Hotel Safes and Passport Questions.

This question has been raised on the helpline several times in the past & I'm sure you will get varying opinions. To me the biggest risk of a hotel safe is that you'll be off to your next destination and forget that you left stuff in the safe.

Use hotel safes all the time, London, Paris, Dublin, Istanbul. Personally, I keep my passport in my money belt with me at all times. That way I always know where it is and if something were to happen, I've got it. Again, personal choice. Wonderful to hear you are excited about you first solo jaunt to Western Europe. Have a wonderful time! Enjoy the adventure!

Yes,, this question is annoying ,, not for you asking it, don't get me wrong about that,, but because there is really no definative answer. I always leave my stuff in the hotel safe,, have for years,, have when I am solo,, have had NO problems with safe,, and no, I am not absent minded enough to forget stuff,, which is the main complaint I have heard people mention as a risk with using safe. To them I say,, duh,, thats lame.. sorry, just how I feel I suppose they are just as much of a risk for forgetting to put money belt on in the morning when they leave( I assume they don't sleep with them on?). I do however use and wear a moneybelt,, but only when actually travelling, and when I go to the ATM and withdraw a large amount of cash,, which I then take back to hotel and stash in safe,, only ever carry a days worth with me sightseeing . Now, carrying money belt every day is fine, nothing wrong with it,, I just do not beleive it to be neccsary,, and I have travelled enough, and solo ,, that I feel confident in my choice, to each his own. PS
going solo is so fun,, I have done trips with friends, and family, but solo ones are often most memorable,, and relaxing, you can do what you want when you want , I love them.

I always keep all my important stuff in the hotel safe, including my passport, tickets, jewelry, and extra cash. There is no way I would then check out with-out having all those items. The only time I carry my passport is on travel days as I don't ever need it. Having lived in Europe for over 24 years, I have never, ever, been asked to show my passport, except when traveling to other countries by train or plane. So, why should I carry it with me 7 days a week? If you are driving a car, then yes, you should have it, but not if you are just being a tourist, riding public transportation or walking around.

Personally, I'm a 'carry everything on me in a money belt' type of person. I'm not paranoid, (maybe a control freak!!!) just have always travelled this way.
Have heard some horror stories of passports, credit cards being left in hotel safes and being accessed without your knowledge for the purpose of identity theft etc.

I always leave my passport in the safe and important items including money. While in the big cities I carry my credit card,driver's license,and cash. The night before leaving will open the safe and take out all my belongings. I just don't like carrying my passport with me.

Please re-read my post more carefully. I did state that I carry my passport when traveling and then leave it in the hotel safe while out sightseeing. It has nothing to do with being an expat living here. I only mentioned that, due to everyone being afraid the police are going to pull some random check on people walking down the sidewalk, minding their own business. If I drove a car, then yes, I would carry my passport with me while driving, but I don't drive, so there is no reason for me to have it with me every time I walk out of the house. Thus, I also don't need it when I go walk down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, or sit on the Spanish Steps in Rome. As to that "technically, you have to carry your passport all the time in Europe" this is a myth. At least in Germany it is. You only have to have a valid one, it does not have to be on your person. The police will accompany you to your hotel or home to see your passport if there is some reason that they need to see it. Think back to the days when hotels kept your passport.

I carry my passport. It's your only valid ID in Europe. Technically, you can be asked for your passport by local police at any time and be fined for not having it. Realistically, local police aren't too interested in most visitors to this site unless you have a traffic accident. Each morning I sort through my stuff, bring what I need (including one debit and credit card), then leave other valuables in the safe. Remember your backup credit and debit cards should be from seperate accounts. If a card is lost or stolen, your bank will disable the account - another card for the same account won't help.

As it relates to carrying your passport with you as a tourist, there's a difference between being on vacation for two weeks and living as an expat on a more permanent basis. For one, you're on the go as a tourist, often crossing borders. And, yes, immigration officers can and do check for passports on public transportation (trains) when you cross borders. I'm not sure it's happened to me every time (just can't recall), but I do know it's happened more than it hasn't. If you want to dip into Italy for a daytrip while staying in Austria, you had better not leave your passport in the hotel safe back in Austria, or you'll have some serious explaining to do. What's the downside to having your identification with you at all times? Don't you typically have your driver's license with you at all times when at home (i.e. in your wallet, purse, etc.)? Having said all of this, I agree that an expat wouldn't need their passport or visa just going about town...sort of like an international student wouldn't need to carry their passport and student visa around with them constantly. I always carry my passport with me when I'm out of the US...it's my only ID. I never leave it anywhere. That's just my approach.

Judy,, just wondering ,, did you hear any of those "horror stories" from anyone directly,, or were they all third and fourth hand... I 've never heard of anyones safe being assessed and information stolen,, but if this is something you know has happened that is interesting,, I have a feeling its more urban legend and rumor then fact though.

A bit off topic but.... I handle Tom's problem by taking with me a door hang tag. On it is written. Bathroom Safe Outlets
All Draws and closet As soon as I unpack it gets hung on the door inside. Before I leave and pack the door tag -- I make sure I check the 4 places I am most likely to leave stuff. I started doing this after I left a camera charger in a hotel outlet. Haven't left anything behind since. Unlike before when I would sometimes forget the stuff in the bathroom.

This is a really timely post for me. I was just recently reviewing tourist information for Singapore and learned a few things: you can be taken in and questioned for not having your passport with you, it's not recommended that you hand your passport over to hotels, and you can receive a thorough caning for immigration violations (ouch!). Hey, it's a highly developed, democratic country, but who wants to get caned?!?

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies. I figured this would be more of a personal opinion than uniform fact. I will most likely leave my passport in my hotel's safe when I am doing certain activities for the most part. I am taking a few bike tours, swimming, and hiking. When I do travel from city to city I will keep it in my money belt along with other important items. This will also depend on the feel I get from the hotel as well. I plan on having a form of ID on me at all times regardless, and if there is an issue where I need to present my passport and don't have it, I can provide it at the hotel. I just don't like the idea of losing it when it can be secured in a safe where I am staying. This is my first trip to Europe as well (going solo) so I guess I will kind of wing it based on how I feel as well. Thanks again for all the input. Two days and counting! Best regards

Michael, I think its Singapore that was going to cane an American student for littering,, I believe he spit out gum on the street,, I am thinking we can't compare Singapore with Europe!

I have enough experience now to know that I can travel around without needing to carry my passport and stuff, except as mentioned when travelling from one country to another( eg I had to show my passport to two Czech police who boardred our train at the first stop in the Czech Republic ). However, I choose to keep everything in my moneybelt, and that securely in place around my waist. Why?... because no matter what happens, I have everything I need on me to continue my trip if anything unplanned happens( hotel safe broken into, hotel burns down, etc, etc). I'm not worried about it, I just like to be prepared( I was a Boy Scout...lol )