Everyone always asks the question whether to carry their passport on them on their vacation or if they should leave it with a hotel.

What do I do with my passport?

The answer to the question if you should carry your passport depends very much on where you are traveling to. In many countries you are obliged to carry some form of identification on you at all times. Other states require that you carry your passport. Make sure to check which case applies to the country you are going to visit before you travel, so you know which precautions to take.

The hotel asked me to leave my passport with them? What should I do?

This is not uncommon in some countries. Again, make sure to check in advance what rules apply to where you will be staying. It is not recommended to leave your passport with the hotel, due to the risk of identity theft. Find out why the hotel wants to keep your passport. If it is required by a local law, then this is something you should have checked before you left. If you didn’t look it up however, try and get in touch with the local authorities or your embassy or consulate. If you really feel there are no other options, and you can’t reach anyone for advice offer to leave a copy of your passport and/or a credit card.

The local law requires that I always carry my passport. Is that a good idea?

Carrying your passport is not always a good idea. The best option, depending on the country you will be visiting is to leave the passport in the safe in your hotel room. You should then carry another form of photo-identification, such as a drivers’ license and a copy of your passport as long as you will be moving around in the vicinity of your hotel. Should the authorities wish to see your actual passport you could always take them to the hotel. In the event that the hotel you are staying at does not have a reliable safe, then carrying your passport is the best bet. Either way, make sure to keep a copy of your passport and another form of identification separate so that if you do lose your passport, you have other options to prove your identity.