Do you travel with your H bag?
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In September, DH and I are making our first trip to Europe. One week in Nice, then a week in Paris.
I have a brand new Evelyne that I am dying to take with me because it's so comfy to wear.
My fear is pick pockets and thieves. I plan to carry it close to my body, and keep the important stuff in a pochette (attached by a chain inside the Evie)
We'll be taking some trains and buses, and doing lots of walking.
Should I be concerned? Any thoughts and advice are appreciated!
I have a brand new Evelyne that I am dying to take with me because it's so comfy to wear.
My fear is pick pockets and thieves. I plan to carry it close to my body, and keep the important stuff in a pochette (attached by a chain inside the Evie)
We'll be taking some trains and buses, and doing lots of walking.
Should I be concerned? Any thoughts and advice are appreciated!
You should be ok if you can make yourself stay aware of the people around you at all times. One of the favorite tricks is "swarming", when you suddenly find yourself in a crowd of people rushing around you. You tend to stop focusing on your purse and focus on getting out of the crowd. That's their opportunity. If you don't want to pay attention to your purse every minute, you should take a different bag.
You should be fine, you don't need to worry about it to much as long as you keep aware of your surroundings and keep your purse with you the whole time.
I would take a different bag for days when you will do a lot of traveling/ walking. You need to feel secure carrying your bag and not worrying every single minute about it, especially to places you've never been before. Better be safe than sorry.
If you can, perhaps take the Evelyn to for days or evenings where you'll only do short walking or out to dinner.
If you can, perhaps take the Evelyn to for days or evenings where you'll only do short walking or out to dinner.
In September, DH and I are making our first trip to Europe. One week in Nice, then a week in Paris.
I have a brand new Evelyne that I am dying to take with me because it's so comfy to wear.
My fear is pick pockets and thieves. I plan to carry it close to my body, and keep the important stuff in a pochette (attached by a chain inside the Evie)
We'll be taking some trains and buses, and doing lots of walking.
Should I be concerned? Any thoughts and advice are appreciated!
Hi iloveelmo
I just was just in Nice and south of France early June and had a wonderful time. One week in Nice sounds really good ... if this were not your first time in Paris, I would actually spend even more time in Nice and less in Paris actually cos Nice/ Cannes will actually serve as a very good base to explore the region (cities/ villages like Grasse, Eze, Monaco, St Paul de Vence etc and sites like the Gorges du Verdun).
Have you considered renting a car and driving around while in Nice? Its very convenient actually although most of the coastal cities/ towns are connected by rail/ bus.
Nice and the other towns/ cities we visited seemed safe (ie no issues/ incidences and never felt threatened/ unsafe) but we drove or cabbed around mostly. I think the Evelyne would be a good bag carried to the front but perhaps ladies who have actually used it might be able to advise better since it is a rather "open" bag. You could ask your DH to wear a summer blazer and keep his valuables (wallet, passports) in the inside chest pockets. That's what I did and worked out very well.
My wife carried her lindy 34 and that worked out really well too ... virtually foolproof if straps are buckled fully
Enjoy!
Thanks so much se7en!!! We are renting a car in Nice, so will perhaps use the Evie for Nice and something more secure for Paris.Hi iloveelmo
I just was just in Nice and south of France early June and had a wonderful time. One week in Nice sounds really good ... if this were not your first time in Paris, I would actually spend even more time in Nice and less in Paris actually cos Nice/ Cannes will actually serve as a very good base to explore the region (cities/ villages like Grasse, Eze, Monaco, St Paul de Vence etc and sites like the Gorges du Verdun).
Have you considered renting a car and driving around while in Nice? Its very convenient actually although most of the coastal cities/ towns are connected by rail/ bus.
Nice and the other towns/ cities we visited seemed safe (ie no issues/ incidences and never felt threatened/ unsafe) but we drove or cabbed around mostly. I think the Evelyne would be a good bag carried to the front but perhaps ladies who have actually used it might be able to advise better since it is a rather "open" bag. You could ask your DH to wear a summer blazer and keep his valuables (wallet, passports) in the inside chest pockets. That's what I did and worked out very well.
My wife carried her lindy 34 and that worked out really well too ... virtually foolproof if straps are buckled fully
Enjoy!
Hi there! I am always reluctant to take a bag with an open top in any large city due to the possibility if being pick pocketed. I was a victim of this years ago when I was a naive student visiting Paris for the first time. Personally, I would take a more secure bag that closes. I also prefer to take a shoulder bag that sits higher up under the arm (like a small or medium chanel flap) because it is more with in your line of sight so harder for thieves to go unnoticed. A low hanging open top cross body might put you at an increased risk. I hope you have a fabulous and safe trip! I adore Nice and Paris! Best wishes!
Hi iloveelmo
I just was just in Nice and south of France early June and had a wonderful time. One week in Nice sounds really good ... if this were not your first time in Paris, I would actually spend even more time in Nice and less in Paris actually cos Nice/ Cannes will actually serve as a very good base to explore the region (cities/ villages like Grasse, Eze, Monaco, St Paul de Vence etc and sites like the Gorges du Verdun).
Have you considered renting a car and driving around while in Nice? Its very convenient actually although most of the coastal cities/ towns are connected by rail/ bus.
Nice and the other towns/ cities we visited seemed safe (ie no issues/ incidences and never felt threatened/ unsafe) but we drove or cabbed around mostly. I think the Evelyne would be a good bag carried to the front but perhaps ladies who have actually used it might be able to advise better since it is a rather "open" bag. You could ask your DH to wear a summer blazer and keep his valuables (wallet, passports) in the inside chest pockets. That's what I did and worked out very well.
My wife carried her lindy 34 and that worked out really well too ... virtually foolproof if straps are buckled fully
Enjoy!
We were also just in Paris and Nice during the beginning of June. We had been to Paris before, but this was our first trip to Nice and I have to say that visiting Nice and the surrounding cities was our favorite part of the trip. In fact, I know we will return to Nice someday, but not sure that we'll take another trip to Paris anytime soon. We rented a car for two days and drove from Nice to Antibe, Cannes, Vence, and Saint Paul de Vence. Also had a nice dinner in Monte Carlo and we hired a chauffer driven Mercedes for that trip. The visits to the outlying towns were just spectacular - so beautiful and quaint.
My DH did all of the driving and he was relieved to get rid of the car after two days of navigating the roads. It was a little stressful for him at times, but he did OK. Parking is the worst - very tight spaces, often needing to fold in the side view mirrors just to fit in a spot.
I used an open top tote (LV Batignolles) most of the time and never felt at risk, but I was always aware of my surroundings and would hold the bag just a little bit closer under my arm in a large crowd and in front of me while riding the trains in Paris. We visited Rome, Florence and Venice last summer and had been warned that there are lots of pick pockets there too, but I often used the LV there as well and never felt concerned. Just be alert and watchful when the situation calls for it and have a great time!
Thanks so much for the detailed reply, it really helps to hear from experienced travellers. May I ask what was so stressful about the driving other than the parking? Did you have a GPS? Were the others drivers intolerant? I'm very curious as my DH does not do well in stressful situations, so I may be doing most of the driving!! LOL!!
Thanks so much for the detailed reply, it really helps to hear from experienced travellers. May I ask what was so stressful about the driving other than the parking? Did you have a GPS? Were the others drivers intolerant? I'm very curious as my DH does not do well in stressful situations, so I may be doing most of the driving!! LOL!!
We actually ended up with two GPS's. The previous renter of the car had changed the car's built in GPS language to German and our Hertz rep couldn't figure out how to change it to English (I eventually got it working), so we were also given a portable GPS. I think it's always stressful when driving in a place you're not familiar with, but add to that the fact that the signs are all in a foreign language and most drivers are in tiny little cars, zipping in and out of lanes. Plus, the motorcycles are allowed to drive in between vehicles that are in adjacent lanes, so you have to be very watchful when making turns and lane changes. The motorcycles will pretty much drive wherever they want to get where they are going. I even saw motorcycles drive onto pedestrian sidewalks when traffic was really backed up and they couldn't get through. We accidentally entered the toll road a couple of times because signs weren't well marked. Our last day with the car, we ended up in rush hour traffic on our way home from Cannes, and what should have been a 30 minute drive turned into almost two hours. My husband couldn't wait to get rid of the car at the point!
In the end, we were glad that we rented the car because I think we would have missed some sights if we had taken the train and my hubby can now say that he's driven in France!
I'm sure you'll be fine. Even if you end up doing all the driving, the two of you will figure it out together - and your hubby can watch out for the crazy motorcycles.
Agree - I own several of these from a few years ago and have been putting my H bags in them for travel, they're just so useful and pretty to look at. I also have the smaller sizes for my kids. They're washable too
Indeed I do travel with my H bags, that's what I bought them for after all. Personally, I would not carry a Birkin inside an envirosax -. Birkins were designed as travel bags anyway and I think good leather only gets better with use. sometimes I put my kelly pochette inside a casual basket day bag but that's about it. When in London I cycle around and I often carry my bags like this.
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Indeed I do travel with my H bags, that's what I bought them for after all. Personally, I would not carry a Birkin inside an envirosax -. Birkins were designed as travel bags anyway and I think good leather only gets better with use. sometimes I put my kelly pochette inside a casual basket day bag but that's about it. When in London I cycle around and I often carry my bags like this.
Just to clarify, I do not own a Birkin. I'm all for wear - most of my H bags are vintage afterall but I do believe in saving the leather from the worst wear and tear during long haul travel. It's like driving, I'm careful but others may not be
I use the Lululemon large shopping bag to carry my B on planes and in areas that I don't want to have my B out. it fully covers the B including handles and the straps are long enough to put in the shoulder. It's super helpful when hurrying through airports where I need both hands free. I also use it when I'm in NYC travelling on the Subway in an area I don't want to scream "look at my bag!" It folds up nicely and I'm able to just slip it into my bag alongside my other items. The outside is even a nice slick material that sheds rain. Love it love it love it.