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Post by pas2 on Apr 2, 2016 9:31:34 GMT
Another question about traveling abroad, how does everyone prefer to carry their passports? Do you take them everywhere you go? Daughter is to take a day bag with a fold up umbrella and a small rain jacket. I don't want her carrying her passport in the day bag I want her to carry it on her person. Is there any pouch type carrier that will work for a very skinny person since it won't be as easy to conceal on her body?
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Post by KikiPea on Apr 2, 2016 10:53:00 GMT
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AllieC
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,057 
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Post by AllieC on Apr 2, 2016 10:53:36 GMT
I very rarely carry it on my person, I carry a copy but leave the passport in my hotel room safe. I also have a cross body small bag which has slash proof straps etc by Pacsafe for when I need to carry around money and documents.
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Post by baslp on Apr 2, 2016 11:15:02 GMT
We also left ours in the hotel safe.
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Post by gar on Apr 2, 2016 11:17:34 GMT
We leave ours in the room safe on the whole.
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Post by mom on Apr 2, 2016 11:19:03 GMT
we carry ours on our body ONLY if we have to have it specifically for that day. Otherwise, into the safe it goes.
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Post by Rainy_Day_Woman on Apr 2, 2016 11:21:26 GMT
I carried mine in a money belt. I was mugged once in London and luckily I had the passport and some travellers cheques stashed on my body in the money belt so I didn't lose everything. It was just a travels money belt, and I didn't think it was too conspicuous. Don't wear a skin tight shirt and you will be fine. I stayed in hostels and other sketchy type places when I was travelling so there wasn't a hotel safe.  |
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AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Apr 2, 2016 12:12:47 GMT
We leave our passports at our lodgings, including B&Bs and flats without safes, but not hostels. Both my kids kept theirs in their "dorm" rooms in Europe, and carried copies.
For times when we need them on our person, I made passport sized flannel "pockets" to pin inside the waistband of our jeans/skirts/trousers. They've also been useful for phones, cash, credit cards. I prefer the pockets to the money belts; they're softer, smaller, and no annoying strap around the body.
We also have have a photo of our passports on our phones.
Tell your daughter to always carry her credit cards separately (from each other). My daughter was purse-picked TWICE in her travels. It's really a pain to have a replacement card sent overseas, but at least she had the other card stored elsewhere.
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Post by Merge on Apr 2, 2016 12:25:56 GMT
For our most recent trip, I bought a crossbody camera bag/purse with some interior zipper pockets. The top of the bag/purse also zips shut - I looked for that, rather than a foldover flap or snap shut - so it is more difficult for someone to just reach in and take something if you keep the purse zipped. I kept our passports in the inside zipper pockets when we needed them that day (otherwise, they stayed hidden back at the apartment we had rented). We visited some very crowded tourist spots and used the Paris Metro every day, and had no problems. We were wearing coats and layers most days so the whole money belt thing would have been a giant pain in the butt.
All that said, I really think the most important thing you can do any time you're out and about is just to be situationally aware of your surroundings. Pickpockets are looking for people who are distracted and not paying attention.
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Post by annabella on Apr 2, 2016 12:36:02 GMT
Back in the day I wore a money belt, now I just carry it in my purse. But if I'm staying at a hotel a few nights I will leave it in the safe.
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Post by MZF on Apr 2, 2016 12:57:17 GMT
On our trip last year, I carried mine & DH's in my cross body bag.
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Post by belgravia on Apr 2, 2016 13:38:12 GMT
I never carry it with me, I prefer to leave it in the safe.
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Apr 2, 2016 13:56:27 GMT
I thought we, as tourists, were supposed to have our passport on our person when traveling abroad. Being robbed at machette and zip gun point in Costa Rica, and having my passport (among other things) stolen, changed that. Nearly everyone after that said never carry your actual passport -- keep it safe in your hotel, cabin, locked luggage and only carry a copy.
The customs official I dealt with in getting back into the US without a passport all said keep the original tucked away, and carry person possessions and a copy of your passport in a WAIST belt (mine was in a neck pouch -- the thieves could easily see the string around my neck).
When traveling I prefer a bag that I need to keep a hand on. I don't take much of importance -- but cash and credit cards need attention, so as wonderful as a hands free cross body bag is, I've found I prefer a soft, dump style bag that carries over one shoulder and under my arm - where I can keep a thumb tucked into it - with a cinch string close that I further camouflage with a fluffy scarf knotted close.
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Post by FrozenPea on Apr 2, 2016 15:14:39 GMT
We left our passports at our lodgings but carried our passport cards with us. And when we had to have our passports, we carried each other's passport cards that way incase one of lost or had our passport stolen we had a back up id. We also had copies of our passports hidden in our suitcases and a copy at home with family.
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Post by melodyesch on Apr 2, 2016 15:31:28 GMT
When we have a secure place to keep them back at our hotel, that's what we do. And we have copies on our phones. If we are in transit or if there is no safe at our hotel, DH carries them both in an inside pocket of his Scottevest (travel vest with lots of inside pockets).
For you daughter, I would look at one of those pockets that you attach to your belt (assuming you wear a belt) and then tuck it into the waist of your pants. You can find them on Amazon or travel stores. Or, like someone above suggested, make a fabric pocket to pin inside.
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Grom Pea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,944
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Post by Grom Pea on Apr 2, 2016 15:34:53 GMT
We left our passports at our lodgings but carried our passport cards with us. And when we had to have our passports, we carried each other's passport cards that way incase one of lost or had our passport stolen we had a back up id. We also had copies of our passports hidden in our suitcases and a copy at home with family. This is a good idea, maybe I'll get passport cards next time we need to renew. I generally walk around with a photocopy and leave my passport in the hotel safe. |
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Post by Basket1lady on Apr 2, 2016 15:36:33 GMT
I agree with many others. Passport in the hotel safe. I carried my passport card on me in my purse. I had a cross body purse with a zipper and I consciously zipped it shut each time. I would also wear my rain jacket over the top of my purse a lot of the time, or knotted around the strap of my purse if I wasn't wearing it.
I had copies of everything sitting on my desk at home in case they were lost or stolen. When we were actively changing countries, DH kept them in a pouch around his neck or I had them in my bag.
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Post by patin on Apr 3, 2016 6:33:10 GMT
Would any of you post links/pics of these cross body purses? Thanks.
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Post by anniefb on Apr 3, 2016 9:22:33 GMT
I only carry mine if I know I need it for something particular. Otherwise it stays in the safe if I'm in an hotel, or at 'home' if I'm with friends.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Apr 3, 2016 14:21:38 GMT
I very rarely carry it on my person, I carry a copy but leave the passport in my hotel room safe. I also have a cross body small bag which has slash proof straps etc by Pacsafe for when I need to carry around money and documents. Yes this. |
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
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Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Apr 3, 2016 14:25:03 GMT
If our hotel room has a safe, it goes there. Otherwise it's in an interior pocket of my cross-body camera bag.
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Post by candygurl on Apr 3, 2016 14:26:59 GMT
When I went to Europe in August, I carried a crossbody purse, nothing fancy and wore it under my jacket. I left my passport in the hotel safe as well as any electronics. I also made a copy of my passport and carried that. I felt safe in Europe but was also aware and didn't do anything stupid and tried to not look like a tourist lol.
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Post by originalvanillabean on Apr 3, 2016 16:42:36 GMT
Actual in hotel safe.
Copy on my phone an also in draft folder of my email.
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Post by Nicole on Apr 3, 2016 17:17:57 GMT
I would recommend carrying it with you at all times and having a photo of your passport on your phone. Mom should also have a photocopy just in case. My brother studied abroad in Lyon, France, 2014-2015 and was there after the Charlie Hebdo shootings. My brother was walking home from the store and was stopped by the police (they were searching an area near where my brother was living). They, of course, wanted to see his passport and verify he was a student and everything. If you are ever stopped by the police you have to have your passport on you.
When my family and I traveled in Europe last year, we all carried our passports in crossbody bags.
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Post by MadamG2U on Apr 3, 2016 17:36:39 GMT
On QVC Lori Geller has a Go Belt Free Pouch that I use. Wear it under your clothes. Works sort of like a fanny pack without the belt
MadamG2U
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Post by PNWMom on Apr 3, 2016 18:39:24 GMT
The first time we went to Europe, I carried mine with me in a money belt type thing that went around my neck (sort of cross-body purse style) that I wore under my clothes. My husband had his in a regular around-the-waist money belt. You can see mine a bit in this picture of us on the Rhine river in Germany.
Our second time to Europe, we had color copies with us, and left the originals safely in our room. We had a hotel in Amsterdam (put the passports in the safe), and a VRBO rental in Paris (put the passports in a random location in the apartment that no one would think to look if someone broke in). Much better plan this time around.
Really though, my safety/anti mugging deterrent was travelling with an African-American man. Sometimes stereotypes work *for* you. =) No one attempted to scam us with flowers or making bracelets on my arms in Paris, no one even looked at us as a target at all. My husband is 6'2" and muscular....... and the nicest, kindest person I know, but we'll take the 'scary man' stereotype while travelling if it minimizes the hassles you get as a tourist.
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Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,969
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Post by Nanner on Apr 3, 2016 20:23:47 GMT
We also keep ours in the hotel room safe.
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Post by librarylady on Apr 3, 2016 21:13:01 GMT
I have the money belt style that is worn under the clothing. It goes with me everywhere.
I stay in 1 star hotels, so no safe was ever offered as a place to leave it.
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Post by 950nancy on Apr 3, 2016 21:23:20 GMT
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Post by FLA SummerBaby on Apr 3, 2016 23:38:35 GMT
We left our passports at our lodgings but carried our passport cards with us. And when we had to have our passports, we carried each other's passport cards that way incase one of lost or had our passport stolen we had a back up id. We also had copies of our passports hidden in our suitcases and a copy at home with family. Smart idea. Thanks for sharing. Will try this next time. |
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