Passports: do you carry yours with you when you travel or lock it in your hotel's safe?
Dec 10th, 2004, 02:49 PM
#21
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I leave my passport in the room safe and carry ocpies of the passport, my driving license (I don't know why I do this but was advised to some years ago), front and back of insurance cards and emergency contact info. Since 9/11 have also registered trip with State Department . . . just in case. When in Rome last month we saw so many police in huge groups out on the street that I became concerned about a possible "heightened" security threat. Got money, sent out the laundry and made provisional arrangements with hotel to stay---then found out that caribineri were getting ready for the MTV Europe awards!
Dec 10th, 2004, 04:03 PM
#24
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When traveling out of the country I carry it with me at all times:
1. If anything happens to it I want to know immdiately - not find out 4 days later when I'm ready to head for the next country.
2. I don;t trust in-room safes (I can get them open - so can anyone else) and the major hotel safe just seems silly.
(FYI - more than 60 trips to europe - western, central and eastern - and have never been pickpocketed, had anything stolen - or even close. And most [not all naturally] of the people I know/have met who did had problems - caused them through their own carelessness.)
1. If anything happens to it I want to know immdiately - not find out 4 days later when I'm ready to head for the next country.
2. I don;t trust in-room safes (I can get them open - so can anyone else) and the major hotel safe just seems silly.
(FYI - more than 60 trips to europe - western, central and eastern - and have never been pickpocketed, had anything stolen - or even close. And most [not all naturally] of the people I know/have met who did had problems - caused them through their own carelessness.)
Dec 10th, 2004, 04:03 PM
#25
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MAybe I am Pollyanna! I carry a copy of my passport and leave an email with a copy on my computer. I carry a regular purse with wallet secured and cards in different pockets, my passport and tickets are either in my room safe or in a hidden compartment in my wonderful 22" suitcase. In 40 years of travels . I've never had a problem.
Msaybe I am just lucky or maybe
Msaybe I am just lucky or maybe
Dec 10th, 2004, 04:17 PM
#26
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Hi, LoveItaly! Yes, I felt like the original dunce when some people in the Vatican queue told us. I guess that huge stage (near the Forum? In front of some ruin) with all the lights probably should have tipped me off, but no!
Dec 10th, 2004, 04:22 PM
#27
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Various posters on different boards have said it's a legal requirement for foreigners to carry their passports around in Italy. Has any tourist in Italy been stopped by an actual law enforcement official and suffered a penalty for saying that he/she left his/her passport in the hotel safe? On another board, an Italian hotel worker said it would be fine, in that unlikely case, to say that your passport was at the hotel.
Any personal experiences?
Any personal experiences?
Dec 10th, 2004, 05:32 PM
#28
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As a seasoned traveler, I always carry my passport with me, concealed, of course. ALWAYS
I carry a copy of it that i leave behind at the hotel, in my luggage , as i usually stay at places that don't have safes.
I also carry as an extra photo, should i need to replace the passport. I leave a copy of the passport at home, with someone, that could fax it to a foreign country, if i needed it.
I carry a copy of it that i leave behind at the hotel, in my luggage , as i usually stay at places that don't have safes.
I also carry as an extra photo, should i need to replace the passport. I leave a copy of the passport at home, with someone, that could fax it to a foreign country, if i needed it.
Dec 10th, 2004, 05:45 PM
#29
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We think it's the best to carry it with you at all times. Just BE AWARE, BE AWARE of where your money and belongings are...and my purse is always slanted across my shoulder and chest. Never know where and when you will need your passport. Europe is much safer than a lot of cities in U.S...of course it depends on where you are..and if you stay out late at night etc.
Dec 10th, 2004, 06:01 PM
#30
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I keep ours on me, in one of those tuck in wallets. We're also of the type that rarely stays places that have safes. Doubtful that we'd use one anyway. And we have had attempts made at pickpocketing. 4 times this last trip in total. But in that we took a few basic precautions, we really never came close to losing anything.
Dec 10th, 2004, 06:09 PM
#31
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I'm amazed at the number of people who carry their passports with them.
I've always figured that I was more likely to lose it or have it stolen if I carried it with me than if I left it in the hotel.
I do always have a copy of our passports, although I don't usually even carry that with me, either.
I've always figured that I was more likely to lose it or have it stolen if I carried it with me than if I left it in the hotel.
I do always have a copy of our passports, although I don't usually even carry that with me, either.
Dec 11th, 2004, 06:16 AM
#32
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marcy_
I think it's a matter of personal responsibility. I think I can take better care of my valuables than some disinterested clerk or concierge, even <u>if/U> you grant that his intentions are good. When I have my stuff with me, I feel more comfortable than I would wondering if everything will be where I left it when I get back.</u>
I think it's a matter of personal responsibility. I think I can take better care of my valuables than some disinterested clerk or concierge, even <u>if/U> you grant that his intentions are good. When I have my stuff with me, I feel more comfortable than I would wondering if everything will be where I left it when I get back.</u>
Dec 11th, 2004, 06:26 AM
#33
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Room safe if I've got one, hotel safe if not ...
But I usually carry a copy of the main page -- and I always scan that page and e-mail it to myself at an address I can get from anywhere. I also scan in with fax confirmations of reservations.
But I usually carry a copy of the main page -- and I always scan that page and e-mail it to myself at an address I can get from anywhere. I also scan in with fax confirmations of reservations.
