I'm heading to China next month for 3 weeks and had a question about how to keep my passport and money safe. My bank charges me an access fee every time I take money out internationally so I was thinking about taking out a large sum initially (to try to minimize fees). However, I am a little concerned about carrying this around with me as well as my passport. Do most 3 star and above hotels have safes? Are they recommended?

I am planning to make copies of my passport, visa and credit cards in case anything happens.

Even if your hotel has a safe, you still need a money belt for transporting valuables between hotels.

Always carry your passport with you. It is the most precious thing you have.

Never carry huge amount of cash. Not normally covered by insurance and why put that pressure on yourself.

I wouldn't want to wander anywhere knowing I had mega cash around my middle.

It is costing you a lot to get to China in the first place? yes? right so far? So how do the bank charges compare to the overall cost? How do they compare to the cost of a cup of coffee?

To save a few dollars is it really worth the stress of carrying all that money around.

I think not.

Just have one soft drink less a day and you've covered it.

yes? No?

I always carry several one hundred dollar bills with me as "insurance" in case an ATM is not readily available or functioning. I do use in-room safes. Some people like chimani, carry their passports everywhere, others locak the passport in their safe and carry only a copy. Do what you are comfortable with.

As far as ATM charges are concerned, your bank may charge you up to US$5 per withdrawal. Also, they may charge you a 3% foreign exchange fee. Find out exactly what the charges are, and if they are too high, open a bank account elsewhere. Most credit unions have very reasonable fees. I opened an internet savings account with HSBC (in the US) that pays be 5% interest, has no foreign exchange fee and no charge for use of ATMs. If I make 4 withdrawals totaling $1000, I've saved US$50 over what my bank would have charged me.

How much is the access fee?

Why in heavens name would you carry your passport with you when you can leave it in the hotel safe ? I carry a photocopy of my passport in my pocket at all times but leave my passport where it's safe at the hotel. As to carrying large amounts of cash - not smart at all. Pay the bank fees and use ATM's to stock up.

I just returned from a 32 days vacation to China & Thailand. (I am working on my trip report) It was my first trip there and I had the same questions.
I agree with Kathie to do what you are comfortable with. As I do live in Mexico and can´t always trust the bank cards working internationally I did carry US cash - (one months spendings worth) probably was foolish but since living in Mexico I have bought a money belt and have always carried my cash with me in this way.
In each of the hotels that we stayed at we had an in room safe. I stored our cash, passports, tickets etc. there and had no problem. I made photocopies of our passports that we had on us for I.D.. This is the way that I travel so I don´t stress about it at all and the bonus is that I always have cash on hand.

Good advice! Rather than carrying my passport everywhere, I like the idea of keeping it in the hotel safe and just carrying a copy with me. I'm also going to look into credit unions for no fees and Capital One for a credit card as I know they are one of the few that don't pass along any international fees.

I guess I was coming at this from a different direction. I most definitely did not stay anywhere in China that had a hotel safe. Ditto India. Ditto all other countries I have been to in Asia.

In other words if the choice is being leaving your passport in a drawer in your room or carrying it with you - then the latter every time.

As for cash. Yes - kathie is right - you should carry a small stash; an emergency fund. Good idea.

I, too, generally stay in hotels that don't have in-room safes. When I do have one, I usually use it. But then I sometimes find I need something I'm used to having in my money belt - credit card, or something to use as ID.

On a long trip I carry a spare money belt, with copies of what's in the main belt, plus back-up TCs and cash, and store it in my locked luggage in my room. I usually have a third, small, cash stash in a different place in my luggage.

We use travelers checks when in Thailand. They want to see our passports. Will they accept the copies of our passports?

We get opinionated when we talk about our cash!

1. Get a good back account. My Wachovia account is not as good as HSBC, but close, 1% international fee. Exchange at official rate, no discounts.

2. Use your debit card as often as possible, but remember that many machines allow a max of only 2000Y.

3. After spending over 8 weeks in China in the past year, I have only been asked for my passport at the border and at the hotel. Keep your passport locked up. Sometimes I have a photocopy with me in my little LP shoulder case.

4. Of course, when you make those copies, bring them with you. That is why I have my passport copy in my shoulder case and the real one locked up. Keep your photocopies separated from the real things, like one set in carry ons, the other set checked luggage.

5. Travellers checks are not an issue, because they are a hassle to cash, and also subject to fees. So you (sometimes) pay when you get them, and pay again when you cash them. Yikes! Forget them.

6. Carry at least one credit card with cash access and a PIN. For emergencies, when the hidden US$100 is spent, the ATM card is lost, and no more Yuan. This is a very expensive solution however.

7. (almost forgot) Leave the moneybelt at home. Try climbing the Great Wall at 36C and a money belt! Or taking your bamboo raft trip on the Yu Long River. Or jogging along a trail. They are uncomfortable and unnecessary. ATM card and wallet in front pocket, preferably a zippered one, or left in safe. All shoulder bags have the strap around your neck, and the bag in the front at all times.

8. Have a lot of fun. Personal crime in China is very low. I would guess 10x safer than rail stations in Europe, for example. The Chinese are shrewd, your have to bargain hard, but theft is rare. You hear of the odd pickpocket, and then you find out that the couple had their map in hands, a confused look on their faces, and multiple bags hanging off the shoulders.