Why Money Belts Are Outdated & You Should Stop Using Them Immediately

Why Money Belts Don’t Work & What to Use Instead

Should you still use money belts today? To answer this question, let’s first look at why there was a need for a money belt in the first place. Many decades ago, there were no ATM machines, credit cards, bank cards, electronic payment apps on phones … basically none of these existed. The only means of paying for hotels, goods and services were cash and travellers’ cheques (yes, those).

So, there was a need to hide large amounts of cash and TCs and the money belt came to rescue. Fast forward to today, travellers no longer need to carry large amounts of cash and TCs. You don’t pay your hotels or plane/train fares with cash anymore. Everything now is credit cards, cash, or phone app payments. Money belts have become outdated and a thing of the past. Yes, there are some who will hold onto them and will use them forever. But this is always the case as some of us simply hold on to the past, won’t upgrade and accept the change.

There are also several disadvantages in using money belts:

Money Belts Are Old School & Ridiculous.

Money Belts are the opposite of inconspicuous.

Money Belts Are Sweaty & Dirty.

Money Belts Advertise You Have Cash & Make You a Target for Theft or Robbery.

Money Belts Immediately Mark You Out as A Tourist—And Not a Particularly Savvy One. You Have to Expose All of Your Cash Just to Get a Little.

Money Belts Are an Insult to The Country You Are Visiting (I Don’t Trust Anyone Here).

What to Use Instead of Money Belts

Diversification is the key. I don’t recommend putting all your money, cards, and valuables in something like a money belt. Put your money, cards, and valuables in separate places such as in your back pack, personal item bag, sling bag, fanny pack, small cross body bag, or a day pack.

Do not carry all your money when go out for your day trip. Leave some money and one credit card in the hotel (possibly in the hotel safe box), some money and another credit card you will be using in your day pack bag or any bag you are using for the day.

Better yet, keep some cash in your front pocket to pay for any expenses for that day. This amount should be little enough that even if you lose it you are in no trouble, as you have backup money in the other bag. Replenish your daily expenses money when you return to your hotel or as needed.

To make this article short, I didn’t elaborate on some of the disadvantages mentioned above. However, watch this video here to see the details:

Do Not Wear Sling Bags at The Airline Check-In Counter

How to Wear a Sling Bag to Save Baggage Fees

 Every inch of space counts, especially with what the airlines are charging for extra bag fees these days. In this article, I will give you a tip that not many know about sling bags.

Sling bags should be a must-have travel accessory when you travel. They can keep your passport, phone, charger, ear buds, and other accessories close to you throughout the flight. This also gives you the opportunity to carry some extra items to create more space in your carry on or personal item bags.

In general, airlines won’t count a sling bag as a personal item. However, if you wear a sling bad across your shoulder, some airline employees may count it as a personal item.

This is not a problem at all if you have only one carry on and a sling bag. For those carrying a personal item, a carry on, and a sling bag, this may cause a problem. The airline staff may ask you to check one bag or pay extra fees.

One simple way to avoid this is to wear your sling bag as a hip bag or as a waist money bag before going to the airline counter. A waist bag counts as part of personal attire and will be exempt from your baggage limit.

I travel with only one carry on and have traveled 100s of times wearing a sling big as a cross body shoulder bag and had no issues. The only time my sling bag counted as a personal item was in 2023 when I was on my way to the Philippines with EVA AIR. It didn’t matter for me, as I had only one other bag.

So next time you travel, depending how many bags you are carrying, be mindful about how you wear your sling bag at the airport.

I Put Canada’s Only No Foreign Transaction Fees Bank Card to the Test at Foreign ATM

EQ Bank’s Debit Card Is the Only No Foreign Exchange Fees Bank Card

If you are using a traditional bank card to withdraw cash from ATMs in foreign countries, you will be charged:

- Foreign currency transaction fees

- International ATM withdrawal fees

- ATM fees imposed by your own bank

- ATM fees imposed by the local ATM

You can avoid the first 3 by using a bank card that does not charge these fees. The 4th one, ATM fees imposed by the local ATM, is not controlled by your bank card and this is something you can’t avoid.

It seems to be that the EQ Bank Debit Card is the only card that does not charge foreign currency transaction fees or its own ATM fees for using it in a foreign country.

I tested the EQ Bank Card by withdrawing from 2 different bank ATMs in Manila and Boracay in the Philippines. Each time, I paid only 250 Peso (about 6 CAD) in charges by the local bank. I walked out with cash with a very good currency exchange rate without paying any other fees.

It is very important to have a travel-friendly card in your wallet. As of writing this article, the EQ Bank Debit Card is the only card that I am aware of that offers this type of service.

So next time you travel, make sure you pack a card that offers no FX fees, no International ATM withdrawal fees or ATM fees imposed by your own bank and have a happy and smart trip.

I have documented my experience with my EQ Bank Debit Card here in this video:

I Tested Canada's Only No Foreign Transaction Fees EQ Bank Card to Withdraw Money At Foreign ATM

Canada’s Best Credit Card Travel Insurance for Seniors

Best Travel Insurance Credit Cards for Seniors

If you are a 65+ Canadian it’s difficult to find a travel credit card with emergency travel medical insurance. Of course, you will find some travel credit cards that provide 3 to 4 days of travel medical insurance after for those over the age of 65.

But if you are looking for more than a week, it’s something almost impossible to come by. Even the higher end $799 annual fee American Express card provides no travel medical insurance after the age of 65. What’s more, the emergency travel insurance benefits totally stop after age 75.   

In search of the best travel insurance credit for seniors in Canada, I came up with one that seems to be beating every other credit card on the market. The best senior-friendly travel credit card in Canada is:

 
HSBC World Elite Mastercard

With the HSBC World Elite Mastercard, those 65 years and older get an unmatched 21 days of emergency travel medical insurance and it also does not stop once you are 75.

There are some other credit cards I found that offer 7 to 15 days emergency travel medical insurance as mentioned below, but these do not provide anything after 75.

National Bank World Elite Mastercard (15 days)

National Bank World Mastercard (15 days)

Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card (15 Days)

Desjardins Odyssey World Elite (15 Days)

CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Privilege (10 days)

National Bank Platinum Mastercard (10 Days)

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite (10 Days – May provide coverage after age 75, but read the pre-existing conditions terms and rules)

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege (7 Days)

RBC British Airways Visa Infinite (7 Days)

As you can see, there are some emergency medical travel options for those over 65. However, before deciding on any cards, do your research and be mindful of the annual fees, terms and conditions, pre-existing conditions, and all other fine print.  

How to Pay TTC with A Credit Card or A Bank Debit Card

How to Pay TTC Fare with A Credit Card | How to Pay TTC with a Bank Card

The Toronto transit system (TTC), also called the Metro in many places, now accepts credit cards and bank cards to pay your fare. The various payment options available to pay TTC fare are:

- Visa

- Mastercard

- American Express

- Interac® Debit

- Visa Debit

- Debit Mastercard

- Apple Pay

- Google Pay

You can use mobile devices or smartwatches to pay TTC fares as long as they are equipped with Apple Pay or Google Pay.

There are no additional charges to use the convenience of using a credit card or bank card at TTC Presto reader machines. You will be paying the same $3.30 TTC fare (as of this writing) you would normally pay with your Presto card.

Also, you will enjoy a two-hour transfer when you use your bank or credit card on a Presto reader, the same as a Presto card.

When I charged my American Express card on a Presto reader, it only showed “accepted”. I tapped again after one hour – again it showed “accepted”. It looks like a Presto reader doesn’t show if you are within your two-hour period or past your two hours.

I checked my Amex account online and saw only a $1 charge. My guess is this just a pre-authorization charge and the actual charge will appear within a few days.

Paying with your credit card debit card feature is a good decision and it will make peoples’ life a lot easier, especially for tourists traveling to Toronto. I am thinking about not carrying my Presto card anymore to save space in my wallet.

I have a video documenting my experience paying TTC with a credit card (Video was recorded, edited, and published from my Pixel phone):

How to Pay TTC Fare with A Credit Card