamp]

I have a small leather purse with a long strap I can wear across my chest. It fits credit cards, cash, room key, and iPhone, which I use for a camera.

I'd bring a beach bag to the pool/beach and put everthing in it covered by a towel.

[naughtybear]

I think I am going to buy a cheap camera, and one of those waterproof things that can hang around the neck. I travel very light so I think that should work. Will just have to have the camera around my wrist.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Just make sure you use the hotel safe!

I don't carry money or credit cards to the pool.  I have a cheap digital camera, and toss this into my beach bag at the pool.  When we have gone outside of the resort, I carry a cross body purse that has the bare minimum of what I need.  

I most definitely do NOT use a fanny pack.  Screams tourist.

[thyme4change]

I used a flip belt. They have other bags that look like very small bum bags and are designed to go under your clothes. The flip belt wasn't great for my passport, but the other bag was designed to hold a passport.

[Happy prose]

Too late for this trip, but for future ones get a KYSS bag. (Keep your stuff safe) It's a beach bag that you can chain and lock to your chair. Anything is still stealable, but it would make too big a scene to take this. For this trip, they sell 'dry bags' that you would wear when swimming. I wouldn't trust it for my phone, but for room key, money and ID, they work fine. I usually put my stuff in a baggie, then into the dry bag. You wear it on your neck. You can get them at outdoor stores, or maybe even Walmart. But invest in that KYSS bag- I think it's www.kyss.com. I got the large size, and it's huge. 

[thyme4change]

We have the Wildtek phone bags and my kids take their phones underwater a lot. We used them when we did the suspension bridge and tree top walk so no one would drop their phone. 1 day delivery Amazon Prime.

[mamasita99]

My daughter ordered a dry bag from Amazon for our Puerto Rico trip. That way it could go with her in the pool. If you don't want to risk the phone you can still use the dry bag for room key and glasses.

For around the town stuff I use a small nylon cross-body. For more active trips my flip belt that I run with, holds my phone key and chapstick.


Have fun and be safe!

[billisonboard]

May 16, 2017 8:09:10 GMT -5 naughtybear said:

I am going to Mexico next week by myself and I am wondering how and what I may need to carry with me. ...

Since you won't have to worry about competing with your friend for a man's attention, make sure you take ... well, you know.

[Lizard Queen]

My DH has a pair of swim trunks that has a plastic waterproof pocket on the inside.

[NoNamePerson]

May 16, 2017 15:39:55 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

May 16, 2017 8:09:10 GMT -5 naughtybear said:

I am going to Mexico next week by myself and I am wondering how and what I may need to carry with me. ...

Since you won't have to worry about competing with your friend for a man's attention, make sure you take ... well, you know.

You beat me to it.  

[Deleted]

May 16, 2017 14:13:08 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

We have the Wildtek phone bags and my kids take their phones underwater a lot. We used them when we did the suspension bridge and tree top walk so no one would drop their phone. 1 day delivery Amazon Prime.

So you can actually take pictures underwater if the camera is in the bag?  I just had two spectacular snorkeling trips off Costa Rica and Panama and had found that reviews of moderately-priced underwater cameras typically said, "it worked just fine till I got it wet".  If there's something I could use with my iPhone that would be great.  I'm taking notes on all these other solutions, too, since I'm going to India next year!

ETA:  never mind.  Just found a ton of 'em on the Web with a search for "iPhone underwater housing".  Well, I'm hoping to take a cruise in the Sea of Cortez in early 2019!

[Jaguar]

May 16, 2017 14:03:54 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

Too late for this trip, but for future ones get a KYSS bag. (Keep your stuff safe) It's a beach bag that you can chain and lock to your chair. Anything is still stealable, but it would make too big a scene to take this. For this trip, they sell 'dry bags' that you would wear when swimming. I wouldn't trust it for my phone, but for room key, money and ID, they work fine. I usually put my stuff in a baggie, then into the dry bag. You wear it on your neck. You can get them at outdoor stores, or maybe even Walmart. But invest in that KYSS bag- I think it's www.kyss.com. I got the large size, and it's huge. 

Your link didn't work - www.kyssbags.com/

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I don't know if they still make them or not but when i went to Borneo Kodak had a disposable under water camera.  It worked really good when I had it developed they kept asking me where the pictures were taken.

[billisonboard]

May 16, 2017 16:03:36 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I don't know if they still make them or not but when i went to Borneo Kodak had a disposable under water camera. ...

If you are swimming in shark infested water, you might want to consider the ones with the special blood scent you push a button to activate 15 seconds after you dispose of it.

[Happy prose]

May 16, 2017 16:01:45 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

May 16, 2017 14:03:54 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

Too late for this trip, but for future ones get a KYSS bag. (Keep your stuff safe) It's a beach bag that you can chain and lock to your chair. Anything is still stealable, but it would make too big a scene to take this. For this trip, they sell 'dry bags' that you would wear when swimming. I wouldn't trust it for my phone, but for room key, money and ID, they work fine. I usually put my stuff in a baggie, then into the dry bag. You wear it on your neck. You can get them at outdoor stores, or maybe even Walmart. But invest in that KYSS bag- I think it's www.kyss.com. I got the large size, and it's huge. 

Thank you! 

Your link didn't work - www.kyssbags.com/

[thyme4change]

May 16, 2017 15:59:10 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

May 16, 2017 14:13:08 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

We have the Wildtek phone bags and my kids take their phones underwater a lot. We used them when we did the suspension bridge and tree top walk so no one would drop their phone. 1 day delivery Amazon Prime.

So you can actually take pictures underwater if the camera is in the bag?  I just had two spectacular snorkeling trips off Costa Rica and Panama and had found that reviews of moderately-priced underwater cameras typically said, "it worked just fine till I got it wet".  If there's something I could use with my iPhone that would be great.  I'm taking notes on all these other solutions, too, since I'm going to India next year!

ETA:  never mind.  Just found a ton of 'em on the Web with a search for "iPhone underwater housing".  Well, I'm hoping to take a cruise in the Sea of Cortez in early 2019!

Yes! My daughter has some awesome underwater pictures and videos. And we used them dry with success. I will say I am super thoughtful and careful when I seal the bag.

You might also consider investing in a go-pro. They float, which can be helpful if you are a regular human that tends to drop things when they are wet.

[Rob Base 2.0]

U should ask that dude that ur not sure or not if he likes u to go with you 😀

[naughtybear]

Thanks for all the advice apart from the douches with no advice and think they are funny. ETA you aren't.

[debthaven]

On the advice of my Greek friend, we got neck wallets when we went to Athens a few years ago.

Google "neck wallet". It's basically a small flat bag you wear around your neck, under your shirt. Ours is not big enough for our wallets, but it's big enough for passports, cards, money, etc.

She advised us to use it especially while we were travelling from one place to another. Great advice ... DH found a guy's hand INSIDE his front pants pocket when we were getting off the bus from the ferry from the islands.

It's great for when you're dealing with getting from one place to another and worrying about your suitcase.

[Deleted]

May 17, 2017 16:45:53 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Google "neck wallet". It's basically a small flat bag you wear around your neck, under your shirt. Ours is not big enough for our wallets, but it's big enough for passports, cards, money, etc.

She advised us to use it especially while we were travelling from one place to another. Great advice ... DH found a guy's hand INSIDE his front pants pocket when we were getting off the bus from the ferry from the islands.

Yeah, that's what I have.  So far, so good.  Poor DH was a pickpocket magnet- he was tall, 15 years older than I am, and moved more slowly, so he stood out.  After losing money to pickpockets in Russia and Italy, he wasn't supposed to be carrying cash, but he had US $50 in a money clip in his front pocket when we were on the subway in Barcelona.  At one stop, a group of young people behind him started pushing and shoving to get out, which must have distracted him enough that he didn't notice the hand in his pocket. He found the money clip on the floor of the train- we were sure they dropped it because it would incriminate them.

[Rob Base 2.0]

May 17, 2017 7:29:10 GMT -5 naughtybear said:

Thanks for all the advice apart from the douches with no advice and think they are funny. ETA you aren't.

 don't forget the douches that start threads with a cryptic post and think they are cute / funny.....oh wait, that's you too, isn't it?  

[NoNamePerson]

May 17, 2017 7:29:10 GMT -5 naughtybear said:

Thanks for all the advice apart from the douches with no advice and think they are funny. ETA you aren't.

Remember to find a sense of humor to take on your trip. The natives might try to find it instead of your dollars. 

[NancysSummerSip]

May 17, 2017 19:08:24 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

May 17, 2017 7:29:10 GMT -5 naughtybear said:

Thanks for all the advice apart from the douches with no advice and think they are funny. ETA you aren't.

Remember to find a sense of humor to take on your trip. The natives might try to find it instead of your dollars. 

Exactly. It's called "don't be an ugly American" while you are there. Leave that to us real ugly Americans.

[TheOtherMe]

I also have used a neck wallet overseas.  So far, so good.