Passport Storage/Security

[Sarah in SC]

Thanks again to everyone. As an aside, does everyone carry their drivers license with them when they travel out of country?


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I normally don't, as I weed everything out of my wallet ahead of time that I don't need for the trip. Mostly we use the AAA Intl Driving License for our secondary ID.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that I wear a travel vest a lot of the time. It is a multi-pocketed number, with huge inside pockets and tons of various little secure pockets all over it. I got it from Scottevest a number of years ago. Bought one for DH, but he never used it, so now I've got a spare.

 

[Sunset]

Just returned home from Prague and Austria. Needed passport on the train and when checking into a hotel. Surprisingly, also needed it to enter a casino in Vienna. Also bought a painting in Vienna and they wanted to see it for the purchase and for the shipment home.

+1 on keeping it in the room safe while sightseeing in a city. However, needed to return to my room to get it for the casino and art gallery.

Sounds like how SSN became the universal id

Do they take an image of the passport ?

Soon you will need a passport to enter stadiums, shopping centers, bus.
Never mind that most folks could not tell a forged or stolen one from a real one.

 

[ivinsfan]

How does the wallet tether would you possibly have a link to it. My DH has one with a small brown and a black loop that you run thru your belt and then slide it into your pocket..but if you don't have a belt on it's not very useful I guess you could use a safety pin inside your pocket.

 

[audreyh1]

How does the wallet tether would you possibly have a link to it. My DH has one with a small brown and a black loop that you run thru your belt and then slide it into your pocket..but if you don't have a belt on it's not very useful I guess you could use a safety pin inside your pocket.

DH sewed cord loops to the inside of the front hip pockets on some of his pants. Most of my pants pockets already had one such loop. But you can also use a belt loop on your pants. It's pretty discrete if it's close to your pocket - especially if the tether matches your pants.

We made our own tethers. We ordered some thin wallets and put a metal ring through the edge where they fold. I also have a small zippered coin purse I sometimes use instead - it can fit coins, a few folded bills, and a card or two.

 

[braumeister]

Another thing I forgot to mention is that I wear a travel vest a lot of the time. It is a multi-pocketed number, with huge inside pockets and tons of various little secure pockets all over it. I got it from Scottevest a number of years ago.

I recently got one of those, and I like it very much.

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

I carry my passport and drivers license with me when out and about during travels. If the missus nags me enough, I'll let her put it in the safe with hers.

I kind of feel more secure having it with me. In theory, in some places you need to present your passport to police if they stop you on the street, though obviously many just carry a photocopy or take a picture. Sometimes you need to present your passport to buy discount train passes for foreigners, get a VAT refund, etc and they won't accept a photocopy.

My confidence in hotel safes was shattered after watching the following video. Search "open safe with magnet". Basically, strong rare earth magnets can easily open many electronic safes used by hotels.

 

[braumeister]

My confidence in hotel safes was shattered after watching the following video.

There is usually also a "default" combination that can be used in case a guest forgets and leaves the room safe locked. Hotel managers can be expected to have that combination.

 

[audreyh1]

My confidence in hotel safes was shattered after watching the following video. Search "open safe with magnet". Basically, strong rare earth magnets can easily open many electronic safes used by hotels.

My instinct has not been to trust hotel safes. I know someone at the hotel is able to open them. And it's a good guess as to where you are hiding your valuables.

 

[PERSonalTime]

I normally don't, as I weed everything out of my wallet ahead of time that I don't need for the trip. Mostly we use the AAA Intl Driving License for our secondary ID.



Another thing I forgot to mention is that I wear a travel vest a lot of the time. It is a multi-pocketed number, with huge inside pockets and tons of various little secure pockets all over it. I got it from Scottevest a number of years ago. Bought one for DH, but he never used it, so now I've got a spare.

Sarah in SC thanks for the vest tip.


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[easysurfer]

I carry my passport and drivers license with me when out and about during travels. If the missus nags me enough, I'll let her put it in the safe with hers.

I kind of feel more secure having it with me. In theory, in some places you need to present your passport to police if they stop you on the street, though obviously many just carry a photocopy or take a picture. Sometimes you need to present your passport to buy discount train passes for foreigners, get a VAT refund, etc and they won't accept a photocopy.

My confidence in hotel safes was shattered after watching the following video. Search "open safe with magnet". Basically, strong rare earth magnets can easily open many electronic safes used by hotels.

I was just about to buy one of these large home safes when I saw this video but figure, I may just put all my important stuff in a locking filing cabinet instead. But on the other hand, who goes around carrying a large earth magnet? The illustration in the video is pretty cool though.

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

<snip> But on the other hand, who goes around carrying a large earth magnet? The illustration in the video is pretty cool though.

Is that a rare earth magnet in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

 

[audreyh1]

Another thing I forgot to mention is that I wear a travel vest a lot of the time. It is a multi-pocketed number, with huge inside pockets and tons of various little secure pockets all over it. I got it from Scottevest a number of years ago. Bought one for DH, but he never used it, so now I've got a spare.

I think I'm going to get such a vest to wear for days out and excursions using public transportation from Nice and Barcelona, two cities famous for their metro/bus/commuter train and tourist area pickpockets. I'd really like to be able to put my cell phone in an inside front pocket against my body. I'll use the vest instead of a purse.

 

[audreyh1]

Is that a rare earth magnet in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Seems like a good way to erase the magnetic strips on your credit cards.

 

[anethum]

In some countries, France for example, anyone can be legally stopped by the police and asked to show their carte d'identité (identity card). If you're a foreign tourist, you're supposed to have your passport with you. I was stopped many years ago by the police in Paris, and this happened to me more recently in northern Spain. I had my passport with me both times. I don't know how the police would have reacted if I'd only had a photocopy of the passport. When it happened in Spain, I was traveling by bicycle and had stopped in a tiny local train station in Santander. I was suddenly surrounded by 3 plainclothes police. They phoned someone to verify that the EU port-of-entry stamp in my passport was valid. They were incredulous when I told them I had biked there from Bilbao the day before. (It wasn't really that difficult a ride.)

 

[Sarah in SC]

I think I'm going to get such a vest to wear for days out and excursions using public transportation from Nice and Barcelona, two cities famous for their metro/bus/commuter train and tourist area pickpockets. I'd really like to be able to put my cell phone in an inside front pocket against my body. I'll use the vest instead of a purse.

If you order one of the Scottevest ones like mine, be sure to get it in a larger size to accommodate the bulk of whatever you are carrying. I typically carry nearly everything that would fit in a purse with me in the vest, and it can get a bit heavy.

 

[RonBoyd]

Seems like a good way to erase the magnetic strips on your credit cards.

All of my cards (4) have chips. However, I still need the strip since most places still have last century equipment.

 

[audreyh1]

If you order one of the Scottevest ones like mine, be sure to get it in a larger size to accommodate the bulk of whatever you are carrying. I typically carry nearly everything that would fit in a purse with me in the vest, and it can get a bit heavy.

Yes, I saw that, thanks. Unfortunately the lightweight one I want is not available in large at the moment. I'll have to keep checking.

I probably won't carry that much, as I have a camera bag for my DSLR camera. Mostly iPhone, some money and cards. I'll still keep additional under my clothes.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Audrey, you might also check TravelSmith, they carry some Scottevest products and also produce their own travel vest which might suit. The thing I like about the Scotte one is the magnetic closures on the pockets.

 

[gayl]

Thanks again to everyone. As an aside, does everyone carry their drivers license with them when they travel out of country?


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I don't need to. Bart to SFO and I refuse to drive out of country

 

[audreyh1]

Audrey, you might also check TravelSmith, they carry some Scottevest products and also produce their own travel vest which might suit. The thing I like about the Scotte one is the magnetic closures on the pockets.

Well I'm not having any luck. Neither Scottevest, Travelsmith, nor Amazon have the featherweight vest in my size (large). Like - how did they run out of one size in five everywhere?

I normally wear medium, but clearly upsizing by one is required with the Scottevest vests.

I tried an ExOfficio product that was listed as lightweight, but it was far too heavy. It's going to be warmish where I'm going.

 

[braumeister]

Well I'm not having any luck. Neither Scottevest, Travelsmith, nor Amazon have the featherlight vest in my size (large). Like - how did they run out of one size in five everywhere?

I normally wear medium, but clearly upsizing by one is required with the Scottevest vests.

I tried an ExOfficio product that was listed as lightweight, but it was far too heavy. It's going to be warmish where I'm going.

I got the Scottevest in Large size (with RFID pocket) and it seems very lightweight to me. Got mine from Travelsmith, but Amazon carries them at the same price.

 

[audreyh1]

I got the Scottevest in Large size (with RFID pocket) and it seems very lightweight to me. Got mine from Travelsmith, but Amazon carries them at the same price.

I would be very interested in the women's large if it were available!

Maybe I should email Scottevest and ask them what is the deal with the missing size!! (I just did)

I watched the video on the men's and sent it to DH.

Oh, you must mean the regular one seems very lightweight?

 

[braumeister]

Oh, you must mean the regular one seems very lightweight?

Yes.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Audrey I actually bought the men's one. You might think about doing the same. I'm not much for anything very close fitting, especially when loaded down, and I never really zipped mine up when using it.

 

[audreyh1]

Audrey I actually bought the men's one. You might think about doing the same. I'm not much for anything very close fitting, especially when loaded down, and I never really zipped mine up when using it.

Well I'll see what their sales department says. I'm short, so I'm not so confident getting a men's size.

I won't be loading it down. I really just want something with inside pockets for my passport and iphone5.