How important to carry around ID? (not a passport)

Michelle - I'm not sure why she would need any ID (other than her passport). My 17 year old carried her passport to prove that she was 17 and therefore eligible for a child discount in some places. But since your niece is already 18 there would be no point in proving her age for this. The only other place my daughter needed ID was to get into some of the clubs in London. AGain, it was to prove age and there she had to be 18. Your niece's school ID won't work for that so just bring the passport if you intend to go clubbing - you won't need it to buy wine, etc. at a restaurant, just at a "disco". I had my son (17 last trip) leave his DL at home as it would have been a real pain to replace if he lost it.

I think the school ID will be sufficient, it is for the college aged. I assume when you say "18 year old" that her passport show she is unabigeously 18. Because otherwise you will need a letter from her parents or guardian showing that you have permission to be taking her out of the country. Close friends had this experience and spent an unexpected 3 days in England before they could provide sufficient proof that they had a child's parents' permission to take her out of England and bring her to America.

cml

She won't be going anywhere on her own (as this girl is a mother to be? Oops!) but I thought that it was a good rule to carry ID at all times.

I'm trying not to be her "mother" (she has one of her own), and since she is 18 I thought she should be responsible for her own passport. Knowing that she isn't the most responsible person, and tends to misplace or lose things, I was going to lock up the passport in our apartment.

So you think its ok for her to walk around with out ID?
She is officially 18 and the passport will be with us when we are in transit... its more for walking around Paris is what I'm concerned.

She will need the passport for official ID obviously. However, since you are traveling with her, you can give up your ID when it is required that someone give it up (like to get audioguides).

David, I didn't think of that... thanks!!

For your own peace of mind I would keep a copy of her passport on your person (not hers, if she is prone to losing things) in case of emergency.

What I used to tell my tour passengers was this...always carry some type of ID with you as well as a list of the hotels we're staying in. Should something happen to you, the police/hospital/whomever will contact the hotel to see if your are traveling with someone else. Otherwise, they're not going to spend hours calling every hotel trying to find out where you're staying.

This actually happened to a passenger on one of my tours. He got ill and was taken to the hospital. If he didn't have a copy of the hotel list with him he never would have found us--especially since we had moved on to another city.

Here is what I actually do:
I put my passport in a safe place on me, for exemple in a hihden pocket in my jacket which I don't open many time and I keep a copy of my passport handy in case I need to show it.

Michelle, you and your neice can leave your passport in the hotel safe and just sightsee with a copy and a DL. That is all I have done for many trips over many years( actually , I have never actually walked around with a copy, just kept one is suitcase) . When I took my son ( when he was 14) I just had him bring his school id to prove he was under 18, but, not a soul asked him for it at any museum( he was not a kid that looked "old" for his age, I am sure some kids especially those near 18 may be asked to show id for discounts) .
I think you mentioned you were staying in an apartment, does it have a safe? I have only ever left stuff in a safe, or when I stay with relatives I just leave it in the apt as they are less likely to be burgled then a rental apartment( I figure anyways) . If I had to leave it in the apt that had no safe, I would be really really careful to hide it well, I do not think "locking it in the suitcase"( I have seen this suggestion before) is smart , a thief would just take suitcase, or break it. Consider slipping it under carpeting , do not slip between mattresses . I have also taped it under dressers in other places. It is riskier if there is no safe.

BTW losing a DL is no hassle at all compared to losing a passport, but you know, even losing a passport is not the end of the world.

Michelle,

While in a foreign country you have to have your passport or a copy of it on you. If Police will ask you for indentification, they will have no clue what a school ID is. The driver license is useful if you drive, not for the "street" police.
Most of the European countries require foreigners to have their passposrts on them. You can find taht information oneach country embassy's web site, I believe.

I agree with the advice from both Frank and Bea.
Personally, my Passport is with me at all times. I'm not willing to risk forgetting it somewhere. It's not difficult to forget to pick it up from the Hotel Safety Deposit Box at check-out (For those of us who stay at Hotels - I am aware that Michelle is staying at an Apartment). I've done it and from my experience as Hotel Front Office Manager, it happens more than one might think...

With services like "Express Check-out" where your charges are billed to your credit card and your Folio slid under your door at 3AM once the Audit has run...there's little need to actually pass by the Front Desk. Back in early 2003, when I did my stint as FOM, it was estimated that less than 20% of Guests actually stop by the Desk at Check-out. And even then it was only if they had an issue to resolve or complaint.

Michelle, if you're not comfortable with your Neice carrying her own Passport...Consider making a colour copy of it for each of you to carry.

It is always a good idea to carry a picture of your Travel Partners just incase, God forbid, you are separated and need to show a picture of them. That has actually helped me out on occaision.

Thanks all.. yeah, I'll make a copy of the passport. I think my post was more of a rant, than anything else. I mean.. I gave her 6 months to get an ID card, and she couldn't even do that. Now, with 2 weeks to go, I wonder if she has a suitcase.

I do know she has her passport at least (thank goodness!), but otherwise, she has no ID of any sort. Quite honestly if I could get back a refund, I'd leave her behind. She has been uncooperative and I wonder if she even wants to go to Europe. When I approached her 6 months ago, she was all excited.

On the ohter hand... this is her first trip outside the US, first airplane ride, and first time leaving her home. Maybe she can't be excited for something that she may be anxious??

Hey Flight Attendant: How was your trip?? You just got back or are you still on holiday??

Michelle,

ESPECIALLY since she is a mother-to-be, she needs to have legal ID on her, not just a student ID. Why? While most pregnancies are nice, normal, no problem things, that isn't always the case. She could develop complications requiring hospitalization and even though you intend to be with her at all times, you could get separated and something could happen.

Nancy

I haven't read all the replies, so apologize if this is redundant, but if she has a pass for transportation or museums, there is a possibility of being challanged to provide proof of identity when using the pass. This occured to us in Florence, the only time we were asked for passports other than hotels.

I guess if that is your reasoning Nancy I would suggest that Michelles neice would be better served by having a card with her hotel name on it, and Michelles name as contact, and her medical information. A "legal" id is not going to make any difference in a medical emergency .

Pat, we're staying in an apartment near the Notre Dame. I emailed her (and her dad) a list of things she needs to do, with the name and address of our apartment, my cell phone info, and asked her to make a copy of her passport.

My other S-I-L doesn't think they'll do it. Sigh!!! I can only do "So Much", and I am putting my foot down in doing everything.

Michelle-
You really need to let us know how it goes. I would be so frustrated at her lack of enthusiasm. Does she not realize how incredibly lucky she is to have you take her on this trip? I would have loved to have someone do that for me when I graduated that I would have had everything ready to go 2 months before we left! I do not think I would be able to take this girl on the trip because of my lack of patience... your a very good aunt. Keep us informed!!

Michelle I agree, your neice is behaving in a way tha would have me gritting my teeth.
She WILL apprieciate this trip one day though, it won't be wasted( although at times it may seem like a waste) as a trip to Europe is mind expanding,, it just takes some minds a little longer to work on,,LOL

I'll post the update in 3.5 weeks... when I get back. (However) If you see a story in the paper of a Parisian homicide, it could be me strangling her.. LOL!!