US passport cards worth carrying in Europe?

List of things to carry (in ascending order of usefulness for foreign travel): passport card concealed weapons permit library card KKK mempership card Captain Midnight fan club card
eighth grade lunch pass

The one thing it might be useful for is if you want to rent an audioguide at a museum. They usually make you leave an ID and they don't seem to care what type of ID (although doubt that Ed's captain midnight card would work).

I'm with Ken. I never leave my passport anywhere. Others feel comfortable leaving their passports in a hotel safe, but it's my official form of ID when traveling, so it stays with me. I always have my driver's license, too. After all, I need it when driving in Europe (when/if I do), and I need it when commuting to and from my home airfield. I really don't think your passport card would be of any value, but if it's something you always have in your wallet anyway, there's probably no good reason to remove it and leave it back home. Sure enough, you'll forget you left it on your dresser and will be SOL on your next trip across the border. If it's normally in your wallet but you're taking a money belt instead, then just leave it in your wallet back home. My two cents anyway.

Geor, I very much doubt that Passport cards would be familiar to most in Europe. I suspect they would recognize it as an "official document" but might mistake it for a Driver's License. It probably wouldn't hurt to pack it along, but I'm not sure it would be useful for anything except as a "security deposit" when renting Audioguides or whatever. I always keep my Passport with me, and would never leave it in the Hotel room. There could be occasions (albeit rare) when travellers are asked for I.D., and a Passport is usually the only form that's accepted by law enforcement personnel. Happy travels!

Ed List of things to carry (in ascending order of usefulness for foreign travel): passport card concealed weapons permit library card KKK mempership card Captain Midnight fan club card
eighth grade lunch pass suggested items missing: Hopalong Cassidy decorder ring Al Queda recruitment form Sky King membership Snooki of Jersey shore fame phot with signature

I never carry around my passport in Europe. It's safer at my hotel than on my person (well, unless you're staying at real dives). Rick himself, I believe, does this. I do have my driver's license and a photo copy of my passport in my money belt. In 20 years I have been asked to show photo identity once (U.S. Embassy Rome). Europeans have identity cards in their wallets so the driver's license works like that. A passport card would probably work like a driver's license but is probably harder to replace if lost. I leave my driver's license as hostage vs. my passport when renting audio guides etc. Also I wear wear my "America" ring (in lovely red/white&blue rubies and diamonds) next to my George of the Jungle ring. Can't be to careful! OK OK the previous postings were pretty funny...

I am with Ken and Michael on the passport issue. I have gone to Europe every summer for about a month for the last 10 years and have always kept my passport in my money belt that I always wear.

Well I have been going to Paris for over 40 years( started as a child)and have never carried a passport around for sightseeing, I do however carry my DL to rent audio guides.. now , mind you this was always in western europe,, perhaps there are some countries where one might think twice,, but for me , not France Italy, Switzerland, UK and so on and so on. My passport was French till I took citizenship as an adult here, and now of course its Canadain,, so no one wants those anyways,, lol

Well I've been going to Europe ever since my parents were in the womb and have never carried a passport in Europe. I just ask for political asylum everywhere and then move on when denied. This has become yet another silly argument of "my way is better than your way." A passport card is not officially recognized in Europe. It might come in handy if you need to leave some form of ID somewhere. If you lose your passport it might also be helpful, along with a photocopy of your passport information page, to get you a replacement quicker. Now everyone can argue about carrying a photocopy of your passport, whether you should or not, where you should carry it, how many times you've been to Europe and not needed it, and so on.

Frank II, I must have come here on the wrong day, I thought today was the day we argued whether it is better and beneficial to get Euros before we left home or wait till we get to Europe.

That's either tomorrow or Sunday? I have to go find the schedule. Or should we just argue which day is better? And can I wear shorts while arguing?

Sounds good Frank, btw be sure to get the schedule for what day we argue moneybelts and neck wallets, I want to be here! LOL

According to the US Consulate website, the Passport Card is considered legal identification for US citizenship while in Europe. It may not be used though for travel across borders. It is perfectly legal though for day to day sightseeing, places that require photo I.D. etc. http://germany.usembassy.gov/acs/passportcard/ Those scanned paper copies of your passport are only of use if you lose your passport and need the # of it, and the other information on it to get a new one at the consulate or embassey, etc. Other than that, anyone can photoshop a copy of passport, making them pretty much useless for anything else.

Does enumerating one's number of years spent traveling, number of nights spent sleeping, etc., in Europe bolster one's touristic authority? We're all properly impressed.

Michael from Des Moines: thanks a bunch. I just sprayed my friggin tea all over my computer screen : )

The point is , some people worry too much, numerous trips does not make one an expert, it makes them lucky, but what it does enable them to do is weight the likelyhood of certain things occurring. Getting asked randomly for ones passport by police is so low down on my list of what might happen it just doesn't rate. You are in fact more likely to be pickpocketed, scammed, lose a ticket, or get lost,, those are far more realistic and ongoing concerns, but even those things happen rarely( only had two pickpocket attempts in last 3 decades, and both failed) What is more likely to happen: Blisters on feet Heatstroke in Rome in August Encountering a Turkish toilet outside cities spend too much eat too much cram too much in while planning and having to edit on arrival discover hotel does not have wash cloths take ten minutes to figure out how to flush strange toilets discover that 5 euro cokes do exist realize that not every nationality thinks lines are meant to wait in,, but are for butting in front of,,

Heck, I just carry my Crusader Rabbit sword and shield and fear no one.