I always scan my key travel documents (passport, tickets, travel insurance etc) and email them to my hotmail account before I leave.

Then, if I lose everything or it gets stolen, I only have to visit a cybercafe, go into my hotmail email account, and print everything off again.

I also take photostats...but even they can be stolen.....

Bonjour
two years ago, we made a six months journey in S.E.A. with LP guide books. We founded that a small pocket compass very usefull to read the maps and get us oriented in major cities.

I'm not sure I would want to email a document as sensitive as my passport. Email is very unsecure and although a passport doesn't have info on it such as social security numbers or mother's maiden name, (two things I guard as closely as my life), I still would not feel comfortable having the information page going through email.

Laurie-- you took the words right out of my mouth. Unless you have a secure site I would worry about that.

If I'm not mistaken, internet "bad guys" scan for information stored as text, such as the word "VISA" or a string of letters and numbers such as accounts, phone numbers, or addresses. If a photo contains the work "Passport" or "account" they won't "see" it. They would have to open every document and visually evaluate it. That would too labor intensive for their needs. However, if someone knows I'm mistaken about this, I would really like to know.

That being said, I give my kids a CD with my important papers scanned and made into .pdf files. If I need a copy, they can e-mail it to me very quickly. And I e-mail myself copies of ticket confirmations, hotel confirmations, useful phone numbers, addresses, etc.

Carolyn

Carolyn, what you're saying is true in most cases, however, when you email even a scanned document to your web-based email address (such as hotmail or yahoo) the document sits on a server that people have access to. Some of the emplyees of hotmail etc can gain access, as well as a savvy hacker. While the chances are probably small that someone will gain access to the info and use it, the potential is still there.

Not extremely topic pertinent, but since two people have mentioned it in this thread, I thought I would give a recommendation.

For thos of us with, um, larger thighs that rub together when walking a bunch and wearing skirts, I have found the absolute ultimate solution. There is this stuff called "body glide." It is used by athletes, especially long distance runners, to help their body parts from chaffing. It is amazing. You can get it at most sports stores or off the internet. It is definitely a must for those that suffer from this problem. It holds up pretty well in the heat, too.