Passports, Money Belts & Travel with a teen other than your own

As far as your daughter's friend's note, make sure it gives you permission to act as a guardian just in case of a medical emergency. You may have to sign treatment consent forms.

As far as carrying passports, I have seen people almost equally divided on this. Some always do, some never do, some carry a copy.

You need their health insurance information

No, you don't need your passport at all times in Italy. Some people will say you do, I never have done and I'll rather deal with any potential hassle on the very unlikely occasion when it is requested than the far more likely scenario of losing it or having it stolen.

Given how critical passport are and the great inconvenience if lost, I would be inclined to carry the teens' passport but allow them to carry their own daily cash and everything else. That was our approach with our teenage sons. And we always carried all of our passports -- just in case.

Just be sure you have clear documentations for being responsible for the guest.

While I hesitate to have them carry their own passports (if lost, it can be a pain to replace), having them carry their own money would benefit them and you in many ways.

1. You are providing them with a growth/nurture opportunity, like what does foreign money look and feel like.
2. They are getting a lesson in budgeting (if you give them a limit).
3. You aren't stuck pulling out your wallet every time they want to get something.
4. They get an understanding of the actual value of money and keeping your/their valuable money safe, i.e. the bulk of it in your money belt/neck pouch with the day's cash in your pocket.

If they still eye-roll you can say that if they don't carry their own money then they can't buy anything.

1. We always have our passports on us -- usually in a concealed money belt. Someone on the forum once opined that with credit cards and a passport he could go anywhere in the event a natural disaster, terrorism event, or anything else happened that would preclude returning to the hotel to retrieve the passport.

2. Not personally. But others have expressed the idea that depending on their maturity level it should be presented to them as a way to show they are becoming responsible adults. I'm sure others (particularly the teens themselves) will have different opinions on this.

3. Can't really address this. However, prudence would indicate that a notarized letter from both parents would be the minimum.

Here is a quote I took from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection web site.

"Minors may be able to travel to another country without either one of their parents. They may however require a notarized written consent letter from both parents. Minors interested in traveling without their parents should contact the embassy to address admissibility questions.

A list of embassies and entry requirements can be obtained at the Department of State website, or call the particular embassy by phone."

Hope this helps and perhaps those with first hand experience can chime in with what they did.

Do we need to have our passports on us at all times in Italy? I'm
inclined to do it, even if its not required, as you just never know.

I would as under 18's get into Italian state museums for free. Because these young people could appear to be that old, there's a good chance you may have to produce their passports for proof of age.

I've already gotten the eye roll when I suggest that they actually may
need to carry their own stuff.

The young ladies are old enough to learn to be responsible for their own valuables. It's part of the art of travel! :O) That doesn't mean that I wouldn't grill all 3 of them every morning about having their passports and having them safely stowed (NOT in a pocket or unsecured purse). Same goes for their phones as those are hot items with the pickpockets. Make sure you have copies of the passports stowed away just in case, and maybe do a passport count every evening when you get back to the hotel.

At 16 and 17 the kids should be responsible for their daily spending money. Give them their 'allowance' each morning. They will learn to budget. Be firm. If they burn through their gelato and trinket money by 2PM the 1st day, they will do better on day 2.

Since it sounds like the kids are not willing, I would keep their passports, just to not have the problem of having to replace a lost one.

The teens will need to learn to put their phone someplace other than their back pocket, as otherwise it will soon cease to be something they will be carrying.

As for any other 'stuff', if they do not want to carry it, leave it home. Parents are not pack mules for kids that 16-17 years old.

You are much braver than I, to take 3 teen girls on this kind of trip. I am not sure Italy has enough wine to soothe me at the end of the day, everyday, for a week or so.

Enjoy Italy!

Carrie

The "keeping the phone out of the back pocket" is great advice. I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with that with my teen boys when we go to Rome in June. For myself though, I'm going to get one of these cell phone crossbody slings. Here's a sample but they come in many different price points and styles:

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/baggu-leather-phone-crossbody-bag/4659060?country=US&currency=USD&cm_mmc=google-_-shopping_ret-_-645528200-_-9382829273_c1086f4d-e61b-490d-ba2b-df7c4cf01bf0&cm_mmca1=pla-320335014612_11748078&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp-rd3YLC2gIVU7jACh2AsgwYEAQYAyABEgKdYPD_BwE

Maybe that would be a cute pre-trip gift for the girls (as long as it fits/closes securely)? If they are like my boys, they will be whipping out their phones frequently to take pics and videos.

Thank you everyone for great perspectives! It's very helpful.

@Joe....I laughed out loud. We are counting on the wine to help us through traveling with three teenage girls! :)

@Lynnp....thank you for the idea on the cross body phone case. I will look into it.

I don’t carry my passport with me if I am staying in town - I bring it on day trips but leave it in the hotel assuming I feel it’s safe there. Same for extra cash and credit cards. I bring one card and cash for the day. But others disagree.

When I do carry my passport I have it in an inside zippered pocket in my purse, worn crossbody. I can safety pin the pocket closed (just pin thru the zipper pull into the lining). I hate money belts and the other types (belt loop things, neck wallets) don’t work with my clothing.

YES, make the “kids” carry their own money, except maybe for passports. That’s your call - if they are careless and loose it you are in for a hassle replacing it. But daily spending money should be carried by them. They won’t need a money belt if they don’t carry their passports. Just a purse with zipper. They are young adults and will be in college/traveling on their own soon so this is a good learning opportunity.

If you are going to museums than I agree, everyone needs a passport, otherwise I'd just leave them in the hotel safe but take the copies with you.

As for carrying their own valuables-yes, yes yes! They will give you attitude because it's easier to blame mom if something happens to the money than to actually take time to bring it with them and look after it. Don't give in.

I am like Mira- I keep my passport in a zipper pocket inside my purse- and wear it crossbody- was in crowded elevators in Eiffel Twr- crowds in Paris train stations, London tube crowds- no problems- just always be aware of your surroundings- Its wayy too much hassle if they lose theirs (kids) so I would hold theirs as well- but give them some money (not all) to let them spend- they are teenagers after all- it takes years to be responsible adults🤣
Happy Travels✨💫

When my daughter was 15-1/2 she went to a 6-week academic summer program in Dublin, Ireland -- not only did she have to carry her own cash and passport, she flew by herself SFO-London-Dublin and back.

Are the girls expecting to go out on their own ? (And do the other girl's parents agree with that ?) They should be carrying ID and walking-around cash. Not to mention a card with the hotel's address. And maybe an Italian phrase book.

I think that if teenagers are old enough to carry a mobile phone, they are old enough to carry some cash, particularly if it is pocket money they have saved. In Italy, small purchases are mostly paid for with cash rather than using plastic, so they do need coin and notes.

In half a dozen trips to italy, in all some ten months, I have never been asked for my passport except for hotel check in. Perhaps leave the passports in the room safe or a suitcase and carry a colour copy of the photo page. If they are in the room safe, set a reminder on your phone so you retrieve them when you are leaving. There have been a few horror tales on this forum where people have forgotten them!

Would their drivers license (as photo id) be sufficient for museum reduced entrances?
I've traveled a little bit w other people's kids.... including having a snarky kid ditch her buddy in Toronto and delaying our departure from town until she sauntered in (Yup, it's almost 30 yrs later, and I still remember her name) anyway, id hang on to their passports, but absolutely make them responsible for their daily cash, phone, and whatever other stuff they think they need each day. Of course, for the guest, that daily dollar figure would have some input from her parents. May the force be with you.