Fanny pack gone, bra safe fail: My very own travel security concept

When you travel alone as a woman, you quickly learn: safety comes first. At least in theory. In practice, things look a little more … creative for me.

The Big Fanny Pack Love

At the beginning of my trip, I was a devoted fanny pack wearer.
Small backpack gone? Annoying. Big backpack gone? Ouch.
Fanny pack gone? Heartbreak!

And what was inside? Everything that mattered to me: passport, money, phone … and – drumroll – a thermometer.

👋 Thanks for being here!

This blog shows what others often leave out – honest, raw, from a different angle. If you value these unusual perspectives, your support helps me keep writing. Whether it’s once or regularly – every small gesture means a lot.

Support via PayPal

🫶 Thank you for helping voices like mine be heard.

Yes. A. Thermometer.

Don’t ask me why. I think back then I thought: “If I don’t own jewelry, at least I can have medical precision.”

In Amman, someone once curiously asked me: “So, what valuable things do you actually carry in your fanny pack?” He probably expected gold, maybe a secret diamond. I proudly pulled out my thermometer.
His face? A mix of pity and total life confusion.
My explanation? Even better: “In case someone has a fever. You never know. And I don’t want anyone to steal it.”

And honestly: I’ve never seen a thermometer in any backpacker tutorial. Maybe it’s because I’m a bit older and find other things more important than the latest power bank or some fancy multi-tool.

Bye bye Fanny Pack, Hello Pants Pockets

At some point, I said goodbye to my beloved fanny pack. Today my motto is: Clothes without pockets are like vacations without Wi-Fi – they just don’t work.

I stuff all the essentials into my pockets. Pure minimalism. The thermometer now lives somewhere deep in my backpack – and if someone steals it, I’ll just think: “Congratulations, dear thief. Enjoy measuring fevers!”

The Great Bra-Safe Test

But what if my clothes don’t have pockets?
That’s when I had the “brilliant” idea: hiding money in my bra.

Theory: clever, safe, discreet.
Practice: well … let’s say my bra inventory is more of a “mini edition.” Storage space = limited.

So one day, I was standing in front of a vendor, frantically digging into my cleavage for bills – and he looked at me as if I had just announced the winning lottery numbers.
He actually gave me change – and, being consistent, I stuffed it right back into my bra. But his day was done. I don’t think that man will ever look at a customer the same way again.

Later back at my accommodation, I found the rest of the bills. Jackpot. My very own bra bonus.

Big Dangers? Small Dangers!

Travel safety sounds like kidnapping, robbery, crime scenes. Sure, that exists. But if you freak out beforehand, there’s no strength left when it really matters.

My example: I have a massive fear of sharks. I love snorkeling, but the thought of a shark? Straight-up horror movie.
In Aqaba, I once confessed this to a local. He laughed: “Sharks? Nah, way more dangerous are stonefish. Or see that cute little baby fish over there? One sting from him and you’re done.”

Thanks for nothing. Ever since, I’ve been swimming with the feeling that even Nemo could be my doom.

My Conclusion

Travel safety is important. But trust me: the real stories don’t happen when everything goes perfectly – they happen when you defend your fanny pack with a thermometer, dig for money in your bra, or fear Disney fish.

👉 You can lose many things while traveling.
But one thing always remains: the ability to laugh about it later. 😆