I have only good things to report about Rick Steves' store. My parents bought rail passes from Rick some time ago, with no problems. I was about to buy a money belt, but was concerned about shipping time. The customer service staff sent a very kind reply to my e-mail, even though I was not yet a customer. They offered to pack my order immediately and get it out the door the same day. In the end, though, the UPS delivery estimate was too long, and the item would have arrived after my departure. Overnight shipping by UPS would have exceeded the price of the item by a factor of three.

Side note: Some newer money belts are thick and heavy, which can make them unpleasant to wear. In a local store I saw a belt from PacSafe that was made of thick, plastic-like fabric; had many pockets, some of which were too small to be useful; and had a cut-proof metal strap. If someone is reaching under your clothing with a knife, protecting your money belt becomes the least of your worries.

Rick's belt is still reasonable in terms of thickness and weight. However, I ended up with the smallest, lightest, simplest, and most comfortable money belt I've ever worn: the Women's Waist Stash by Lewis N. Clark. It has just one, large pocket, which makes it very thin. The "soft lingerie fabric" really is "lightweight and comfortable against skin". I don't mind that the product is marketed for women: it doesn't look different, and no one will see my money belt anyway. You can get one for $12 from REI, a reputable company with an online store and a network of local stores.

Whatever the package says, no money belt is sweat-proof. Unless your money belt is endorsed by NASA or something, use a Zip-Loc bag to avoid soggy money.

For locks, think deterrence. If you are checking luggage, a TSA-approved lock might be worthwhile. If not, use the metal rings that new keys are distributed on (the thin, disposable ones, not the thick ones that serve as permanent key rings). These cost nothing, are easy to open when you want, and deter casual thieves just as well a lock. A serious thief would cut your suitcase open, pry it apart, or just take the whole thing, anyway.

If my candor ends up costing Rick a sale, then please order a travel guide or video from him instead. There's no substitute for those!

Paul Marcelin-Sampson
Santa Cruz, California, USA