Protect Your Passport by Carrying a Copy

I don't want to sound unduly paranoid, but travel -- especially international travel -- is fraught with dangers, big and small. One thing I frequently worry about is the loss or theft of my passport. Since you can't legally have a "backup passport," losing yours can be a real challenge if you find yourself caught short in a foreign country.

There are ways to significantly mitigate the risk, though. Wisebread suggests, for example, that you carry a photocopy of your passport and use it whenever you're not actually passing through airports or border crossing. That is the only time you must show your original; everywhere else, you can make do with a photocopy of the photo and signature pages.

So here's how that works: Always keep your passport secured on your person (not in a suitcase back in your hotel room) but produce the copy in all circumstances when it's allowable, such as when you need to show identification when traveling around a foreign city or checking into the hotel. That dramatically reduces the risk of loss or theft.

Another interesting suggestion: Keep a digital copy of your passport on a thumbdrive. If your real passport is ever lost, the digital copy will help speed things along at the local consulate.