where do you put your passport?

I do what Barbara does - use a neck wallet while at the airport, containing only my passport and boarding passes. Once I'm on the plane I put it away more securely.

I carry my passport with me all the time. I use Royal Robbins Global Traveler pants that have a zippered pocket inside the right front pocket. My Rogue Wallet and passport are there all the time. You won't have to show your passport for most trains, but you may in eastern Europe. It doesn't sound like you will be in that part of the world though. My wife keeps her passport in an opera wallet inside her crossbody purse.

Our normal travel clothes have a number of pockets which are secured via zipper. I have my passport 24/7 - generally in the money belt. When actually in transit and need it for check in hotels, airlines, etc. then it is carried separately in one of my zipper pockets - generally my left shirt pocket which is zipper closed with a button overflap. I also carry my wife's passport at the same time. Pickpockets are not interested in your passport. Much prefer you cash or camera.

When departing the USA, I keep my passport handy while at the airfield, such as in my jacket pocket, shirt pocket, or whatever so I can access it easily as needed for screening purposes. On the plane, I keep it in the same place generally. I will need to go through immigration when connecting or when taking a non-stop, so I keep in handy as mentioned already. After going through immigration, I'll put it in my money belt before leaving the secure area of the concourse/terminal (neck pouch type worn like a messenger bag under shirt), because I really shouldn't need it again that day. Even though I have my Iowa driver license in the money belt, my passport is my official ID, so I never take it out of the money belt, and it goes with me everywhere. I don't leave it at the hotel, not even in a hotel safe. As for trains, I've never been checked on trains within a country. Sometimes, I don't get checked after crossing a border. Sometimes, immigration will come on board at the first stop after a border and will check passports. But if it's in your money belt, it's safe, and you can access it easily enough if asked while on a train. I've never been asked for it by any official anywhere out in the streets someplace. I think the only time I've ever been asked at a station was on the Eurostar, because there's security and immigration on both ends. I have had to provide it at hotels before (rare), but I've never had to leave it at the desk. I've never been checked on a bus, but they were all within a single country. I've also never been checked when crossing borders in a car (from France to Germany or Germany to Austria for example). Hope this helps!

I was worried about this my first trip and kept it in my moneybelt. But as others have pointed out, the objective of a thief is your valuables, not your passport. Now I keep mine in my crossbody purse or in a pocket of my backpack that is inaccessible by anyone standing behind me. I also have copies at home and in my suitcase at the hotel so that in case of loss I can more easily have it replaced. I do think you want to have it with you in case of an official need, and it is safer on you than left behind in your room.

Hi Donna, besides my money belt, I also have a neck wallet that I use only when I'm in the airport. I just shove it down my shirt and though it may look stupid to have a bumpy front, for the short time that I'm showing my ID, it works just fine. Then I put it back in my moneybelt. I haven't had to show my passport on a train within Europe. Have a fun trip!

Before I go to the airport in the U.S., I put all my valuables (cash, cards, passport, etc.) in my moneybelt and put that inside my purse/daybag. I take out the passport for check-in and security but after security, it goes back in my moneybelt in my purse, where it stays for the flight. Right before I land at my destination, I put on the moneybelt in the airplane bathroom. I take out the passport to go through immigration and then put it back in my moneybelt. When I leave the airport to take a taxi or public transit, my passport is in my moneybelt and my moneybelt is under my clothes.

Thank you all for your helpful replies - I am getting so excited about this trip, but want to have everything planned and ready - I don't know how I could have done this without you all :)

I do what Sarah does. In addition, when I am at the security checkpoint, my purse is the last item on the conveyor belt so that I can keep an eye on it. Happy travels.

I keep my passport handy through the flight to checking into lodging. After that I put it in my moneybelt or neck wallet and keep it with me. You still need your passport for checking in, buying a cell phone, etc.

I keep mine in an internal pocket in my purse while in transit, and at the hotel safe once I arrive, carrying a copy of it with me in my internal purse pocket.

So that I know exactly where my valuables are at all times, (no confusion whether it's in my satchel or money belt), I always keep my passport, money and credit/atm cards in my money belt which I start wearing at the onset of my trip from the States. This is what is comfortable for me.

I wear a neck pouch, that has my passport, cash and tickets. I hate having to dig around for something that I know I will have to show several times. It tucks into my shirt and then I don't have to worry about it.

I wear a cross over handbag with inside zipped compartment. With passports and train tix secured inside I wear that bag the entire vacation.