Do you bring passport with you or leave in the hotel?

I have found no reason to keep my passport with me. VAT refunds are best addressed at one time at the end of the trip IME.

I have a cross body purse that I use when I travel. It has a zipped inner pocket on the back side of the bag. I keep my passport there and I carry it with me everywhere that I go when in France or really anywhere outside of the US except Canada and Mexico. I used to leave my passport at my accommodations but I stopped doing that during a trip to Paris in April 2016. Now, I can do duty free shopping when I feel like it if I see something that grabs my interest.

It stays in the moneybelt. which comes with me when I’m out and about. I know where it is, and have it if I need it.

You need your passport to make a duty free purchase so if you are a big shopper, that favors bringing with you. Another thing that cuts in favor of bringing it with you is that it is law in France. That being said I know many people who do not bring their passports with them for many reasons and they have no problems. If I did not have such a secure spot for mine I would probably leave it in the accommodations because the pain of getting it replaced is real -- over the years, I've helped three traveling companions get lost/stolen passports replaced for the trip back to the U.S. and it has been a pain every time.

We leave them locked in our luggage in our hotel room.

Thank you all for your replies. We will definitely use a cross body purse and I think on days we plan to shop we will bring it with us in our money belt.Thanks!

Mine is always with me in my underclothing moneybelt.
What if for some reason you are unable to get back to your hotel?
Fire at the hotel, burglary there, natural disaster, or?
Sounds drastic, but I’d rather be cautious.
Plus, it’s your official ID while out of your home country.

Everyone will do it differently, some like to just carry a copy.

I keep my credit cards and money in my money belt (well, neck wallet) because they are important to keep safe. My passport is even more important, so I keep it there too.

Maids, maintenance worker, etc have keys to your room, and they are not supervised when they are in there.

I was glad I had my passport with me back in October when I had an extended conversation with 4 uniformed officers near the presidential palace in Istanbul. Who knew you weren't supposed to take pictures outside the wall of the palace (which wasn't even visible because of the wall)? I speak no Turkish. They had about 2 dozen words of English--enough to ask a few brief questions ("Where you work?"), but not enough to understand my answers ("I am retired. I am old."). With the help of Google Translate and my passport (which they checked against their database of bad people), I didn't end up in a Turkish prison. I didn't even have to contact the embassy. Without my passport, which gave them something to check and proved I was as old as I look and thus not likely to be a spy or a terrorist, I'm not sure what would have happened, and I'm glad I didn't find out. I

At many tourist sights you'll be asked for ID if you rent or borrow an audio device. That ID doesn't necessarily have to be your passport, but you may miss out on use of an audio guide if you don't have something the place considers acceptable.

Generally I always carry my passport in a secure crossbody handbag like Pacsafe. A few trips I have left it in a hotel safe, but never felt entirely comfortable doing that. But I also have a passport card which as I recall is for entries from cruises etc. Or by land . Passports are a hassle to get so I also got the card “ just in case”. The card has been accepted as ID for audio guides and occasional requests to support identity. It can be very handy. Nowadays I prefer the crossbody for my passport . I also store copies online as backup.

The law says you should have your passport (if from country outside the Schengen zone) or national identity card (if from country inside Schengen) with you at all times.

https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F31208?lang=en

You need to be able to prove your ID and that you're in the country legally.

For all those so called 'experts' who don't bother... I don't care, that's just what the law says

My husband and I have always carried our passports, credit cards and money in well-concealed neck wallets when we're outside the US, even when just visiting Canada from Detroit. It always seemed important to outliers like us!

As Simon said, you are indeed supposed to carry your official ID at all times: in the case of non-Schengen nationals, that's your passport. A driver license or state ID is enough to, say, justify your age while getting youth or senior museum tickets, but not enough in case of an ID check. The police can conduct routine ID checks, there is no need for a specific cause. Now, in practice, I have only been stopped once in nearly 20 years as an adult in France, but the probability is not zero and can increase due to certain factors that I will let you guess.

Thanks for all your replies. We will bring our passsport with us on our money belts or neck wallets. In the past, we only brought a copy unless we are making a purchase to avail of the tax refund. I thought I asked as we had our passports with us when we went to Japan last year as we read it was the law there. Thanks again.

The law says you should have your passport (if from country outside the Schengen zone) or national identity card (if from country inside Schengen) with you at all times.

You may be right about this, but the link you provided doesn't actually say one needs to have one's passport on one's person at all times.

Lots of people scream about have it on you...

I leave it in the safe unless I have a reason to carry it. (Like shopping)

I have been asked ONCE in Europe by a law enforcement officer. I showed him my GA Driver's License, he was fine!

The papers of a foreigner present in France, regardless of his nationality and age, can be checked by the police (police, gendarmerie, customs) during an identity check or a residence permit.

"For a stay of up to 90 days, the foreigner must present a passport bearing a endorsement valid (unless part of the exempt nationalities)."

I have been stopped and asked for a passport check a few times.
Once in rural Turkey, once on a guided minibus trip up to the Dolomites, once in Paris.
Each time by police carrying machine guns.
I must have a guilty face…..

According to the actual US Embassy in France:
https://fr.usembassy.gov/services/lost-and-found-property-in-paris/safety-advice-for-paris/#:~:text=Once%20inside%20France%2C%20American%20tourists,from%20your%20wallet%20or%20handbag.

"Once inside France, American tourists are not required to carry their passports at all times; a student card or driver’s license is usually sufficient if you are asked by a police officer for identification. Carry your passport separately from your wallet or handbag."

So when I land on Monday, I will do just like I did the other 2 times there - carry my DL and a photocopy of my US passport.

I always leave my passport in my hotel. The risk and royal hassle of having it lost or stolen is too great. The only time I was asked for one is as a security deposit on a rented headset. 1st, that's too high risk, I would never leave it with a stranger. 2nd, they will accept a driver's license or a passport card—both of which I keep with me.

My general rule, If I am just near my Hotel, having a drink or meal, then it is usually in my room. If I am going to be out for the day, and using any public transport, then I usually have it on me, tucked deep in a crossbody bag or neck pouch. Taking a train day tripping o r outside the city limits, always on me.

Your passport will be required if you buy something and need VAT paperwork. Some museums and sights now ask for ID when using pre-booked tickets, Random stops by authorities are rare, but do happen. I imagine in Paris, if you will be there near or during the Olympics, it may be more common. I have been stopped by transit police looking at tickets in Paris, if they have questions, they will expect to see your passport.

The US Embassy in France also provides very outdated advice/information:
"Carry with you only what you need; leave in your hotel safe such valuables as jewelry, Euro passes (Eurail,) airline tickets, travelers’ checks, credit cards, extra cash, and your passport."

Who uses travelers' checks?? ? Airlines tickets are all electronic.

FWIW. I have never had any difficulty using a xerox of my passport when getting VAT paperwork -- of course you have to have the passport at the airport but then you need it there anyway. Stores just need the info -- I haven't found one yet willing to forego a sale because you didn't have the document. Phone stores do need the real deal as it is a security issue around phone and sim card sales.

I leave them in the room safe or apartment in Paris. I carry them in a money belt if day tripping out of town. There are countries where I carry them in a money belt under my clothes all the time, but France is not one of them.

For a different perspective, I always carry my passport with me, in a zipped interior crossbody pocket or such, along with a credit card and debit card. I want to be able to leave the country immediately should circumstances require it or be fine if there is some reason I can't return to my hotel. It's the loss manager part of me...

The US Embassy in France also provides very outdated advice/information: … Who uses travelers' checks?

and,

I always carry my passport with me

Right, Mary and Wray! But for folks who stash their passports in their room, are they so bulky that they can’t be carried? People who go out with a smartphone, or even an electronic tablet, are lugging around something bigger and heavier than a passport. I don’t see it being a hardship to lug around a passport. Carrying around your spare socks and underwear? Unnecessary. But keeping your passport with you while in a foreign country? That’s a very good idea.

I don't see how risk is lessened by carrying one's passport on one's person. But people should make their own risk management decisions as they see fit.

People who go out with a smartphone, or even an electronic tablet, are
lugging around something bigger and heavier than a passport.

To me it has nothing to do with the size, weight or bulk. It is entirely the risk of losing it somehow while out and how bad an experience that would make my trip. That and the fact that I am not apt to need it, which can't be said for a smart phone or tablet.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’d be more likely to lose/forget my passport if stashed it somewhere other than my moneybelt, where it has an unobtrusive pocket.

Mobile phones have become a modern necessity. I don’t use/need a tablet, electronic or otherwise. Others are free to tote one around, and/or to hide their passports in their room. l think that sally, the OP, is wise to have decided today to have her passport with her while traveling.

I always carry my passport on me when traveling, in a money belt carried close to my body that would be practically impossible to separate from me without difficulty. To me it is no different than carrying my driver license when driving around at home.

I also carry a U S passport card that I will leave anywhere I am required to leave proof of my identity like when going into a museum or similar places in place of my actual passport.

I have never had any issues taking that approach.

Hotel safe. No issues.

And I'd always believe the American embassy about French law over the French government...

So if the French government said "visitors to the US are unlikely to be stopped for jaywalking " would you advise I jaywalk or not?

A french ID card is much more useful to a theif than a modern passport. And probably much more difficult to replace. Yet approximately 65 million people manage to do it every day.

If you're not adult enough to be able to carry your passport without losing it, maybe you should reconsider travelling.

According to the French government link above:

What papers must the foreigner present during the inspection?
For a short stay
For a stay of up to 90 days, the foreigner must present a passport bearing a endorsement valid (unless part of the exempt nationalities).

Then it goes on to say if you don’t have your passport you can be taken into custody. Nice.

Dont understand, why the discussion? The RS forum rules say not to encourage the breaking of laws.

"If you're not adult enough to be able to carry your passport without losing it, maybe you should reconsider travelling."

My decision to not carry it has nothing to do w an issue of LOSING it, it has everything to do with it getting pick pocketed. It's not the easiest thing in the world to replace, but again, ymmv.

Our reason for carrying our pass ports with us in our money belts is simple. With it and our credit cards, we can handle just about anything that comes up. Hotels do have fires, earthquakes do happen (we experienced one), demonstrations do occur (we've been caught up in one), and hotel safes are not "safe". We'd rather have it with us and not need it than the other way around. Just our opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own.

Yes, but we are talking about France, not a developing country. Again, ymmv.

We are talking about a country that has as much unrest as many "developing" countries. Beside which, in a non-developing country, the law doesn't matter if it's an inconvenience?

I was hoping to point out Forum Guideline 7, but to be fair it doesn't actuaĺy say, "I ignore the law, and you can too" is forbidden. Cause, technically you aren't "helping".

7 Do not help people break laws.

I'm not sure anyone who has opined here is an expert on French identity verification law. We can differ on whether our reading of the French legal requirements as posted on the government website requires keeping the passport on one's person at all times. My reading is that it does not; a reasonable person can infer that ready access to it at a central location should suffice. Does anyone have legal training in French law to resolve the question? The issue of risk management is a separate matter and can be left to the individual to make their own decisions.

When I have traveled on cruises visiting France, the cruise lines have kept my passport onboard while I was ashore; my room key was the vehicle for my re-boarding the vessel. For those who have said we need the passport on our person: would this constitute a violation of the law?

Does anyone have legal training in French law to resolve the question?

Nope, so logic says to go with the most restrictive interpretation. Which in this case is to assume the officer in the pursuit of his duties isn't going across town with you to your hotel when trying to identify who is who after the bombing in the night club.

It is entirely the risk of losing it somehow while out and how bad an experience that would make my trip.

I lost my passport once many years ago, and while it was a bit of a headache to replace (had to go to the embassy, get new photo taken, and get a temporary 3-month passport), it wasn't a horrible experience. In fact, it's one of my favorite stories to tell. 😊 It took about 4 hours altogether and afterwards I went out and had a nice dinner with a half carafe of wine.

And I almost always carry my passport with me.

I have “over indulged” in info about traveling. I think this YouTube video demonstrates clearly why leaving your passport in a hotel room safe is not as secure as we imagine. Obviously, not everyone is a thief, but some are.

Maurice Moves:
https://youtu.be/rKEvx2YKpGw?si=TKI0hwkOBYopUKKa

I do not carry my passport with me. I realize it’s the law and realize this will create drama on here because the passport people are just convinced that those of us who don’t are sinners.

But I was on a trip with a woman who lost her passport and it took eight hours at the American embassy to get it back. Just not worth it. I have a copy of it on my phone. I have my drivers license. I had actually been asked for an official ID by a law enforcement officer in Europe. Handed him my drivers license. He looked at it. He smiled and he sent me on my way.

I do not carry my actual passport on me. I usually have a paper copy of it, as well as a copy of it on my phone. These have been sufficient for any purchases to do the VAT paperwork as well.

Never carry the passport other than for overnight trips. Overnight trips the passport stays in hotel nightstand or stuffed in suitcase. Usually have a pic of the passport on my phone as well as residency card for the country we stay in as a part time home.

I’ve been robbed once in 50 years of travel, that being in Turkey and had a bag stolen from a train in Penn Station due to my negligence and stopped by a plainclothes German police officer in Heidelberg HBF. ( I deserved it because my buddy and I were eyeballing some sort of stakeout…..a little too intently)

When I travel in a heavy tourist area….I get rid of everything other than a little cash , a credit card and sometimes a single form of identification. Beyond that it’s amazing to me to see the focused fear of being overseas from a home country; of personal crime, the collection of devices worn to prevent theft, fear of scams and so on.

America is a great place to me but I take far more precautions in my home in an East coast city. But…..this forum is a great place to see what makes travelers tick and how varied reactions are.

This is the Paris forum and if you are in Paris right now with all of the wierdness (to be kind) going on, I would feel much better with my passport on me.

Then there might be a little thing with a legal requirement. I'm not sure about France, but most here are exempt anyway because of the convenience factor.

I'm with Carol, mikliz97, and Veteran Traveler. Never needed one when out and about, and would definitely not want the hassle of losing one.