We are traveling to Europe next month, and I know I've read several sites that tell you "take a copy of this" or "write down this." (i.e., take a copy of your passport, so if your passport is stolen, it is a little easier to replace.) Now that I'm in the mode to document all this stuff for our trip, I'm drawing a blank as to what I should keep in more than one place... Anyone have suggestions on a "complete list" of documentation? I know we probably won't use it, but I'll feel safer having it!

Thanks!

My ideas, and in addition to taking a set of copies with you, leave a set with someone at home who could fax them to you if necessary:

passport pages

credit card numbers, plus the phone numbers you can call from outside your home country if you lose one
(US toll free numbers don't work outside the US)
debit/atm card, ditto

Trav. checks numbers if you're using them

a copy of your complete itinerary with flight numbers, hotel names and phone numbers, train reservations, etc
Keep one copy of this on top of everything in your suitcase before you close the lid, just in case it is lost.
Your home address on the tag won't be helpful if your bag is lost while you are traveling.

Start with copies of :

Your Passport
Drivers Licence
Medical Insurance card ( I always forget about this,but a friend of mine ended up needing hers on a trip to Mexico)
Credit card Numbers and the phone number to call if you have problems overseas.
Itinerary ( including phone / address of each place you are staying)
Name/address/phone of an emergency contact at home.

I took my copy of my passport, with a copy of my birth certificate, put them back to back and covered them with that peel and stick laminating sheets. It waterproofs them and keeps them from getting crease marks. I keep them in my suitcase at all times. I did the same thing for my parents when they traveled with me in April.

I also leave a 2nd set of all my documents in the middle of my dining room table at home. That way if there are any problems, I can call and have one of my siblings go over , get them , and fax them to me.

Debbie

I copy and make lists of various phone numbers, plane ticket numbers, copies of passport,anything that might be pertinent and attach and send it to my email . I can pick it up at any internet cafe anywhere. The other copies I just keep seperate from the originals.

oops - elaine and I must have been typing at the same time

I like Elaine's suggestion of placing a full itinerary in your suitcase. I have always kept name and address in my suitcases in case the outer tag detaches and my bag is lost. I leave itineraries with my neighbor and brother-in-law when we travel so they can contact us if necessary, but never thought about keeping one in my bag. Good idea.

We divide up the passport copies, etc., I carry copies and so does my husband.

Also, herrz, you didn't ask this and you may do it, but it is wise to call your bank(s) and advise them you will be in Europe using ATMs and making charges so they can monitor your cards and not freeze them because of more withdrawals of cash than usual.

Once a year, I take everything out of my wallet and photocopy the backs and fronts of all the credit cards, library cards, etc. That way, I never have to remember exactly what was in there, and it's a lot easier to have a visual copy of all the numbers on the cards. I have always been able to get all of this on one piece of paper (front and back) and it makes it easy for me, a friend or family member to cancel everything.

For travelling I carry only a few cards and also copy my passport on the same page. Fits easily into my money belt. The copy of all this stuff I leave hidden at home so if the house is broken into the thieves don't have easy access to all my card info while I'm gone. Paranoid maybe, but well worth it if the worst happens.

I photocopy all the above and keep it in a folder in the bottom of my suitcase and my husband's too. I also leave a full copy with my parents (or someone at home) for the worst case scenario. This came in handy when connecting thru London to Milan and they forgot to give my husband's return tickets back to him. We just showed them the photocopies in Milan and they reissued the tickets quickly.

Take along a list of Model and Serial numbers for cameras, computers, any items of value that could be stolen.

I was thinking "this has been done to death," but what a useful thread. It's good to have it all in one place rather than scattered around.

I also take a copy of my prescriptions.

STOP!!!! !!!
SCAN the passport and creditcard numbers and other juicy bits into a password protected file than 'copy' to a Floppy disk - or if you are up to date, store online under protected webspace -THAT way you have access to it - and professional Identity theives DON'T -
there's always a place to go ONLINE to go and get it - or print the floppy from any hotel abroad.

Identity theft is pretty EVIL and it's growing rapidly! - do you want all your vitals stored in your stolen suitcase, to be checked out by ID theives?

just a thought....

How do you people sleep at night? I've never done any of that. I never will. Life's too short.

Just to clarify, I actually printed all my credit card info to leave at home - I have a palm pilot that I stored it on as well, and that stayed with me.

The only thing I left in my suitcase was my Passport copy and my itinerary.

Debbie

Re the credit card numbers, to secure them a little better, I wrote them down in an easy code, so that if a thief stole my suitcase containing copies of docs, he wouldn't have my credit card info.

Sheila, taking those precautions is what <i>enables</i> me to sleep at night. When my soft contact lens tore, I had the prescription to replace it. When a student lost his passport, we replaced it in an hour (I also take two extra passport photos). When we were robbed in Florence, I was glad I had the credit card phone numbers. When I had to spend two more weeks than I planned, the pharmacist was able to quickly and easily sell me enough medication to see me through.

Although herrz didn't ask about what NOT to take, it's a good idea to go through your wallet before you leave and leave at home any cards you won't need (library card, department store credit cards, etc.). Lightens your load and you won't have to replace those things if your wallet gets lost or stolen.

hey i'm with sheila, 25 trips out of the country and i have yet to do any of these things, and yet to have a problem - knock wood. OK i confess, i do copy the 1st page of my passport and stick it in the pocket of my suitcase.

Though not a fun thing to think about, make sure you have an updated will and your relatives know where it is. I also leave my relatives a blank, signed check (yes, they're very trustworthy) in case they would need to access my funds.

I make three sets of copies. I keep one set in my luggage, one in my backpack and leave a set at home in my desk.

I'm with sheila &amp; suze - don't do any of this except copy the first page of my passport and write my credit card number somewhere innocuous.
BUT I do take wallet-size pictures of my children if they're travelling with me, just in case they get lost and I have to describe them. Never needed them yet, knock on wood!