Reminder to keep your passport secure

Update: according to update on Facebook, she found it. It had temporarily been misplaced by the traveler.

Glad she found it but yikes! I lost my passport on my first trip to Europe in London - it was in my neck pouch and I lost the whole thing. Luckily I wasn't leaving till the next day so I had time to go to the US Embassy and get a new one, but while I was there, I met a man who was transferring through and had his wallet stolen out of his back pocket - with the passport. This was before 9/11 when anyone could come to the airport. I felt so bad for him - he was obviously not going to be able to make his connecting flight, but I also couldn't help wondering why he had his passport in his back pocket.

PS: I did receive the contents of my neck pouch several weeks later - a student found it and turned it in to the police. But I never wore a neck pouch again after that.

I've scared myself a couple of times by getting too clever. I always keep my passport in the same pocket while in transit, but every once in a while I think too much and decide a different pocket or place makes more sense. Then when I need my passport I reach for the usual pocket and momentarily panic because I forgot that I moved it and can't remember where to.

'Astounding' is a good word to use. The difference and quality of comments between the people frequenting the Facebook site and this Forum is astounding.

But I never wore a neck pouch again after that.

Mardee, I always worry the thin straps on my neck wallet will break; did that happen to yours?

Oops, I checked my journal and it was not a neck pouch but a money belt like this RS one. in fact, I think I bought it from RS, although this was in 1996 so it's been awhile. And I assume the clasp came loose while I was walking, since there was nothing broken when I got it back. I was wearing it under my raincoat (this was in early October).

However, after that incidence I gave up on money belts and neck pouches. I like to be able to see what I'm carrying so now I just have a secure crossbody bag.

The difference and quality of comments between the people frequenting the Facebook site and this Forum is astounding.

I think that's FB in general. I had joined a few FB groups about travel and there are so many people who come there and post questions like: "Hi, I'm going to Germany for 2 weeks. What should I see while I'm there?" What boggles the mind, though, are the people who respond. So you have a huge amount of comments with random sights and cities they think the OP should see. And then you have stupid little fights like the one on the link above.

I can't handle it so I stopped reading them.

“ I always keep my passport in the same pocket while in transit, but every once in a while I think too much and decide a different pocket or place makes more sense.”

This is so important and a good reminder, Allan. Have one place in your suitcase where you always put each item. When everything is repeatable & predictable, having jet lag won’t be an issue. I pause on the jetway line to always place my passport & plane ticket back into the suitcase pocket because if I stuff it into my coat pocket….with the plan to take care of it later - those cause misplaced critical items.

And if you need to have your passport number to fill out a form on the plane, just refer to the photo you have stored on your phone; don’t pull out your passport from the suitcase.

Second votes for Allan and Jean for putting your passport right back into the same pocket/location every. single. time. Yes, not getting too clever. Always back to the same spot and yes, to pausing when you are out of the way after you show it boarding and then stash it back where it belongs.

On my first trip to Europe (1973) my roommate lost her passport in Heathrow! We looked everywhere and the very nice man at the duty free liquor store helped us find it, lolol!! It has slipped out of her bag and was under the display of....yes I DO remember this....the display of Cherry Heering...that disgusting liquor that tastes like cherry cough syrup, hahaha! I could never stand the taste after that!

Thanks, Mardee. I like that I can check for the money belt - gazillions of times - to make sure it's there. But to your point, that clip isn't terribly secure. I sewed D rings into one pair of travel pants - I'll see if I can string the money belt straps through them. My passport may still have to go in the neck wallet for ID on the trains though.

CWsocial mentioned sewing D Rings in trousers. One can also sew D Rings on a money belt and actually tie the belt with a couple of good knots. If using split O Rings sewing isn't even required.

I think the neck wallet is really safe for me as I put under my shirt. I tuck my shirts in so if the cord ever snapped the wallet would just be trapped inside the shirt and would never slip past my waist. I'm fairly certain I would feel it sliding farther than that! Shirts that aren't tucked in could be risky.

I like that I can check for the money belt - gazillions of times - to
make sure it's there. But to your point, that clip isn't terribly
secure.

I've never used the traditional moneybelt because of that clip. I use one of those with the belt loops. However, I learned not to wear that one in the airport. I had it on prior to going through security and had to remove my belt. I forgot completely about the moneybelt and by pure luck it stayed stuck in my pants and I didn't notice it until a bit later when it started to slide down my pant leg.

Never came close to losing the passport or having it picked, say on the Paris Metro or anywhere else in 25 trips.

One time I was paranoid about the wallet being picked on the train to Gdansk in 2003 after it had crossed into Poland. About 20 years ago I started using the Eagle Creek neck pouch and hidden pocket as part of the standard "equipment" on an European trip, still do. The passport still doesn't go into either one when it's on me.

Allan, I can just imagine that moneybelt slipping down your leg.

I sewed one of these "swivel eye bolt snap hooks" on to the narrow end of a moneybelt, which I then clip to the D ring inside my travel pants. That's not going anywhere. And it bothers me less than a moneybelt around my waist, especially on a hot day.

Though to your point, Allan, I use it on train days, but not airport days.

After reading that thread I had to get up and make sure I knew where my passport was. I am in Copenhagen, and I knew where it was, I just had to go hold it in my hands and say out loud "Ok, here is my passport." 😂 Sounds insane, but I feel better now.