I am quite obssessive about this topic and this is what works for me:

Money Belt: passport, copy of ticket, spare credit card and spare ATM, $100 and 100 Euros. BTW - I wear my money belt high, right beneath my bra strap and it does not show as much as when you wear at waist level.

wallet inside bag: Passoport COPY, copy of ticket, drivers license and every day use ATM and Credit Card and not more than 100 Euros.

zipped inside bag but NOT on wallet: Passoport COPY, printout of e-ticket or original paper ticket, spare ID and spare Credit Card

I do what it sounds like you have decided on. Carry a normal pocketbook with my passport in it. So far, so good!

For the VAT form in the shops, all you need is the passport number.

I did a Google search using such keywords as "strangled", "neck pouch", "money belt", "passport carrier" and came up empty handed.
Whew!
I have regained my self-confidence.

From traveling in Europe many times, it is best to have your passport on you at all times. This is your only real identification there.

How do you wear a money belt all the time??? We have never been asked for our passports in Spain..except at hotels. It obviously is a matter of choice....but I sometime think we make life too difficult for ourselves when we travel. I guess...do whatever makes you feel good...for me that is not a money belt 24 hours a day.

Obviously you would not wear it "24 hours" you would carry your passport when leaving your hotel.

OK, stupid question... what is a money belt and where do you get one?

Money belt is the wrong turn. There is one that has a zipper that holds only one bill. Look up waist bag on google you'll find everything from hiker's to designers. I have a leather zipper bag on a belt from Longchamp but only use it for biking about town here. I wear in France whatever I do here but am more alert.

lol..term

richardab: Go this web site to see a photo of a very nice "moneybelt" (although, it looks like the price has gone up on it!)

http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/ca...=124&id=32

Some people do wear their moneybelts near 24/7... backpackers who stay in hostel shared dorms, people who sleep on overnight trains, etc.

Note that you do need your passport now as ID if you go to an Internet point. If you go with your spouse or other companion, and both of you use the computer, you are both supposed to provide your passports. At least this is true in Italy; don't know if it's the case across the EU.

Also, if you go to a museum where you rent an audioguide, you generally need to leave some kind of photo ID, although a passport is not necessary. That's why I always carry my US driver's license as well.

Have never yet been asked for a passport at an internet cafe or whatever....so that cannot be the so everywhere.

Mincepie, as nonnafelicie said, the new law in Italy is that one has to show ID to use a public computer in Italy. If you are not a resident of Italy you must show your passport. Documentation is written down. All due to new security regulations in Italy since the bombing of the tubes in London. Any provider of public computers will be heavily fined or closed down if they do not do this. To my knowledge Italy is the only country in Europe that has this new law, but perhaps other countries have instituted this legal requirement also and I am not aware of it.

Correction, if you are a resident of the other European countries I do not think you have to show your passport, but just an ID. I was relating to US residents and other residents outside of Europe. It is a new law recently established so perhaps it was not in force when you were in Italy

Went to retrieve mine out of room safe in France and safe wouldn't open. Batteries were involved in operation of the safe and they were apparently dead. Tell front desk guy. He grabs a paper clip and is in safe inside of 10 seconds. Usually carry it now.