Carry passport at all times?
Jul 18th, 2006, 07:07 PM
#41
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I have posted here before with excerpts from other posts, here and on Tripadvisor, where the room safe has been opened and articles removed. One person decided to 'test' the hotel by leaving something different on the day after he'd missed something, and yes, the safe was opened again.
My husband was in the security business for many years and can confirm that safes are made with a master key, and the hotel staff has access to that.
I don't feel any stress whatsoever carrying my passport in my 'leg safe'.
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Author: Ronda
Date: 10/06/2005, 10:28 pm
When with friends in Paris this summer, I cautioned them not to put their valuables in the hotel safe. Afterall, there is a master key, the combinations are known to fail, so why bother. One gal went ahead and put her valuables in the safe and promptly couldn't open it. I don't know whether the directions were in French or she just didn't follow directions. She had to wait a couple of hours for the hotel manager to come up and open the safe with a master key.
Author: francophile03
Date: 10/06/2005, 10:55 pm
How safe is a hotel safe if the manager has a master key? I don't which is better, the hotel safe or the suitcase. I still prefer a moneybelt.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34688490
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Author: kurmelbel
Date: 04/19/2004, 07:16 am
After 3 years of living in Paris, friends spent their last week at the Citadines Tour Eiffel. The day before they were to leave, the safe was stolen from their hotel room (never use a hotel safe!), along with a lap top and other items. Apparently the front desk clerk had given their room key to someone who said they had lost theirs.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34492184
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From Tripadvisor:
Perth: Hyatt Regency Perth: "money stolen from the room's safe box"
Dec 29, 2005: A TripAdvisor Member, Ulsan, South Korea
purpose.the day he was supposed to check out,he noticed that he was not able to open the room's safe box door.He called the reception to help him open the door and when the help came he was shocked to find out that fifteen hundred worth of dollars were missing from the safe box.The rest of the valuables were intact and the money kept on the top surface was untouched.Its quite clear that the money was pulled out from the middle.
----------------------------------------
From the news:
http://www.wftv.com/news/3287714/detail.html
Thousands Stolen From Family's Safe At Disney Resort
POSTED: 11:29 am EDT May 10, 2004
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A family from India says its visit to the happiest place on earth has been miserable. The family says someone broke into their Disney hotel suite and cleaned out their safe, stealing thousands of dollars.
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I trust "me" more than anyone else.
My husband was in the security business for many years and can confirm that safes are made with a master key, and the hotel staff has access to that.
I don't feel any stress whatsoever carrying my passport in my 'leg safe'.
--------------------------------------------
Author: Ronda
Date: 10/06/2005, 10:28 pm
When with friends in Paris this summer, I cautioned them not to put their valuables in the hotel safe. Afterall, there is a master key, the combinations are known to fail, so why bother. One gal went ahead and put her valuables in the safe and promptly couldn't open it. I don't know whether the directions were in French or she just didn't follow directions. She had to wait a couple of hours for the hotel manager to come up and open the safe with a master key.
Author: francophile03
Date: 10/06/2005, 10:55 pm
How safe is a hotel safe if the manager has a master key? I don't which is better, the hotel safe or the suitcase. I still prefer a moneybelt.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34688490
---------------------------------------
Author: kurmelbel
Date: 04/19/2004, 07:16 am
After 3 years of living in Paris, friends spent their last week at the Citadines Tour Eiffel. The day before they were to leave, the safe was stolen from their hotel room (never use a hotel safe!), along with a lap top and other items. Apparently the front desk clerk had given their room key to someone who said they had lost theirs.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34492184
--------------------------------------
From Tripadvisor:
Perth: Hyatt Regency Perth: "money stolen from the room's safe box"
Dec 29, 2005: A TripAdvisor Member, Ulsan, South Korea
purpose.the day he was supposed to check out,he noticed that he was not able to open the room's safe box door.He called the reception to help him open the door and when the help came he was shocked to find out that fifteen hundred worth of dollars were missing from the safe box.The rest of the valuables were intact and the money kept on the top surface was untouched.Its quite clear that the money was pulled out from the middle.
----------------------------------------
From the news:
http://www.wftv.com/news/3287714/detail.html
Thousands Stolen From Family's Safe At Disney Resort
POSTED: 11:29 am EDT May 10, 2004
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A family from India says its visit to the happiest place on earth has been miserable. The family says someone broke into their Disney hotel suite and cleaned out their safe, stealing thousands of dollars.
---------------------------------------
I trust "me" more than anyone else.
Jul 18th, 2006, 07:16 PM
#42
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Many of the places we have travelled take your passport at the hotel desk and do not return it to you until you leave. So we always keep copies, one in wallet/purse, one in suitcase, etc. Then if you lose it sometime, you can replace it with more ease.
Jul 18th, 2006, 07:29 PM
#43
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That proves nothing, Travelnut. I've practically lived in hotel rooms for most of my adult life, and have stayed in some clearly not so great places around the world-and I've never had anything stolen out of rooms ever-anywhere in the world- -but then again, it's always possible to have that happen SOMEWHERE, and MORE likely at your home than anywhere else!
And if you're staying at a hotel where there have been reported thefts, then maybe you ought to do a more careful search of hotels-both as to reviews and location.
Bottom line: MOST security experts tell you to leave the passport in the safe and NOT bring it on your person-and I can personally vouch for that fact after my wallet was stolen-I was much relieved, knowing at least my passport was back in the apartment safe and sound rather than having to deal with the loss of that as well as the wallet. The worry of having to keep track of it on my person, wearing some uncomfortable money belt or the like and still worrying if when pulling it out some professional pick-pocketer would be able to lift it, like they do, without one's knowledge- I think not. It's just not prudent.
And if you're staying at a hotel where there have been reported thefts, then maybe you ought to do a more careful search of hotels-both as to reviews and location.
Bottom line: MOST security experts tell you to leave the passport in the safe and NOT bring it on your person-and I can personally vouch for that fact after my wallet was stolen-I was much relieved, knowing at least my passport was back in the apartment safe and sound rather than having to deal with the loss of that as well as the wallet. The worry of having to keep track of it on my person, wearing some uncomfortable money belt or the like and still worrying if when pulling it out some professional pick-pocketer would be able to lift it, like they do, without one's knowledge- I think not. It's just not prudent.
Jul 18th, 2006, 10:55 PM
#44
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We never, ever, carry our passports around while out and about in Paris. Wherever we've stayed, we've stored them in the room safe for the duration of our stay. I do have copies tucked into my day tote. The only times we've every been asked for our passport have been at the AmEx office for cashing travelers checks (which we also no longer do), detaxe transactions (and the photocopy has always been accepted, as they apparently only need to see it and record the number).
Jul 19th, 2006, 05:00 AM
#45
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When you have your wallet stolen, that is quite a different thing than having your passport stolen from your security pouch (which are not uncomfortable at all). <i>I am still waiting to hear that someone had their passport stolen from their security pouch</i>. I have already illustrated the possibility of having it stolen from a room safe.
Jul 20th, 2006, 11:20 AM
#47
One subject that has not been addressed is "who wants to steal a passport?" (out of a safe or anywhere else). Many of us were raised to believe that a stolen passport was an extremely desirable commodity, especially an American one. In this day and age of biometric passports and a gigantic Interpol data base accessible anywhere in the world, I think that one of the last things that anybody would steal is a passport -- a stolen passport rings alarms all over the world, whereas professional fake passports continue to be very successful for crossing just about any border. Try and get that old line about "a stolen American passport can be sold for $10,000" out of your minds once and for all. Some people might still want to steal passports, but I don't really think they want to steal AMERICAN passports.
Jul 20th, 2006, 11:44 AM
#48
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When in Europe, I leave mine in the hotel room safe. I don't consider it a marketable commodity to steal.
Lots of money, on the other hand, I prefer to leave with the hotel's master safe.
I really feel that the passport, which is most valuable to me, is safer in the room safe than on my body.
Lots of money, on the other hand, I prefer to leave with the hotel's master safe.
I really feel that the passport, which is most valuable to me, is safer in the room safe than on my body.
Jul 20th, 2006, 06:26 PM
#49
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kerouac - read a few articles about stolen passports and their use in terrorist activities...Often, 'fake' passports are based on real but stolen passports...and it isn't limited to any nationality.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl.../etc/fake.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2935834.stm
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...51C0A9649C8B63
"...there are plenty of terrorists worldwide who are skilled in doctoring documents, the panel warns. It says al-Qaeda and others have refined half a dozen simple yet highly effective techniques. <b>Among the most popular is obtaining stolen passports</b>, which authorities say are available on a lucrative black market that stretches from eastern Europe to Southeast Asia and South Africa..."
http://www.iol.co.za/general/newsvie...6&set_id=1
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl.../etc/fake.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2935834.stm
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...51C0A9649C8B63
"...there are plenty of terrorists worldwide who are skilled in doctoring documents, the panel warns. It says al-Qaeda and others have refined half a dozen simple yet highly effective techniques. <b>Among the most popular is obtaining stolen passports</b>, which authorities say are available on a lucrative black market that stretches from eastern Europe to Southeast Asia and South Africa..."
http://www.iol.co.za/general/newsvie...6&set_id=1
Jul 21st, 2006, 04:47 AM
#52
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I'm in JandaO's camp - I'm pretty darn certain it won't get 'lifted' from my zipped pouch under my pants.
By the way, I also keep passport, €, etc on my person while I go down to the breakfast room.
By the way, I also keep passport, €, etc on my person while I go down to the breakfast room.
Jul 23rd, 2006, 03:58 AM
#53
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>No, wrong. The law states, that you need to posess a valid ID OR a passport.
An update on the law in Germany:
You are not required to carry an ID with you. You are ONLY required to follow the police for checking your ID, if they suspect you of having comitted a crime.
An update on the law in Germany:
You are not required to carry an ID with you. You are ONLY required to follow the police for checking your ID, if they suspect you of having comitted a crime.
Jul 23rd, 2006, 05:41 AM
#54
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I travel for a living, (I avegage over 150 nights in a hotel a year) and I have seen hotel safes that can easily be taken out of the room.
My passport is on my body at all times. If its going to be stolen I would like a fighting chance to keep it. I dont have that in a hotel room.
My passport is on my body at all times. If its going to be stolen I would like a fighting chance to keep it. I dont have that in a hotel room.
Jul 23rd, 2006, 05:45 AM
#55
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I always keep it in the safe or locked in a bag.
Only times I've had to produce the passport is for hotels and some apartment managers.
They obviously recognize a US passport more than a California Driver's License.
But others have accepted the driver's license as valid ID, usually people wanting to compare the name on the credit card to a photo ID.
Only times I've had to produce the passport is for hotels and some apartment managers.
They obviously recognize a US passport more than a California Driver's License.
But others have accepted the driver's license as valid ID, usually people wanting to compare the name on the credit card to a photo ID.
Jul 23rd, 2006, 07:05 AM
#57
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Do you need to carry your pasport with you all the times?
France-yes
Belgium-yes
The Netherlands-yes
Germany-No
Unityed kingdom-no
Spain-yes
Italy-yes.
Will somebody ask to see your passport: most probably not, but you never know.
France-yes
Belgium-yes
The Netherlands-yes
Germany-No
Unityed kingdom-no
Spain-yes
Italy-yes.
Will somebody ask to see your passport: most probably not, but you never know.
Aug 7th, 2006, 04:23 PM
#58
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I see that the widespread idea about French citizens being required to carry a Carte Nationale d'Identité is still around. As others have said, it's not true.
Actually, it's extremely handy for everyday life, but it's _not_ mandatory.
Norween, I guess virtually everybody in the States has a driving license ?
Actually, it's extremely handy for everyday life, but it's _not_ mandatory.
Norween, I guess virtually everybody in the States has a driving license ?
Aug 7th, 2006, 05:07 PM
#59
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Besides checking into hotels in Italy, I was asked to show my passport by a train fare inspector in Germany when using a Eurail pass. I never had to show my passport to anyone outside passport control in France.
