San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Pacsafe Portable Safe
Generally speaking, your stuff is a lot easier to steal when you’re not there to watch it. Locking your hotel door may seem like an easy fix, but it’s an imperfect system since that door will still open when the cleaning staff comes to make your bed. For this reason, safes have long been a staple at many hotels — but they are not so common that you can count on finding one in every room you stay in. Fortunately, it’s now possible to bring your own safe with you.
McCulley prefers the mesh-lined Portable Safe, from Pacsafe. “It’s the single most important thing that I pack,” she says. A truly determined thief may eventually find a way to cut through this reinforced bag, but McCulley says that’s beside the point. “The vast majority of thefts are opportunistic. As long as you’re not hiding a top-secret flash drive for the government, you’ll be fine.”
Speakeasy Travel Scarf
Ironically, some of the most valuable items a person carries — such as your passport and credit cards — are also the easiest to lose. Money belts are one popular answer to this question, but they are not foolproof. “Thieves already know about money belts, McCulley points out. “It’s one of the first things they look for.”
One way to stay ahead of criminals’ current methods is to shift your valuables to another garment. Speakeasy’s stylish scarves include a hidden pocket large enough to hold a phone or — as their website points out — a flask.
Travelon Heritage Crossbody Bag
Out on the streets, your choice in bag or purse can substantially alter your chances of getting robbed. The most important thing to look for, McCulley says, is a crossbody bag that rests at your side rather than on your back — that way you can see the bag at all times, and “it’s a lot more difficult for someone to grab your bag when it’s directly under your arm.”
“A handbag is one thing where you do not need to invest in a special travel