Bag for Barcelona

[Plump82]

Has anyone been recently and could advise what bag they used? I'm assuming pickpocketing is a bad as always?

We're visiting soon and it's been about 15 years since I first visited and I don't remember feeling particularly safe back then.

I just bought a small backpack for sun lotion and water but I'm wondering if it's maybe not the best idea as I don't know where I'd keep my bank card and phone. I don't fancy a money belt but if people reckon they're a good idea i might be persuaded.

We don't plan on using public transport and will do a lot of walking and we're not staying particularly close to La Ramblas or the Gothic Quarter but will visit these and other tourist areas.

Should have said, money belt might not be practical as I'll probably be wearing dresses.

Just take a sturdy strap leather shoulder bag with lots of zip up pockets and keep it close to your body, keep vigilant as you would in any crowded city.

And try and enjoy yourself.

Cross- body shoulder bag.

Pickpockets are bad in Barcelona. My advice is to get one of those around neck cases for your phone and a secure nag. Nothing open wear it across your body

I always use something like this.

iamstunning.co.uk/products/combat-green-strap?variant=42108558409978&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=UK%20-%20Feed&utm_content=Combat%20Green%20Crossbody%20strap&gclid=CjwKCAjw4ayUBhA4EiwATWyBrkV5e-O4Khg4-NPo7dY7jxrPrUph_RG3mMGb9CfV0Ghtyl2xSFI7UxoCY0MQAvD_BwE

I think I'll return the backpack then and get an across body bag.

Bum bag. Pick pocketing is rife. DH went on a stag do and 12 out of 15 were pick pocketed on the Ramblas. Or, just avoid the tourist shite traps.

With the bag bit on the front obvs.

Pickpocketing is really awful there.Watch out for everyone around you .I was sitting on the top of one of those city tour buses a few years ago looking down at the people wanting to board the bus.Everyone was jostling as usual but then I saw a beautifully dressed and styled blond woman reaching into the bag of the lady in front of her who was totally unaware of what was happening .I started yelling and the pickpocketing woman ran off with a posse of people behind her Shortly afterwards I saw a young man being pickpocketed by another young man. None of them looked in any way suspicious.

Try to only take out what you need for the day, leave the rest in the room safe. Be aware that pickpockets can and do cut the straps of bags. Share your belongings into different pockets of your bag.
When I was there, a woman next to me took her hands off her bag for a second and it was swiped! They work in gangs and are always on the look out for careless tourists.

I got one of these - it was great ! Snood with secret pocket for phone / wallet.

Wolf pack scarf

Keep your hand on your bag as much as you can. When I was there I reached my hand down to get something out and felt ANOTHER HAND!!! 😱

Ugh that proper gave me the willies 😱

Awful to think this has been going on for so long and the Barcelona authorities don't seem to give a sh*t. Yet the authorities are happy to take the tourists money legitimately.

A good idea but it'll be far too warm for that.

As I mentioned i have been before but was much younger and not as para as I am now.

I bought a bag with a fairly thick strap and it sits nicely across my body and on my front. Hopefully should be ok.

We saw a lot of similar gangs while in Lisbon, using children as bait. One afternoon we sat on our balcony and saw a man open a bag which must have had a least 10 passports in it. Q young boy of no more than 13 gave him it.

If you want to keep your backpack, then you might like to consider a small crossbody bag like this one for your phone and credit cards and a little money. There's a video on QVC so you can have a good look to see if this suits your needs. I'd wear something like this under a jacket or jumper.

www.qvcuk.com/Radley-London-Cecil-Road-Phone-Cross-body-Bag.product.194187.html

When I was in Barcelona, I just used my everyday bag, also Radley, inside my puffer jacket, it sits flat against the body. It has a grand big zipped pocket on the back. My one is larger than the one shown but you can do your own search for something similar. Strap is quite thick too, would take some cutting to nick it. I always leave it on in restaurants/bars too to be on the safe side.
www.radley.co.uk/handbags/across-body-bags/pockets-faux-croc-medium-zip-around-cross-body-bag-h2493206-ic-aw20#H2493206

maybe see if your bank app allows you to temporarily freeze and unfreeze your cards?

I bought a Kipling crossbody Bag And attached a small key ring to the zip which I could attach to the handle. They are brilliant and washable too with pockets in all the right places. The strap was quite wide and I always kept it in front. One thing I would recommend is familiarise yourself with all the scams before you go. We could have fallen victim to two of them but were able to protect ourselves because we were aware. One was the 1 euro donation for charity one (they are actually looking where you keep your purse/ wallet). The other one was where they squirt something on your clothes, say it’s bird poo and try and help you clean it, taking your valuables in the process. There are some great websites if you Google Barcelona scams. It’s a beautiful city just be on your guard the whole time.

@nomistake Yikes that’s scary!

What happened next. Did you see who it was?

The causes of this are deep and complex, all related to illegal migration from Morocco, which the Catalans despise. But it is extremely difficult to stop people coming, much like the Dover crossings we have. The migrants have no access to any welfare, or employment, hence the crime.

I've been there 9 times now and havent had any bother. ( I probably look like I haven't got a euro to my name st times!)
However its important to stay alert as people have said.
I use a cross body bag and usually keep my hand on tbe bag part. If I'm wearing a jacket I tend to put the bag on first then the coat.depending what I'm doing. It just makes it a less visible.
Dont let it put you off Barcelona though. It's a wonderful place. I'll be back there in a couple of weeks!

@Shopaholic100 yes it was a teenage boy, alone. He ran away as soon as I turned round.

the first thing we saw when we got off the bus in Barcelona was a man looking at his backpack which had been slit open at the bottom.!

I used a bumbag, worn like teenagers, over one shoulder with the bag at the front.

DP and self there some years ago .Managed to stop attempted bag removal in a cafe .Left cafe ,walked on ,noticed same happening at another cafe .Shouted to alert victim .We carried on ,only to be pursued by the bag snatchers .Pushed over but no serious injury and they did run off .