Women Travelers - Purse valet: great for women travelers

Forgive me, for I am about to sound like an infomercial.

I was out to eat with good friends a few weeks ago. A friend reached in her purse, and pulled out a hook that went on the edge of the table, and had a hook underneath that held her purse. My first reaction was "what an old lady thing to do". It looked akin to pearl cords on glasses. Still, I was headed to Italy on a solo trip the next week. So she loaned it to me. It was awesome! I sat outdoors in restaurants in Venice, prime theft area. I was able to see my purse at all times. I could easily access it and get into and out of it.

I used it at a San Diego restaurant, again outside, where we were hosting a friend in from Sao Paulo. She was smitten with it. Crime is a huge problem there. And I was reminded of my purse being stolen in Barcelona many years ago. I was in a small restaurant, with my husband facing me. I put my purse over the back of my chair, with my jacket surrounding it. I reached back for my purse and found only straps. Someone had cut it off the chair without my husband even seeing it.

I am very aware of my purse when I travel. I try to hook it over my knee, keep it between my legs, or put it in the small of my back. But the purse hook is so much easier. If you google it, you'll find it at Macys and more. My friend bought hers at a local hardware store. The cheapest is carried by Bed, Bath and Beyond, just $2.50 each.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?sku=16304956

I've looked at these and generally thought I could easily forget and leave that behind along with the purse. (I usually keep my purse on my lap and am not comfortable unless I can feel my purse.) So I take it you found that to not be a problem? And where did you hang it so it was always in view, right next to you?

I've seen these and glad to hear from someone who has tried it. Brighton has some that are really nice, but I think I'll try the BB ones instead, lol. Did you put it directly in front so your purse was all but in your lap? Or off to the side?

I am right handed, so I put it a little to the right on the table. I could reach out and touch it at any time. The tables were square or round, not rectangular, thus it was a bit forward of me.

The weight that goes on the top of the table revolves, so that you can then put it in your purse in a near two dimensional way. And l'etoile, if you are the one paying, you get into your purse at the end of the meal. At that time, I'd put away the 'purse valet' and slip it back into my bag.

I have a couple of them I've been using for about three years. IME they don't work for bags with longer straps but they're great for bags with shorter straps. I still keep an eye on my purse or tote, but it's a bit more comfortable than having to juggle it on my lap, etc.