Worried: Carry actual passport or copy?

After reading several post, I am concerned about carring my passport. Should my family carry the actual passport or a copy of it? Thanks

|||

Carry a copy and keep the originals in the hotel safe. The copy should include the info page and the signature page. As long as the original is nearby, you%26#39;ll be fine if challenged. This should be all you need for dealing with the authorities.

On the other hand, if you plan to buy expensive items with your credit card, you may be asked for your passport at the cash register and many businesses don%26#39;t accept copies (like FNAC sometimes doesn%26#39;t for example). In this case, carry your passport under your clothes in a body pouch and be prepared to have it ready at the cash register.

|||

Metromole,

Thanks for the inof. I will leave our passports in our apartment and take a copy with us. We do not plan on buying anything too exspensive. Thanks again.

|||

Speaking of passports, we have also learned to place a copy in each of our bags with our hotel information written on the copy. (This was actually suggested by a Paris police detective). Then if you are parted from any of your bags, you can be found if the person is honest enough to find you and return the bag/purse/tote etc.

Also, we always scan our passports and email the scanned copy to ourselves. That way, as long as we have access to a computer, we can always download our passport should we need it.

Have a wonderfult trip!

Vicki

|||

100% good advice from vickisfloyd.

|||

Thanks, Metromole! And a good day to you, too, friend!

|||

I always carry my passport and leave a photocopy in the room

A photocopy of your passport really is only any good for proving that you once owned a passport that may or may not have looked like the photocopy. It is no actual use for anything - you can%26#39;t use it to prove your ID, so therefore any shop that accepts it for TVA purposes is technically breaking the law. They may or may not accept the copy, but that is up to them.

|||

We leave the passports in the hotel/apartment safe and carry copies.

The only time I%26#39;ve ever needed to show my passport was for a discount card at the department stores, in shops with detaxe assistance, and in a bank to exchange currency. In all cases, the copy was accepted. (They just need ID and the passport number for their forms.)

|||

Wizard, I really tried to say that very thing in my post:

%26lt;%26lt;On the other hand, if you plan to buy expensive items with your credit card, you may be asked for your passport at the cash register and many businesses don%26#39;t accept copies (like FNAC sometimes doesn%26#39;t for example). In this case, carry your passport under your clothes in a body pouch and be prepared to have it ready at the cash register.%26gt;%26gt;

|||

Thank you for the advice. I will scan a copy of our passports and e-mail it to myself, great advice.

|||

I%26#39;ve never ever been asked for my passport when using my credit card, anywhere. In fact the only place I was asked for ID was in a bank. I wasn%26#39;t carrying it but the guy was happy to accept a credit card as my ID for changing cash! No kidding. DON%26#39;T carry your passport. They are hard to replace.