Copies of "Important" Papers
 

It's one thing about packing light, but especially for long trips, what sort of back ups of your documents do you take with you?

For long trips, I take at least a photocopy of my passport and sometimes a copy of my drivers licence and ticket/itinerary in a waterproof bag, just for safety.

Do you take your insurance T&C? What about your loyalty programme T&C (if someone refuses you lounge access, for instance)....?

For short domestic trips, I don't take any back ups...

When traveling internationally, I take a copy of my passport, and also copies of the fronts and backs of any credit cards that I'm taking with me, just in case they're lost or stolen. I suppose that exposes me to the risk that someone will steal my copies and find a way to use the cards, but I've yet to have a problem. I guess I've managed to "hide" these copies pretty well.

I put a copy of my passport photo page (and visa page if relevant), vaccination certificates and insurance details on a password-protected section of my website.

There are few places I've been where it's not been possible to find an internet café to download and print such things.

If I've bought trip insurance (which I only may for foreign trips), I'll take a copy of T&C.

Consider downloading docs likes FF T&C to your PDA. Also, you could keep a few critical credit cards numbers (at least the phone numbers to call if lost or stolen) in a hidden, password-protected file on your PDA.

From a great travel book (which I would highly recommend for any first time international traveller) The Best European Travel Tips: take an extra pair of passport pics so that if your passport is lost, those can be used at a local embassay to get you a new passport quickly.

Also, if your state allows, consider getting an ID in addition to your DL. That way you have additional government issued ID should your primary ID get lost/stolen.

I take several or more copies of my passport for international travel because I don't like hotels to keep my passport. When they want mine I offer the photocopy. They can just look at the original. I take the complete insurance & copies of reservation stuff (air/car/hotel). Sometimes I shrink the copies because paper weighs.

The auto club provides an international driver's license for $10. Even if you don't need it, it's back up ID. Good for a year.

I photocopy on both side all of my bank cards and credit cards, photocopy of my passport.

I also scan them to store on a memory stick and a remote server.
I also have some cash stowed with the backup documents (emergency cash).
I also keep a copy of canada direct and all of the T&Cs and reservations, especially the plane ticket rules.

Having no status, I don't bother having a copy of the T&Cs of my FF programs

With 100MB of free e-mail storage, another great repository is a Yahoo e-mail account. Scan or type in all your important documents and other information and e-mail it to yourself. As others have mentioned, unless you're really out in the jungle, chances are you'll be able to find Internet access somewhere.

I would not carry copies of my credit card numbers, as this greatly increases the risk for fraudulent use of your cards and possibly cancellation of your card during your trip. Not to mention identify theft (which would be facilitated with the copy of your passport).

Instead, I jot down the telephone numbers (toll free and standard) for reporting lost/stolen cards on the back of my passport photocopy. If the cards are compromised, simply call the bank and they will have no trouble finding the account no. Ditto for your Palm/organizer - store the telephone #s, not the card #s.

I would not store sensitive info (e.g. credit card #s) in an internet email account (i.e. hotmail) as it is possible that your friendly internet cafe terminal may have a key logger which would permit access to your accounts by unsavory types. However, this would still be an excellent place to store emergency contact #s, bank tel #s, itinerary info (including hotel confirms) etc.

What he said. Works great. Also, consulates are happy to go online for you and print out a page if you're in trouble. (Spoken from experience.)

I carry photocopies of my passport and itinerary. I also scan my passport and airline tickets and post them on my website (not where they're publicly accessible, of course) so that I can download copies in case of emergency.

If I'm going away for a couple of weeks, that means one of my family members will be staying at my house and taking care of my dog. I leave all this information with the family and I can contact them if something goes astray.