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Ideas for carrying CDC card and passport to show when necessary

In the time of Covid, we will need to show our CDC card and possibly our passports at different times. I normally use a "hidden pocket" type moneybelt that hangs inside my pants leg. But that's not convenient to constantly get out and put back in. So, I bought a neck wallet big enough to hold both. Unfortuately, the shape of the thing can be seen under my clothes. (I wear mostly polo shirts.)

In today's day and age, protecting these two documents from loss or theft is a requirement. I'd like to get suggestions on what others are thinking of doing to both protect the documents but have them readily available. (Keep in mind, I'm a guy who doesn not carry a purse.) And I'm not a big fan of backpacks because you really can't see what's going on behind you.

Posted by
2613 posts

We’re doing plastic cases - a la nametag-type holders - on a lanyard. I’m just not interested in digging the CDC card out of my purse, pocket etc. Sure it won’t be super attractive as I travel around but, hey, we’ll be wearing masks as well. It will not be a stylish travel year but I travel with someone who wears only REI zip-off pants on our journeys so our bar is set pretty low:)

Posted by
4761 posts

Maybe get looser fitting shirts? Just kidding. Some neck pouches seem stiffer and bulkier than others. Mine is silk, and I wear it cross body. I can still easily rotate it around to access the contents when needed, but otherwise it's not really noticeable as long as I'm not wearing a form fitting top, which I rarely do.

Posted by
2669 posts

Frank, try wearing your neck wallet crossbody under your shirt and tucked into your pants. The softer silk one that’s in RS store is less obvious and more comfortable than the stiffer Travelon neck wallet. I used it in Italy. I took the plastic adjuster off and tied a knot next to the wallet to shorten it; more comfortable than having a plastic lump dig into my neck.

I just bought the plastic holders, ribbon lanyards and these beaded lanyards from Amazon for our CDC cards. Haven’t used them yet but figured hubby can use a navy ribbon and the beaded one will look more like a necklace on me.

Posted by
14812 posts

The idea of plastic cases with lanyard was one I thought of but every time you need to get your passport and CDC card out, you have to disconnect the lanyard to open the plastic case. Right?

Or are there plastic cases large enough to hold the passport and CDC card but allow it to be opened without disconnecting the lanyard? IF there are, please point me in the right direction.

Posted by
4527 posts

The passport size will be the clincher. I assume you are considering this for need to verify your ID?
How do you feel about a passport holder on a chain that clips to your pant belt loop ala biker style? Amazon has them in the US. Double check that the size measurements actually fit your passport measurements. And consider where you will be going through scanners to enter museums, etc, that day. Then use the neck wallet.

Posted by
2669 posts

Frank, these are the plastic CDC card holders I bought. Card fits, is visible both sides. I’m thinking you can show it from your neck or slip the lanyard off your neck.

I’d keep your passport in the neck wallet for safety. It’s not difficult for you to take out.

Posted by
11056 posts

I bought the same plastic card holders from Amazon for our CDC vaccination cards in February. I always have them with me. Now I probably will add a lanyard too.

Posted by
2635 posts

Frank, I have this same holder for my CDC card and in looking at it, the part where the lanyard would clip on is above the area where the holder seals closed. So, it should be no problem getting the card in and out while clipped. I looked at the passport holder on Amazon and if you zoom in, it seems to be the same design. So, you can take the passport in and out while still clipped.

Another thing I did, as someone suggested on another post, was to make a couple of laminated copies of the CDC to take just in case the original gets lost. Or, I’m thinking about seeing if my copy will be accepted and keep the original in my money belt for safe keeping.

Posted by
23178 posts

When traveling I wear a short sleeve casual shirt with a couple of secure breast pockets. On one shirt it is actually a zipper pocket behind a pocket flap and other shirt is velcro and a button -- either way secured with easy access. These are not the safari looking travel shirts but decent looking casual shirts.

Frank II,
I have heard of photocopying the card and leaving the original at home. I have also heard of taking a picture of it on a mobile device. Not sure if either of these methods would be accepted. I have not traveled in a way yet that I had to produce my vaccine card.

Posted by
7129 posts

Be sure you bring your actual CDC card with you, or you will not be able to get on the international flight.

Posted by
7280 posts

Like Frank, my husband’s got a number of shirts with button-down flaps on the front pocket(s) - maybe that’s a Colorado thing. Some of them are long sleeve, some short sleeve. Passport fits, and the CDC card can be ticket inside the passport. A skilled pickpocket could probably unbutton it in an instant, but are passports going to be continuously under assault by thieves?

Kuhl brand pants and shirts have all kinds of hidden pockets and compartments, and are highly suitable for traveling.

Posted by
14482 posts

Both CDC card and passport go into one snug, secure plastic holder which goes into my zipped inside right breast pocket of the light summer jacket. The bad guys won't get to it without my noticing it. I don't carry any sort of day bag, cross bag, back pack, etc. , basically don't need it. A copy of the CDC card is also in the neck pocket.

Posted by
14812 posts

I got the answer I was looking for on Amazon. I don't have to remove the lanyard to remove the contents.

This seems a lot less bulky than a neck pouch.

Posted by
1150 posts

This isn't exactly a direct response to your question but I sometimes wear pants that have zipper pockets down the pants leg that are secure but also accessible when needed. I'm not talking about cargo pocket pants, which are more noticeable. It has been many years since I bought the ones I posted about in this forum so I do not remember the exact pants but the company was 5.11 Tactical. I think they were sold to plainclothes police. Ignoring the military nature of the sales pitch, the pants were comfortable and durable. The ones I bought had a "hidden" zipper on the pants leg seam that was hard for others to see and the pocket was not visible (its only attachment was at the seam). The pocket would hold a passport as I recall. Since that time I've found other pants with a somewhat hidden pocket on the pants leg, but the 5.11 ones were the best at being hidden.

Posted by
2418 posts

Paul just beat me to the word 'tactical' -- when I saw in the OP that Frank II made a point of explaining that he is a guy who doesn't carry a purse, it reminded me of the sling bag that I brought to the forum's attention last year,
because that same item was marketed under several brand names and ad campaigns, one of which was calling it a 'tactical' carrier,
so that guys who don't carry purses would feel better about themselves. /s

Posted by
11 posts

Security and Safety first ! After 40 years of pickpocket free traveling, I finally got hit! All my concerns about keeping my COVID card and passport easily available meant I was carrying those in one of those nifty holders made for both . Getting on the train I had taken off my neck holder in anticipation of the train check and put it in my back pack. Wrong move! What was I thinking!!! Safety over convenience! Travel in the time of COVID demands upping your usual vigilant ways. Wear your money belt. Or neck pouch ALWAYS! This was an easy pick on the crowded train platform in Pisa. These guys are smooth and out there !