What’s In Your Passport?

Yes you know you are traveling well when you have left over currency.

Or as the cookbooks sometimes say, "planned-overs" -- I have been known to hit an ATM on the last day to get €100 as next-trip money. Because then we have to go back to Europe to spend it, right ?

Laura B, my thinking exactly! I found an unexpected treasure trove of €s cleverly folded and tucked carefully away in one of the pockets of my passport holder a few days ago. I was checking to make sure all was in order for my trip to Portugal next week! Definitely, a GOOD sign, mlbruels5!

Laura B and Andi, yes! My sweet DH tends to stick stuff in pockets or money belts and forget about it. A treat when found! And we always take euros home. That way we're ready to roll, right off the plane.

Besides, it makes me feel rich. I go to my travel drawer in my big filing cabinet, take out the little money pouch, and dream about the next trip. If our bank would allow a euro savings account, I might be tempted, but I like pulling the cash out and counting it.

No, I'm not Ms Scrooge McDuck; I just love knowing there's a trip in my future.

Exactly what I do. I even went to the atm last night to make sure I had a couple of extra Euro so I just have to come back in the spring. We leave for home this morning so I really have no need for it right now!

I always bring home € and keep it stashed in my passport. Yes, I will go back and spend it, then get more to bring back. When I'm in Germany in a couple of weeks I'll add to my stash. My aunt owes me money and she was concerned how to exchange it to $ for me. I told her she can pay me in €. We have a long trip next year...

Edit: I store the euros in my passport at home. I don't keep money in the passport while I'm traveling.

Nothing in my passport beyond the couple of visas I needed on some of my work travels and the entry and exit stamps of the places I visited.

Maybe I watched too many low budget spy movies, but the thought of a border agent checking my passport and Euros falling out like rain would seem to be something I would like to avoid. They might get the wrong idea about me. ;-)

@Mark - ha!! Good point!!

Mark, that's hilarious. All you will find in mine is a post it note with my Global Entry number and another with my address in Budapest. The Global Entry number is because I generally need it and my passport number when booking flights and the address because even after nearly 20 years my Hungarian is so bad that on occasion the taxi from the airport takes me to the wrong place. Happened about 10 days ago. Otherwise my passport never comes out during a trip. Terrified of loosing it so I keep it in a little (slightly larger than the passport) bag across my chest.

Architeuthis.....😆 Me too! Although I rarely used cash in Norway, Sweden, or Denmark I still have a few coins left. The € are good in small rural places for small purchases. Here in the US I find myself using less and less cash and using my debit/credit cards more.

At one stage I had a €100 note in mine, as "in case I need more cash when travelling, but I don't want to put that much in my pocket in case it falls out while I am seated".
I made very sure I removed it before showing my passport to immigration, it would look dangerously like a bribe.

Chris, it would be worse if an immigration official thought it was a bribe and discreetly removed it.

No money, honey just a little card my cardiologist gave me 15 years ago that shows the location of my stents in red ink! Held in by a paper clip, I really don’t need to carry it around anymore but I don’t have the heart ❤️ (groan!) to not carry it. And having that paper clip has been useful in minor emergencies!

@Architeuthis — oh, the public bathroom at the Copenhagen Central train station.

Philip, I have the bracelet with the shipping address for my body engraved on it.

I’m not going to bash anyone over the cash vs card debate again, but I do question bringing home any substantial amount of cash or coins. A few small denomination coins to give to children, that’s fine. But you never know where life will take you. I always plan to return, but life does get in the way when you’re busy making plans. While the Euro hasn’t changed much, in the U.K. most of the banknotes have been replaced since 2016.

And it’s fine to have one note fall out of your passport. Perhaps you stuck it in there intending to buy something at the airport and just forgot. But I would never suggest bringing home a substantial amount of foreign currency.

As of last night, my actual Global Entry cars is tucked into my passport in preparation for our trip this Friday to London!

Dale - if for some reason I can't return to Europe I could easily find a friend that would be happy to buy the euros from me.

We've gone from passports to cash. I'm a cash guy too. Just easier. Now, when the US legalizes tap cards, that might change. Heading home right now with over 60 Bosnian Mark's, over 30.000 Hungarian Forints and several thousand in Euro. All will be used some day soon .... except most of the Euro will go to the bank.