Wedding Ring - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

hlad00 · 05-14-2007, 11:02 PM

Hi,

i am going Western Europe this summer and my friend has warned me not to take anything valuable, just in case of muggings.

However, she even said not to take my wedding ring. What do people think of this idea? Is it a bit extreme?As since i have been married i have not ever taken off my ring.

But if anything happened i would be devastated to lose it. let me know your views.

thanks in advance

**space virgin** · 05-14-2007, 11:09 PM

Seriously-- "Western Europe" (where exactly do you mean??) isn't any more dangerous than any other place on the earth that you may have been-- as long as you have a lick of common sense in your head. That's just silly advice if you ask me-- you could just as easily get mugged in your home city, but that doesn't stop you from wearing your wedding ring, right?

Look at it this way: wherever you go, there are likely to be married people. They probably wear their wedding rings on a daily basis. I'm sure you'll be fine as long as you practice the aforementioned common sense.

**omisan** · 05-15-2007, 12:12 AM

Your friend obviously cheated on his/her spouse and wants you to go down the same road by taking the first step of not wearing your ring.

At least, that's the way my twisted mind sees it.

Don't dump the ring - Western Europe is pretty freakin' safe. As with any place in the world, just be conscious of your surroundings.

**aliz** · 05-15-2007, 02:05 AM

i actually read in one book that single women should wear a ring on their wedding finger in some areas so that they don't get harassed... i don't think you should leave it at home

**DC_Jessica** · 05-15-2007, 03:36 AM

Yeah, I was totally gonna say that. A lot of people I know fake marriages and thus wedding rings for travel so they don't get accosted. There are some places in Latin America that I know for sure you shouldn't wear gold or precious jewelry if you are walking around, but even locals do that, so it's not a stupid tourist rule. And also, muggers know you have a wallet. Unless you look like a vagrant, they know that you've got some hidden liquid assets and fundage, so a wedding ring is not going to be the draw. Not to scare you, but here muggings are just a thing. I have some people who hang out in the same places I do and have been mugged multiple times, and I none. And I look vulnerable no matter what. So keep your wits about you, and for God's sake, know what to do if it happens and just give 'em your valuables and immediately go to the authorities.

Oh, and wear your wedding ring in Western Europe!!

**d_fresh** · 05-15-2007, 06:56 AM

Myself and my wife wore our wedding rings.

imo, you take the same safeguards in any big city. European cities aren't any different in that way really.

Keeping your wits about you and your eyes open is more important than worrying about wearing your wedding ring.

lemlern · 05-15-2007, 07:30 AM

And I guess if these guys don't put your mind at ease, you can always swap your wedding ring with a cheaper alternative for the trip. You will still be considered a married woman and no one but you would be the wiser.

But I vote for your original wedding ring! I think you will be fine in Western Europe! Have fun

**mbo108** · 05-15-2007, 07:38 AM

my wife is going to wear her wedding ring, but not her engagement ring with the diamond and whatnot. seems like a good compromise. and i think i would rather face a mugger than my wife if she caught me not wearing my wedding band.

**tumblezweedz** · 05-16-2007, 07:26 AM

Excellent point, mbo!

I live in Europe and wear my wedding band every day, never had a problem, traveling anywhere with it. I don't, however, wear my engagement ring much - not because I'm afraid of being mugged for it, but more because I would be disappointed if I lost or damaged it. Since my wedding ring is a dead simple, thin gold band, there's not much chance of it snagging or of a stone getting damaged. If you can wear the wedding band on it's own, I'd do that.

As has been pointed out before, there are a great many married people in western Europe, so a wedding band doesn't automatically mark you as a potential mugging victim.

And western Europe is not a high crime centre, common sense and awareness of your environment will keep you out of most any trouble.

Enjoy the trip!

**mbo108** · 05-16-2007, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Excellent point, mbo!

Finally noticed by one of the T-punk elites! My existence here is finally validated! hehe...

**Majestic58** · 05-17-2007, 12:03 AM

Unless your wedding ring has a 6 carat diamond in it I'm sure you'll be fine.

Your friend sounds like she was trying to scare you.

Maybe they're just jealous of your trip.

**d_fresh** · 05-17-2007, 06:22 AM

People will tell you all kinds of myths when you mention trips. usually, 80% of what they've "heard", is garbage.

**benna2** · 05-17-2007, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majestic58

Unless your wedding ring has a 6 carat diamond in it I'm sure you'll be fine.

Your friend sounds like she was trying to scare you.

Maybe they're just jealous of your trip.

I would SOOO love a 6 carat diamond!!!

Seriously though to echo what everyone else seems to be saying, I think you should be just fine with your wedding band. I see people all the time wearing their wedding bands and the country I am living in is a lot poorer than most places in Western Europe! Have a great trip!

glitterhairdye · 05-17-2007, 05:25 PM

I never had any problems in W or E Europe for that matter and I carried caluable things around all of the time.
My favorite instant was in Budapest when I was walking to the Chinese black market which was a good 4 miles down from my hostel and the guy was like, don't walk, it goes right through the Gypsy district. Well, me being easily distracted I kept window shopping and seeing pretty things and taking pictures with my $300 digital camera and walked right through it. All the while I was wondering why it looked so much grungier and why there were all these peolpe waiting in lines (food lines apparantly) but I never had a problem.
A wedding ring will definetly make you look married and you're less likely to be sexually harrased. According to Rick Steves' I think, men will mroe likely respect a married woman than a single one.

**lilwings** · 07-03-2007, 10:03 AM

Wear your ring. Western Europe is only dangerous to tourists who also think that talking loudly at someone in English makes it translated into the native tongue!

I wore my engagment ring (with diamond) in Western Europe and never had an issue. Conversely, I had to leave my wedding ring at home to travel to Turkey because it had gotten loose when I lost weight, and I didn't want it to fall off and get lost. I was harrassed more in Western Europe with a ring than with no ring in Turkey. Go figure.

KaseyCaye · 12-13-2007, 05:50 PM

I didn't have a problem when I was in Western Europe. I took a wedding ring with me to wear (i'm not married I just figured it'd give me less problems with creepy guys....didn't work in france) and none of my stuff ever got stolen. I might have been lucky but I really didn't have a problem.

I say wear your ring.

**voyd** · 12-13-2007, 06:15 PM

Uh, you do know you can buy a CZ ring for like $25? :D

**raoulduke** · 12-15-2007, 06:02 AM

I got mugged in Spain and those guys are interested in getting your wallet then getting out of there. On the very rare occasion that it does happen they're not going to take the time to check your fingers.

**lauren313** · 12-15-2007, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voyd

Uh, you do know you can buy a CZ ring for like $25? :D

Aww, it's so pretty! Haha, I want!

**expatben** · 12-15-2007, 06:10 AM

Yeah Europe is pretty darn safe. I mean, I don't wear any jewelery but when my Dad goes to Switzerland he always keeps his wedding ring on-and indeed where ever else he goes.