[Avogadro]

We're travelling to Europe at the end of the year (2 adults and 2 children age 9,7) - just wondering about what to do with passports. We will be staying with family for a good portion of the trip so security (where we're staying) won't be an issue.

Do you take passports with you while out and about?
What about the children's passports - do you let them carry them?
What about just giving the children a photocopy of their passport to carry in case they get lost?
I plan on using a backpack (leather/handbag style) - I thought about putting a small amt of cash in a wallet in the backpack and then carry any extra cash/passports/credit card in a concealed carry pouch. Do you think that would work?

Thanks

[lsolaBella]

We leave passports in hotel safe.

My kids had "if lost tags" which listed their name, nationality, my mobile, DHs mobile and how to dial those internationally (ie ++61 4xx xxx xxx)..

Just took money needed for the day with us. No different to being at home. No extra security precautions.

We did scan copies of passports, travel tickets, bookings, credit cards, travel insurance and emailed ourselves.

[Avogadro]

But what about ID while you're out and about? Did you need it?

[lsolaBella]

Why would you need ID when out? Just had our Drivers Licence in wallet as usual. Would take out one CC and leave at hotel.

Bracelets for kids (they also do dog tags). My kids were 2,4,6 when travelling.

http://www.medicalidstore.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=809

We were in UK, France and Switzerland. I have done the same when in Italy, Spain, Germany too.

ETA only time passports needed when out was purchasing local SIM cards for our mobiles. I had a dual SIM phone so one phone would get both Aussie number calls plus local number calls.

This post has been edited by lsolaBella: 24/02/2013, 10:26 PM

[dolcengabbana]

I always carry all of our passports in my Mimco travel wallet and extra money, spare cards etc in a secure place i.e safe.

We each have a photocopy of passports license medicare cards scanned into our emails so we can access from anywhere if we lost or had them stolen they are certified copies JP witnessed for ease of proof should we ever need it.

I always carry my license for ID everywhere as does DH and a photocopy of all documents in a different bag to my purse and travel wallet. SO if by chance I lost both I would have a certified copy of everything.

I also give my Mum a folder with a certified copy of everything and the itinerary before I leave for us all.

[Ehill]

I have always been told that to have a photocopy of your passport makes life much easier if it gets lost or stolen. So I leave a copy at home with my parents and have a copy somewhere in my suitcase.

But, no I would never carry my passport with me during the day if I had a safe place to put it (relatives house or hotel safe) but I keep the copy in a different bag or place.

Spare credit card with the passports in case you lose your wallet.

Handbag and wallet with cards, drivers license as normal like I do at home. In Europe I try my hardest not to look like a tourist. Nothing like a bumbag to scream 'I am an idiot tourist carrying thousand of dollars in cash so please please rob me'. That and wearing sneakers and socks with an I LOVE NY tshirt!

[Sofia*]

I agree with PPs, don't carry your passport unless you specifically need it for something (ie. buying a SIM card),
Lock all your valuables (cash, cards, passports, jewelry if you aren't wearing it, electronics if you aren't planning to use them while you are out) in the hotel safe.

I usually take a small wallet and just carry a bit of cash and one card (if I think I might need it).
It's goes in my pocket if I have a secure pocket or in my handbag, usually inside a zipped pocket in my zipped shut handbag. I also carry a copy of my passport.

Of course it really depends where you are travelling to - I have carried cash, passport etc in a "under clothes" waist pack when I was travelling in India, but that was when I was on the move and didn't have access to an in-room safe. It's so much easier in most parts of the world now because you don't have to carry much cash - you can withdraw from ATMs almost anywhere.

[qak]

I seem to remember that there are countries where it is illegal to not have any id on you -not sure if an actual passport was required, but certainly some identification needs to be carried with you.

[~kuddlebug~]

I had to carry my passport with my entry visa at all times when I was in Jordan. I was doing very active work so had it in my backpack, but when doing the 'touristy' things I just carried a normal handbag with my passport and a small amount of cash.

In Europe, I only carried normal ID and enough cash for the day in a normal handbag as I didn't want to look too much like a tourist. If you want to always have your passport on you, I'd go for a discreet underclothes pouch, nothing too visible. I wouldn't let the kids carry their passports unless absolutely necessary.

[intrigued]

what countries will you be travelling to?
Whilst it's important to be careful and sensible everywhere, there is a few places in Europe where you have to be more careful than others. E.g. Prague, Spain (Madrid mainly), Portugal, Italy etc. any big cities or big events. I had my handbag stolen in Lissabon a few years ago and I was mortified that it happened to me because I am so careful and have done loads of travelling..
Ideally get a backpack with a hidden or hard to access pocket or a bag that has professionals will be able to steal things out of bags without you knowing. A classic is the 'stopping you on the road and asking for directions"!

I would leave passparts in the hotel safe as PPs have suggested, too dangerous to carry around with you.
If you have more than one credit card then maybe also leave one of the cards in your hotel safe in case the one that is 'coming out' with you gets stolen and you have to wait for a replacement.
Also write down any emergency phone numbers (Credit card cancellation hotline, health insurance etc) in addition to having them stored in your phone in case that gets stolen.

In addition to a paper copy of my passport, I have also emailed a scanned copy of my passport and drivers license to my hotmail account, so that I can access it from anywhere.