How do most FTers protect their passport when travelling?

Do you keep it on you at all times, and risk losing it?

Put it in a hotel safe / hostel locker and risk burglary?

Give it to front desk staff to put in their safe, risk employee theft?

(I'd prefer not to buy one of those under the shirt passport holders)

Mine stays in my computer case, and my computer case never leaves my side. If I have to leave it out of my sight, my Passport goes in my pocket.

I also keep a scan of my DL and passport on my Phone, and in my laptop.

In my safe while at home - in my backpack while travelling.

high quality photo of my passport is on my phone, iPad, and in my email account .

Front pocket on the body at all times. Keeping in your bag is just asking for trouble.

In foreign countries mine is on my person at all times either in a pants pocket or in an ankle carrier when in dodgy areas. Photos of the passport are on my computer and BlackBerry and photo copies of the picture page are in my hotel safe and luggage.

There are people who are frightful of theft or loss and keep their passport in a hotel room safe and carry photocopies. I believe that is a mistake. The passport is the only internationally recognized form of ID and if you need it you generally really need it and a tattered and creased photocopy might just not do.

I agree that keeping a passport in a bag of any sort is not a good idea. I usually carry my passport in the secret pocket in Tilley Endurable pants when in transit. The concealed pocket in these pants are big enough for a passport and small front pocket wallet. I have also carried it in a money belt and neck wallets from time to time as well. When staying at a hotel or cruise ship I keep it in the safe.

I also signed up with the State Department STEP Program. http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...h/go/step.html

Shak

Always have a passport in my front pocket, at home or away.

The other stays at home or in the office safe (or at an embassy as one is at the moment)

I'm not sure hard-and-fast rules are the best option.

In Bishkek, cops in the market tried to get my friend's passport off him while trying to usher him around a corner and out of sight.

He didn't have his passport on him, only a copy. He was fully prepared to tell them that his passport had been stolen and the embassy was replacing it, feel free to accompany him to the embassy to verify (which, of course, they weren't going to do).

I use budget lodgings and I have never trusted hotel safes. If there is a bulky old-style TV set, I have unscrewed the back and stuck my passport/extra cash/cards in there.

Usually in the hotel safe, or in my pocket. I keep a scan on Dropbox.

That's not the best idea, since anyone who compromises Dropbox has a scan of your passport. Dropbox has had numerous breaches.

Sorry might sound a silly question but what purpose do the scans/photocopies serve...has anyone ever had to use them?

I have them myself but I'm not sure why

1) Supposedly helpful if you end up at a US embassy overseas trying to get your passport replaced. Perhaps in the digital era that's less true. I'd like to think the embassy would have easy digital access to my passport, and absent that, that I would be permitted to access my email, where I keep a copy.

2) If you were stopped somewhere on the street and someone demanded your passport, a copy may be better than nothing, and losing a passport copy isn't the end of the world, although it may have its risks. You could always say (as a friend did last summer) that your real passport was stolen, your embassy is replacing it, ask them to accompany you to the embassy to verify. If they're opportunistic thugs, they're not going to go to the embassy with you.

I personally don't think there's one clear cut answer -it really depends on where you are, your comfort levels, etc. I'm sure there are places where you really better have your documents on you at all times (including parts of the US, especially for non-US citizens). If I'm in a major European or South American city, for example, I may feel safer leaving my passport in my lodging.

It makes getting a replacement easier if one is required. I've never had to use one but always have them with me just in case.

This is what I have to wonder about. Is it still true in the digital age? Particularly for so-called trusted travellers whose fingerprints are on file?

OK, maybe the embassies don't have fingerprint readers, but I find it difficult to believe that they don't have the same access (or more) that CBP has to my passport records.

I've actually found myself wondering if losing the paper copy could put me at risk of identity theft.

Some very good points. I'm planning a RTW trip in November so I think it may be best to have it on me at all times and some copies dotted about the place.