Passport Holders, Neck Pouches, Money Belts and Shoulder Bags

[exceladdict]

A question for the AFF Brains Trust; what’s your preferred method of carrying around your passport, valuables or other things you prefer not to leave behind in a hotel safe or otherwise?

Except in some contexts, I usually like to keep my passport on my person when travelling. However the design of a typical neck money pouch is pretty bulky; it’s usually quite obvious when wearing one under a shirt and the thin strap can be irritating to hanging around my neck. My best solution so far is to wear it cross-body under one arm, but this isn’t perfect, as the strap’s a bit too long on the one I own.

I recently saw a ($40+!) Pacsafe S80 secret pouch which might do the job; the S75 neck pouch looks like it could work over-shoulder, but might also be a bit large, though seems to be in the $20s on amazon.

Any recommendations?

 

[bashworth]

I usually travel with a SCOTTeVEST which has a host of zipped pockets, including an internal one for passports.

It even has a pocket that fits a tablet, or in my case a chrome book.

 

[RooFlyer]

Mine is a Bellroy Travel Wallet. Had it for 10 years and still going strong.

Travel Wallet: Leather RFID Passport Holder, Cover & Sleeve | Bellroy

The Travel Wallet enables you to keep all of your important documents in one place with two note sections, a tailored passport pouch, card slots and even a pen.

bellroy.com

It takes your passport and keeps it 'straight' while in a pocket.

 

[bam71]

Short sleeve button up shirt with pocket

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

A question for the AFF Brains Trust; what’s your preferred method of carrying around your passport, valuables or other things you prefer not to leave behind in a hotel safe or otherwise?

My best solution so far is to wear it cross-body under one arm, but this isn’t perfect, as the strap’s a bit too long on the one I own.

Cross-body is my preference too, under my shirt, except for airports (because of security). If the strap is too long, tie a knot in it, perhaps. Mine has an adjustable thingy.

Also RFID proof. I may be paranoid, but I'm not sure I'm paranoid enough.

 

[exceladdict]

I usually travel with a SCOTTeVEST which has a host of zipped pockets, including an internal one for passports.

It even has a pocket that fits a tablet, or in my case a chrome book.

Wow, these looks intense! I actually need a new soft shell jacket too so these are now on the list!

Mine is a Bellroy Travel Wallet. Had it for 10 years and still going strong.

Travel Wallet: Leather RFID Passport Holder, Cover & Sleeve | Bellroy

The Travel Wallet enables you to keep all of your important documents in one place with two note sections, a tailored passport pouch, card slots and even a pen.

bellroy.com

It takes your passport and keeps it 'straight' while in a pocket.

Bellroy things sure are classy! How do you find it in your pocket compared to a regular wallet, is it coughbersome?

Cross-body is my preference too, under my shirt, except for airports (because of security). If the strap is too long, tie a knot in it, perhaps. Mine has an adjustable thingy.

Also RFID proof. I may be paranoid, but I'm not sure I'm paranoid enough.

The knot method keeps unfurling, may need to look for something more permanent or a safety pin etc. But wanted to check if there was a better product too, as my one is quite rectangular, large and obvious.

 

[RooFlyer]

Bellroy things sure are classy! How do you find it in your pocket compared to a regular wallet, is it coughbersome?

I carry it in my front pocket, not the back. It feels bulkier than usual wallet, but not uncomfortable - in fact better to detect if its not on me or if someone is trying to pick pocket. I haven't trued it with the newer style passports which I think are a bit more rigid. Doing that next week.

However, I only carry it there on flights. When at a destination, I use the safe.

 

[Mr Bill]

I'm with RooFlyer. Carry my Passport while traveling, otherwise in room safe if available. I do however have a fallback position. I have for many years carried with me a business card sized, laminated , colored photo copy of my passport face page. While not 100% effective, it has been more useful than not, both overseas and in Australia.

 

[Daver6]

Mine stays in the hotel room. I'm more likely to lose it/have it stolen when out and about than have housekeeping take it.

 

[aspro2]

I carry it in my front pocket, not the back. It feels bulkier than usual wallet, but not uncomfortable - in fact better to detect if its not on me or if someone is trying to pick pocket. I haven't trued it with the newer style passports which I think are a bit more rigid. Doing that next week.

However, I only carry it there on flights. When at a destination, I use the safe.

I third the use of this wallet. I've had one for about five years. The tiny pen in it is very handy for filling in forms. It's bulk means you know it's in your front pocket (or when it's not!).

 

[CanadaGirl]

I always use the hotel safe. Am I being incredibly naive? The hotel staff would lose their job (I’m guessing) if the contents of the safe were missing. And it’s coded, not a key. So have people lost their passport / valuables if stored in hotel safe?

 

[luxury-lizard]

I always use the hotel safe. Am I being incredibly naive? The hotel staff would lose their job (I’m guessing) if the contents of the safe were missing. And it’s coded, not a key. So have people lost their passport / valuables if stored in hotel safe?

Actually YES - but it was not from a hotel but a high-end, what I thought was secure, holiday apartment - thieves broke in and ripped the whole safe out of the cupboard and took it away in my new suitcase padded with various clothes. (Safe contained passports, house keys, car keys, wallet (with credit cards and id), jewellery etc). So now I always leave my passport in the hotel / holiday apartment but hidden (ie not in safe).

Post automatically merged: Dec 30, 2023

an addendum to the above - I no longer consider any holiday apartment safe and never book a ground floor hotel room.

 

[Black Duck]

Mr Blackduck has been using ScotteVests for many years now. Actually they are his go to here at home as well as travel. He has a few sorts, some winter, some summer. Also one with zip in sleeves for the cold days. He rides motorbikes and they work well under the protecting layers as well but they are smart enough for travel. They have lasted well over the years.

The original models were actually better in his opinion as the pocket layout worked better but new ones are still good. They also do (did?) men's trousers with a secure pocket. They were a nice chino cut.

 

[JohnK]

I always use the hotel safe. Am I being incredibly naive? The hotel staff would lose their job (I’m guessing) if the contents of the safe were missing. And it’s coded, not a key. So have people lost their passport / valuables if stored in hotel safe?

I've never lost anything out of a hotel safe but I think even the coded safes have key backup.

New Years Eve my safe was stuck so they gave me the key but then key did not work either. Took handyman quite some time and strength to separate safe from cupboard.





Luckily not an issue for me this time but huge lesson learnt. Don't leave opening the safe until last minute if travelling to airport. Open safe the night before in case of any surprises.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

The Bellroy travel wallet looks nice although I wonder how portable it is. For instance can you fit it in a side pocket?

The idea of having my passport and Canadian cards altogether certainly sounds nice. Although I do wonder too how water proof the wallet is? Not that I'm going to be swimming with the passport, but I do tend to have my passport always on me since you never know when you need it particularly as Passport is the only recognized form of ID for this Canadian expat.

Whilst this is very useful when travelling abroad I do realize it's not as useful for domestic trips to the US or Canada from Australia where passports are optional for entry in my case (Nexus) as it's all biometric these days. One wonders whether passports will go the way of the dodo some day in favour of biometric ID by countries?

I've never lost anything out of a hotel safe but I think even the coded safes have key backup.

New Years Eve my safe was stuck so they gave me the key but then key did not work either. Took handyman quite some time and strength to separate safe from cupboard.

View attachment 366732

View attachment 366733

Luckily not an issue for me this time but huge lesson learnt. Don't leave opening the safe until last minute if travelling to airport. Open safe the night before in case of any surprises.

I usually do not store valuables in the hotel safe since they are notoriously easy to break in to and is where bad guys will go to look in the first place. In particular many safes have a master code like 0000 or 1234. Even if that's not the case it's usually not difficult to pick the lock or pry the door open. And if that wasn't enough there's the very real risk that you forget to empty the contents of the safe before leaving the hotel or as we see in your case, the safe malfunctions at an inopportune time. For me, personally, I just leave the passport in my backpack.

 

[RooFlyer]

The Bellroy travel wallet looks nice although I wonder how portable it is. For instance can you fit it in a side pocket?

What do you mean by 'side pocket'? It'll fit into the forward (hip) pocket of most pants. It'll also fit into the back pocket of a pair of levis, but if you sit down with the passport in it it will firstly be uncomfortable, then you'll damage (bend) the passport.

Fits perfectly in the inside pocket of a jacket where, buttoned over, its very secure while you are wearing the jacket. Otherwise, in the hip pocket, it feels rigid with the passport in it - it couldn't be picked without you knowing about it straight away.

Although I do wonder too how water proof the wallet is?

Leather (or mine is), so not waterproof at all. Will absorb sweat if you have it in your hip pocket for extended times.

 

[p--and--t]

This has been my goto for the last 15yrs+

I have a soft cloth RFID “purse” in lieu a better word that just fits the passport a small pen and sometimes cash and/or a creditcard. That in turn goes into a cheap traditional cloth money belt around my waist under my trousers/shorts while travelling (planes / trains / buses / taxis et al)

I figure the vast majority of people would not know its there and even if they did I would certainly know about it if they tried to remove

When going through security the money belt is in my backpack, then through security to the lounge and put the money belt on my waist in the privacy of a cubicle.

In the hotel safe once at a destination.