Two international-travel related questions

[edprush]

1) Do you lock your checked-in luggage? Can't security cut/remove your lock if they want to?

2) Is there a reason to carry your passport with you when you are in a foreign country? If you've entered the country, hasn't your Passport already been validated?

 

[Drakkon]

1) no they will cut it off anyways so its worthless to lock

2) I have been told and always do carry it around with you. theft of passports is prevelent so if you leave it in your hoteltheres a chance housekeeping would steal it. Then there is also if you go to bars or anything to drink they can require your passport to show age. A drivers license in other countries means nothing.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: edprush
1) Do you lock your checked-in luggage? Can't security cut/remove your lock if they want to?

2) Is there a reason to carry your passport with you when you are in a foreign country? If you've entered the country, hasn't your Passport already been validated?

I locked mine and they asked me to unlock it even though it was TSA approved. I guess other countries don't have the keys.

You don't need to carry it with you at all times in most countries... but I would in some. Also should keep photo copies of it somewhere else so you can easily get a replacement if needed.

 

[spidey07]

I don't lock checked luggage. Check on weight/size limitations before you fly.

I always carry my passport with me. It's come in handy many times. Let's say you get into a brawl at the local pub and get hauled off to jail? You've got your passport and just demand to be taken to the Embassy.

 

[randomint]

Originally posted by: edprush
2) Is there a reason to carry your passport with you when you are in a foreign country? If you've entered the country, hasn't your Passport already been validated?

that's pretty naive. it's like saying why do you need to carry your driver's license when you are driving since you must have acquired it legally.

there are many ways one can enter a country illegally (i.e. without a valid passport or a visa) AND with some types of documentations you are required to keep them with you no matter what (like the driver license card while driving).

 

[FoBoT]

you can't lock it, they have to search it
, don't put anything valuable in checked bags, it will be stolen


i always keep my passport on my person while i am outside the US

 

[MX2]

They take the time to search every checked bag?

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Originally posted by: MX2
They take the time to search every checked bag?

No but if they want to search yours, you'll be lucky if they cut the lock instead of just slicing into the side of your luggage. If you're worried about the zipper simply coming undone & the contents of your bags spilling out, just use a twist tie to keep 'em together.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: MX2
They take the time to search every checked bag?

if they find a locked bag, they might try to page you on the intercom to unlock it, if they aren't busy, but they are more likely to break your lock

they tell you up front to not lock your bags

 

[torpid]

Yeah, I know the first thing I think about is what's going to happen when I get into a bar brawl when visiting a foreign country. Usually I spend some time researching whether brass knuckles are allowed, then I spend some time in the gym refreshing my small joint manipulation skills. Only then do I feel ready to go on vacation.

 

[xanis]

1) No, because security will just cut the locks. I use twist-ties to hold the zippers closed.

2) You don't really need it. Photocopies of your passport and American DLs will suffice for most occasions when you need ID.

 

[zinfamous]

1) luggage will probably get unlocked anyway

2) I never had a reason to carry passport. If it's in an EU country, why bother? besides, many hotels will require that you leave your passport at the front desk in exchange for the keys. Seems odd, I know, but it's legit. Your chances of losing it are greater if you have it with you. Get an international ID card, and have photocopies copies of passport, and copies of passport photo. If you're in a bar, you won't be carded. No need for ID.

 

[josh0099]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
1) luggage will probably get unlocked anyway

2) I never had a reason to carry passport. If it's in an EU country, why bother? besides, many hotels will require that you leave your passport at the front desk in exchange for the keys. Seems odd, I know, but it's legit. Your chances of losing it are greater if you have it with you. Get an international ID card, and have photocopies copies of passport, and copies of passport photo. If you're in a bar, you won't be carded. No need for ID.

Eh...Maybe I was just lucky but I traveled all around Europe in the Fall of '05 I flew out of England probably 10x to other countries and always had my bag locked and never had a problem.

About the passport issue...I always carried my because I was over there for so long and it would stink not having it...Hotel/Hostels usually copied my passport which I think is the law in most countries, but they did not actually kept my passport. Believe it or not if you look somewhat young you might get carded in a few countries the two I got carded in I believe was Sweden (Drinking Age of 18 in restaurants and 20 For Clubs and Liquor Stores) and Scotland carded me as well...

 

[yuppiejr]

1) Don't lock your checked luggage.

2) Keep one photocopy of your passport locked in your hotel safe and leave one at home with a relative/friend - then carry the original with you. Normally it's required by the host country and advisable to have it available when traveling in another country. That said, on the 6 international trips I've taken in the last year I haven't had to show mine outside of the airport or when checking into a hotel in Florence.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

As zinfamous has said, in many countries, the hotel will take your passport while you are staying there. It's not a problem.

Locking your luggage unless you use Steamer trunks is silly any ways. Kind of like locking a screen door. Your best protection is hotel safes and not taking anything you can't afford to lose.

 

[Mill]

1. There are TSA approved locks that the TSA has keys to. These people saying they will cut off the lock are wrong. If you are using a TSA lock they will unlock it. You can find them at Target, Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, etc.
2. Depends. In Colombia I leave it at my fiance's house and never use it once I pass through Customs. In Europe we were traveling so much it was with me all the time, and I did need to pass into Switzerland (even with Schengen). If a place asked for ID I used my Alabama Driver's License. Never had a problem with that in Europe or Colombia. Mexico was pretty much the same. In Morocco I needed my passport for everything... so YMMV.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: randomint

Originally posted by: edprush
2) Is there a reason to carry your passport with you when you are in a foreign country? If you've entered the country, hasn't your Passport already been validated?

that's pretty naive. it's like saying why do you need to carry your driver's license when you are driving since you must have acquired it legally.

there are many ways one can enter a country illegally (i.e. without a valid passport or a visa) AND with some types of documentations you are required to keep them with you no matter what (like the driver license card while driving).

With your logic, we should all be carrying our birth certificates around with us at all times. I don't carry my drivers license unless I'm driving.

How come most people in the U.S. aren't carrying their passport with them. Just because they look like they belong here?

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Mill
1. There are TSA approved locks that the TSA has keys to. These people saying they will cut off the lock are wrong. If you are using a TSA lock they will unlock it. You can find them at Target, Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, etc.

TSA doesn't exist in other countries last I checked.

 

[randomint]

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: randomint

Originally posted by: edprush
2) Is there a reason to carry your passport with you when you are in a foreign country? If you've entered the country, hasn't your Passport already been validated?

that's pretty naive. it's like saying why do you need to carry your driver's license when you are driving since you must have acquired it legally.

there are many ways one can enter a country illegally (i.e. without a valid passport or a visa) AND with some types of documentations you are required to keep them with you no matter what (like the driver license card while driving).

With your logic, we should all be carrying our birth certificates around with us at all times. I don't carry my drivers license unless I'm driving.

How come most people in the U.S. aren't carrying their passport with them. Just because they look like they belong here?

because they have their visas (work, visit etc)

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Mill
1. There are TSA approved locks that the TSA has keys to. These people saying they will cut off the lock are wrong. If you are using a TSA lock they will unlock it. You can find them at Target, Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, etc.

TSA doesn't exist in other countries last I checked.

No, they don't, but other countries follow TSA policies for flights departing to the US. Additionally, I can't think of a time when a country I visited didn't have a key for the TSA approved locks. It isn't like they are made by the TSA -- just that they were "approved" as ok after 9/11. These locks have been used worldwide for many years now.

Even Intra-Colombian travel they have a key...

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: edprush
2) Is there a reason to carry your passport with you when you are in a foreign country? If you've entered the country, hasn't your Passport already been validated?

I always carry mine with me. I might consider putting it in locked storage. But it's a bitch to be caught abroad with out a passport - like you lose it or it's stolen.

Happened to me Morrocco. Took several days and some hassle to get it replaced.

Fern

 

[Vonkhan]

always carry ur passport with u

AND leave a photocopies of it in the hotel safe, with friends, etc.

Also a good idea to notify your embassy that u're in that country - A MUST DO if u're travelling to an unstable or 3rd world country.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Mill
No, they don't, but other countries follow TSA policies for flights departing to the US. Additionally, I can't think of a time when a country I visited didn't have a key for the TSA approved locks. It isn't like they are made by the TSA -- just that they were "approved" as ok after 9/11. These locks have been used worldwide for many years now.

Even Intra-Colombian travel they have a key...

Well, just a few months ago I was asked to unlock my luggage after they took it away to inspect it. It was a "tsa approved" lock. This was in mexico. I assumed they didn't have the key but maybe they were just being lazy.

 

[puffff]

2) I always carry my passport on me if possible. You never know what sort of situation you might get into, plus I feel it's less likely to get stolen if I keep it on me.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: Vonkhan


Also a good idea to notify your embassy that u're in that country - A MUST DO if u're travelling to an unstable or 3rd world country.

That sounds like a very good idea. Thanks.