Passports: In the safe or in the pocket?
 

I've seen contradicting posts on what to do with your passports when traveling internationally. Some folks say to carry the original and leave copies, others say carry copies and leave the original in the safe at the hotel. What is the definitive answer to this?

My "definitive" answer is: moneybelt (underneath clothes). No chance of forgetting it, no chance of dropping it, no chance of pickpocket loss. For the few times you need to produce it, keep it deep inside daypack/pocketbook, or man's front pants pocket (or hidden pocket inside blazer, if you wear one).

In a moneybelt underneath your clothes would be my definitive answer as well.

We've always left our passports in the hotel/cruiseship safe and carried color passport copies. We just found it easier and safer. We travel often out of the country and have never had a problem.

I have never in over 35 years of european travel been asked to produce my passport , except at Italian hotel check-in. I carry copy and leave original somewhere safe...either in hotel safe, room safe, or mixed in with dirty nasty laundry!

Sorry, mdtravel, but there is no definitive answer. It depends whom you talk to. I'm from the leave-the-original-in-the-safe-and-carry-copy school of thought. Am I right? Who's to say, except that it's right for me!
PS to Jody: I find it hard to believe that in 35 years of European travel, you've only been asked for a passport once by a hotel staff person, let alone anywhere else. Have you also never applied for a VAT refund?

Howard, Off the original subject. Don't you have to spend over 180 euros in one place to try to get VAT refunded? Is that in all countries, or just a few?

Nope Howard...I don't travel to shop!

I leave the original in the hotel or room safe and carry a copy. Whenever I've needed it for VAT purchases or at a bank in Paris, the copy was accepted.

Wren, yes you do have to spend a certain amount in one place. I believe the figure varies by country. When we were in Paris last May and Italy last October, I think the amount was around 175 euro. Perhaps, someone out there has the exact current amounts for each country.

BTW Howard ..I never said ONCE...I've showen my passport many , many times in Italian hotels...And I do shop..but mainly in groceries, pharmacies, street markets, antique fairs...if I buy something significant I have it shipped and don't pay VAT! Beats lugging stuff around, at least to me

I have never had to produce my passport except at hotels at check-in. I keep it in the hotel safe.

I leave my passport in the hotel safe in Europe, if there is one, and I don't carry any copy with me. It's never been a problem. I get cash from ATM's, and I've got my drivers license with me for a photo ID. I've never thought that much about it, but I've never been asked to show my passport in my daily activities. Am I missing something here?

I always keep our passports in my front pocket. Never a problem, and we have them just in case I cause an international incident (always possible).

You never know when those mai tais might kick in and cause you to do something erratic!! Totally out of character, I am sure.

My sister got robbed in Barcelona. She was coming off the train and the robber pushed her back onto the train, against the tide of people who were getting off. In the confusion, the robber unzipped her fanny pack, which she had turned around to the front because she thought it would be "safer" that way, and got her passport, her train ticket, and her traveler's checks.

It was very scary for her, but luckily, very luckily, her things were recovered. Later she said that when she travels again, she will only carry a copy of her passport on her, and leave the original back in the hotel safe.

"Totally out of character, I am sure."

Fortunately, wine has a mellowing effect on me, and I become "Euro Tom", the guy that rolls with the European flow. I'd hate to see mai tai "L.A. Tom" rear his road rage face overseas.

Monsieur Maitai, I am quite sure you are a wild man in LA, but ever the GQ sophisticate in Europe. "The two faces of Tom..."

Are you travelling abroad this year? What I am asking is if you are practicing your civilized act!!!

why carry it with you? keep it safe in the hotel. they are not going to deport you if you don't have it.

"Are you travelling abroad this year? What I am asking is if you are practicing your civilized act!!!"

Wren, yes we are. I haven't tried to force anyone off the freeway for more than a week to get ready. We are going to the Mosel area, Alsace, Montreux, Grindelwald, Venice, an area a little outside Florence, Cinque Terre and ending up in Milan. I have my souped-up Euro car, so "watch out continent, here I come."

And to answer Richardab as to why I carry my passports.... "I'm from L.A. Trust no one."

I never travel with my passport on my person and I don't put it in the hotel safe either. I just mix it in with my dirty clothes or "hide it" elsewhere in my luggage. I've never had a problem. I sometimes carry a copy for identification purposes in case I'm ever hit by a bus, but not always.

I'm not recommending that you do this, however. Just saying that in traveling to 40 countries--many of them more than once--I have never had a problem. Do what feels comfortable to you. There is no right or wrong answer.

Always keep you passport on your person, preferably in undergarmants, etc. Never give up your passport to anyone at a hotel.

maitaitom, an international incident will just result in making you a Grumpy Traveler, so be careful!!
Enjoy your Two for the Road trip~

I carry our passports in my wallet, in my bag, slung across my chest, I dare some thief to get his hands on it ~ (the chest or the bag or the wallet)

I carry my passport and extra credit cards in my money belt...I feel much better this way and i dont worry about forgetting in the hotel's safe.I have been doing that for many years now,I must admit that,sometimes the money belt can be a nuisance ,especially in hot weather,but for me is the only way to travel..

I always leave mine origional passport my in-room safe (along with my airline tickets & my 'home use' credit cards, if an in-room safe isn't available then I use the hotels save).

I then carry a photocopy of passport, along with a photocopy of my airline tickets & my 'travelling' credit card a 'classic' (re: free) VISA card from my bank that has a much lower credit limit than my 'home use' ones (less credit 'exposure' if something still goes 'wrong' & still have the 'home use' ones as a backup).

I also keep a 2nd photocopy of my passport & airline tickets in my luggage (sort of a 2nd backup and if someone does happen to 'look' through my luggage & finds only photocopies they'd be less prone to 'look harder' for the origionals).

And aside from border crossings, the only other time I've been asked for my passport was at my hotel in Indonesia.

As for a money belt, I wore one in Bali and Kenya but with the prevalance ABMs & credit card use even in fairly remote locations there I now only carry a little cash and skip the money belt.

Z

I stay in budget locales, so I tend to keep it on me in my money belt.

Except when I go out knowing I will have a bit to drink. I realize it makes me sound like a kind of a lush, but I am always afraid I will leave it behind somewhere and not realize it! So when I go out, I do the "hide it in your bag" thing.

You need a moneybelt even though you PLAN to use the hotel safe.

Hotel safe is useless on the day you are travelling from one place to another.

Not all the small inns have safes.

I use the hotel safe if there is one and if it is not my travel day. I carry a copy mostly so that in a remote event that content of the safe is gone, I have a copy to simplify reissue.

Uh jor, I respectfully disagree with you. You've got to give it up at the hotels in Italy. And if you ever start worrying about receiving it back, maybe you ought to really worry about your choice of hotels.

Definitely agree with greg, passport stays in hotel safe until the day I have to travel to another hotel, where it then goes into my moneybelt.

hey Tom, with your penchant for libations and "souped-up" Euro cars, maybe you shouldn't carry your "real" passport on you?

For you my friend, I'd recommend leaving it at a local Amex office. In your case, I say better to trust someone than yourself!

Enjoy them mai tais!

Pickpockets can access any pocket without notice. Many hotel operations are less than secure. Even moneybelts or inner pockets are accessible to determined thief. Muggings/robbery do happen. Many assaults are preplanned based on some observation of victim, perhaps drawing funds from ATM or seeing wallet contents in a shop purchase. Years ago my wife in Miami wore an old coat to bank and carried purse under it. Bank could only be entered if customer was recognized. Many European shops employ same system. Good travels!

Hi MD,
The definitive answer is "YES".

Ah, thank heavens we're all in agreement. Maybe I can ask a better question here. I do not have a money belt. Can those that have one you like please post a link to it?

Hi MD,

I don't use a money belt. My wife and I each have a travel wallet that is attached to a long cord.

I loop mine over my belt and let it hang down a pant leg. My wife puts it around her neck and under her dress.

I keep a photocopy of the passport in my luggage; I have a friend at the US State Dept. who says it is a piece of cake to replace a passport if you have the photocopy in hand.

I will not travel anywhere outside teh US without the passport on my person. Why? I once got out of the Metro in Paris and walked up the stairs unknowingly into a raucous demonstration near Ecole Militaire. I was stopped and questioned by police, showed my passport and was let go while others (Americans included) were herded into a pen on the side of the road for questioning. That was enough for me. NEVER AGAIN will I be without my passport! I tend to think a photocopy would've done squat for me in that situation.

mdtravel, have a look at www eaglecreek.com
They seem to have the most choices. I like the leg stash.

I never use the hotel safe, even if there is one, because I'm sure I would manage to forget it there until I'm miles away...

I guess maybe it's a 'control' issue - I prefer to be in control of my passport at all times, and prefer not to leave it in the hands of anyone else. Also, never a worry about going off without it (getting older, and travel concerns are sometimes frazzling enough without adding this possibility to the mix).

My husband and I always carry them on us in our moneybelt. It is impossible for anyone to get to them since it is under your clothes.

If your passport is left at the hotel you are definitely taking a risk of someone possibly taking it (however slim the possibility). For us, it was a risk not worth taking.

Moneybelt. That's my definitive answer, anyway. I've never had a problem using one. I do everything possible each day to minimize the necessity of getting into the moneybelt while I'm "out & about," so don't draw attention to the fact that I'm wearing one. Fanny packs seem to me to be an accident waiting to happen...I see no reason to "trust" hotels with my passport once they've returned it to me following check-in.

While I carry only the photocopy on my person, I scan the front and back pages into my compter then email them along with all my other travel stuff to my email address. When they arrive I just leave them in my inbox and can pick them up and print them out at any internet connection. But the passport and tickets stay somewhere in the hotel room or safe...

I just carry the photocopies on my person,leave the original in the hotel safe (not in your locked suitcase by the way, if there's going to be a room theft, that's usually what will be taken)
I use the photocopies if the store is taking care of a VAT refund--they need the passport number.