For touring around around during the day, where is the best palce to secure passports--in a money belt? in luggage left in hotel room? in luggage checked with hotel baggage check? left at front desk? and, if stolen, if you have copies, how long to replace?
Posted by
Alta Loma, CA, USA
1446 posts
Definitely in a money belt! My husband & I also e-mailed copies of our passports to ourselves via our ITouch so that we'd have a copy if needed. Alternatively, you could also keep a copy in your luggage. Can't answer how long it would take to replace a passport if stolen...luckily I've never had to find out the answer to that question! Have a great trip Elaine!
Posted by
Freedonia
16292 posts
You'll get differing opinions on this...the best two are either in a moneybelt or in a hotel safe. Never in luggage
How long to replace depends on where you are. You have to find the nearest U.S. consulate.
Here's what to do in case you need to get your passport replaced:
Replacing Lost and Stolen U.S. Passports Abroad
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1449 posts
carry in a money belt. For one thing, in Europe you are required to carry ID and produce it whenever asked by the police. They don't need any reason to ask. I've never had this happen walking down the street, but a few times driving in Italy we've come around a bend and there's a cop on the side of the road waving people over and checking IDs.
Second, luggage can be lost or stolen from a room or even the desk. Doesn't happen often, but won't be a problem with regards to your passport if its safe in a money belt.
BTW money belts tend to get a bit damp, at least on me. I put my passport in a baggie.
Posted by
Austin, TX, USA
492 posts
We also fall into the money belt camp. We each carry copies of the others passport as well. We've never had any problems with them disappearing on us except in Victoria BC, and scarily, passport control let us back home pretty easily even in 2004.
Posted by
Madison, WI, USA
43 posts
Money Belt, except when you will be needing public access to it, such as the airport, then ours were in zipped inside pockets of our scottevest jackets.
Also took pictures of them and e-mailed to ourselves to gmail and yahoo accounts.
Posted by
Connecticut, USA
114 posts
I keep mine zipped up in an inner pocket of my travel vest which I always wear. Also, my husband carries photocopies or both our passports, and so do I.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12314 posts
Money belt. It's one of the things that would severely affect my trip if it were lost or stolen so I keep it close.