Passport holders

[CMC_Michele]

Hi everyone~

Well, we just returned from a trip to Toronto and Windsor, Canada.  I know it's not Europe but I did realize a few things that we'll need to change for when we do go....it was a great precursor anyway!

It's just a little thing, but I would definitely recommend using a passport holder.  For this trip, I purchased each of us the one of the Eagle Creek passport holders.  I figured it would be a good trial on how well my kids could keep us with their passports, tickets and money.

Well, the boys insisted that they get the "male-type" (their words, not mine) - in other words the waist kind, and my daughter and I bought the ones that hang around the neck.  Of course, the boys ended up HATING theirs and would not wear them.  Nicole and I loved ours and I really can't imagine not having it!  I kept my passport, airline tickets, money, credit card and even a chapstick in it and didn't have to carry a purse or things stuffed in my pockets at all.  And it is so light I hardly noticed it was there.

So if anyone is considering just throwing their passport/money/tickets/ etc into their pack, try one of these....they are definitely worth the $10!

Michele

['Guest']

I've seen these "neck safe" things, too.  looks like a good idea!  

I have a homemade nylon pouch thing, it closes w/ velcro & has a loop that I run my belt through.  the loop is made of brown leather, to make it harder to see against my belt.  

The pouch is the perfect size for a passport and slips inside my pants.  I also keep some American cash & a spare credit card in there (the one with a prepaid balance, to use at an ATM).  I've used this pouch in Europe, Canada and Africa.  (in hostels that don't have a safe for guests' use, *everything* goes inside and I tie it to my sleeping trousers, for security.  hospital scubs make great pjs at a hostel!)

A varient on the "neck safe" that I've seen for women to wear, it attaches below one's bra.  As I don't wear a bra, wrong gender for that, this wouldn't work for me.  

But, you don't want your passport so secure that you must almost disrobe to reach it!  This isn't practical, especially when you must show it for border crossings.  Europe still has borders where you must show it: especially between UK & the rest of the continent!  

Beware!  Dont use a "fanny pack" for security!  My Dad had his picked on a bus in Lisbon.  Nothing valuable was taken, but the pad on which the day's addresses were written was nabed.  These little losses can be headaches!  

- d

[Kim]

If anyone is unsure about what people are referring to when they are talking about a "neck pouch" or "neck money belt", you can view one here:

www.qksrv.net/click-711188-51658

Another great tip is if you are bringing a sleeping sheet, fold it over a bit at the top and sew it to make a little pouch. This is great for holding your valuables while you sleep if you are in a room with others.