by Sheree Zielke

Created on: July 02, 2007

My husband gets very frustrated when going through airport security. This normally sedate man begins huffing and puffing, he forgets to take things out of his pockets necessitating several trips through the X-ray machine, his boarding pass gets left behind, and his passport gets shoved into a pocket, where it remains buried and forgotten until a frantic search unearths it, much to his sweaty relief.

With today's heightened security at border crossings, in airports, and onboard cruise ships, we would get absolutely nowhere without our travel documents. We must protect our travel documents like precious gems.

Luggage stores and purse outlets, even some craft markets sell excellent personal containers to help you keep your travel documents safe. These containers resemble waist belts, neck pouches or shoulder holsters, and can be worn comfortably beneath or atop clothing. Many travel websites offer these "keeper" pouches, too.

Carrying one's passport on your person is a must. You would be sunk if your passport was lost, stolen or even misplaced because you will not be allowed to travel internationally without it. At the airport, you won't be allowed to get into the security line without your passport, let alone board a plane. Cruise ships, even with their passenger ID cards, will still check your passport as you come aboard after visiting a port.

Passports, and other travel documents, should be considered as valuable as a wedding ring or a favorite piece of jewelry; you wouldn't casually leave either of those things lying around, off your person. Treat your passport the same way; take it with you wherever you go, during your waking hours. At night, either hide it well (remember where you've hidden it) or place it into your room's safe; many hotels and cruise ships provide room safes.

It is NO longer advisable to place your passport in a hotel's front desk safe; especially in third world countries. However, many overseas hotels will insist that you turn your passport over upon checking in. Try to avoid this, if you can. Ask them to take a photocopy instead. On cruise ships, too, you will be asked to relinquish your passport, but don't worry; cruise lines can be trusted in this matter. As soon as you have been cleared through customs, your passport will be returned to you.

Maintaining control of your passport should ensure that you will never lose or misplace it. But the unthinkable can happen. Be prepared. Always photocopy the main pages of your passport prior to travel. Make 4 copies. Leave one copy in a safe place in your house, leave another copy with a friend or relative who could be called in the event of disaster, keep a third copy somewhere in your luggage, give the fourth copy to your travel companion. This way you will have a copy of the necessary details or you can call and have those details faxed, should you lose your passport.

When in transit, you will be showing your passport regularly. A neck pouch or a shoulder holster makes a handy place for keeping your passport safe, and within easy reach. Get out of the bad habit of absent-mindedly sticking your passport into a pocket or the side of your bag. Develop a discipline ensuring your passport is ALWAYS placed back into your carry pouch, each time you show it. Be especially careful when coming through airport security; this experience is generally very flustering and you can misplace your passport in the process.

When traveling, your passport must always be at the forefront of your mind. Be mentally present when removing it from its safety pouch; be mentally present when replacing it. One false move with your passport can turn a dream vacation into a nightmare.

Learn more about this author, Sheree Zielke.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.