AAF

Is it a good idea to make a photo copy of your passport, driver's license and any other materials before traveling? Where is a secure place to put the copies?

What do you do about credit cards?

What other safety issues should I be aware of?

We are leaving for Italy on Monday.

Thank you.

kenderina

I think is not only a good idea, it's a must
I carry the copies in my handbag and leave the originals at the hotel, I don't know if it is the best idea ,though
I carry also credit cards but I leave the numbers written at home so someone here can withdrawal them in case of robbery.
I'm also interested in the answers of more experienced travelers round here

faredolce

I did copy all of my personal forms of i.d., including passport, driver's license, birth certificate, and sent it to a family member with a fax machine, so if I had any emergencies, I could get in touch with them and they would be able to fax them out to me if I needed them. I also typed my itinerary, flight details, hotels, phone numbers, dates of travel, any contacts I had, and gave it to that person and another friend as well.

Luckily I did not need any of it, but it made me feel much better knowing that I did. I made sure that my two "contact" people knew who each other was and had each other's phone numbers as well.

I also called my bank and informed them of my plans so that the daily withdrawl limit of my ATM card would be increased, and to make sure they did not block any charges when it was used as a debit card..I did the same for my credit card company.

TracyB

I photocopy my passport, plane tickets and any travel voucher before I leave home..I put 1 copy hidden in my suitcase and I leave one with my mother and one at home..That way, I am covered..If I loose my suitcase, then I can call my mother and if not, I can phone the person that is looking after my house...Touch wood, but so far I have never needed to use the copies..

TracyB

Oh right, I also call my credit card company to advise them where I am going so that I don't have any problems using my credit card..I also leave 2 lights on a timer in my house that turn on at 9:00 PM and shut off at 1:00 am so that it looks like there is someone home..

faredolce

Good point - I forgot to mention that I also left the original of my passport in my hotel room in the safe (if it had one, and 3 out of 4 did) and only took the copy with me. If it makes any difference, I made a color copy, so it was really sharp and accurate in terms of the photo and numbers and stamps, etc.

kenderina

mm, I think the color copy is not so good idea. Maybe if it arrives to an "expert" can use it as if it was the original..maybe a good b/w copy is safer.

LoveItaly

I personally would not put any photocopies of information in my checked in luggage. Do others do that?

I give photocopies to my daughter & SIL. I have another set of photocopies in my carryon luggage and the originals in my shoulder bag. If I do not take a shoulder bag onto the plane and just take a small carryon I have the originals in a small type zippered bag, and the photocopies in another one. That way if I go to the head while on the plane I can take those two zippered bags with me.

I am certain others have even better ideas, but so far (fingers crossed) my way has worked for me.

Once I am at a hotel I put the original passport (after I get it back from the hotel personell) in the hotel safe (not a hotel room safe) and put one of my ATM cards and two of my credit cards in the hotel safe. I carry a photocopy of my passport in my wallet along with one ATM card and two credit cards in my shoulder bag. I do not carry that my cash with me so that goes in my wallet also. Extra cash is put in the hotel safe.

LoveItaly

Oh, forgot to say, one of my credit cards and some cash plus the photocopy of my passport is not in my wallet that is in my shoulder bag but is in the zippered inside pocket of my shoulder bag.

kenderina

oh, my, loveitaly ! What a mess of credit cards ! I wonder if they give them more easily in the States..I only have one !!! and another one which is a debit card.

Robespierre

Where is a secure place to put the copies?

<b>Scan them and put them in your PDA (Palm or PocketPC).</b>

HappyCheesehead

I follow a tip I read about on Fodors -we have scanned the front and back of the credit cards &amp; passport and emailed them to ourselves.

francophile03

I don't put any personal info. in my luggage also. In fact, I don't include on the airplane id tags my street address anymore.

MaureenB

I also scanned copies of our passports and posted them on a secure website I could access from anywhere in the world. Not sure it's necessary, but I feel better knowing it's available in an emergency.

Travelnut

Husband 'lost' his passport in Amsterdam. The officials at the Consulate seemed pleased that we had a photocopy of the application- we had to go get photos done, then return to complete the process. So now we carry extra photos to go with the photocopy.

LoveItaly

Hi Kenderina, I assume you do not live in the US? I have had my four credit cards forever so to speak. Not a mess at all. Not that it is anyones business but I have never paid an annual fee for a credit card and have never paid interest on a credit card because balances are paid when the statement is received.

And have two ATM cards, from two different financial institutions. A good idea IMO in case one ATM card does not work or is not returned from an ATM. But no doubt you are much younger and so my way of doing things seems strange to you perhaps.

BTW, I have said this before but will say it again. My stepdaughter who is in charge of computer security for a very well thought of county court system has always said &quot;never put any personal information that can be retrieved by e-mail. Public computers are not safe and laptops are not safe&quot;.
But we all must do what works for each of us of course. Safe travels everyone.

amp322

This probably won't be of help to most people, but, since I travel overseas with my violin most of the time, I keep the copies of my personal documents in my case. Since I guard that case with my life, it would be more likely that someone would succeed in mugging my purse, than stealing my violin, so I feel safe keeping copies in there. Of course, you could just keep your copies in your carry-on (I can't take one on, since my case is basically all I can get away with). I also leave copies of everything with my mom, and give about 3 people my detailed itinerary. You just never know... !

L84SKY

Your point about public computers not being safe is a good one LoveItaly.

I have the toll free numbers of my credit card with me but I would never copy my credit card number, unless it was in code. But there's really no reason to go through all the trouble, if you your cc you'll only need your SSN # and mother's maiden name (or some password).
On my luggage tag I only have my name and cell phone #. Inside I keep an itinerary.

LoveItaly

Hi L84SKY, I do the same thing you do, my name and telephone no. Inside is my itinerary. I take the (if out of the US) telephone numbers for the credit cards and ATM's. I do not write down the a/c numbers either, but my daughter has the info. Getting ready for a trip is a bit time consuming isn't it?

fehgeddaboudit

Robespierre : That's lame. When your PDA gets lost or stolen, the bad guys have more info on you. Now you haven't simply lost your PDA, but you've lost potentially more.