Traveller security

My daughter just returned from a trip yo Jamaica to visit friends. As I have been there several times, I was quite concerned for her safety. I always used a money belt with a copy of my passport and 200.00 cash. Never had a problem, but I always had a driver / bodyguard with me. My question is, if you do get mugged and your return ticket is stolen, would it work to carry a photocopy of your ticket in your security pouch? I will be going back this summer and will not have a driver this time. Kingston is a scary place for a big old white guy.

Most airlines give you a "digital ticket" these days (which you can print out or display on a smartphone), that's been the norm for years now. I'd be surprised if she didn't get one.

Getting your passport stolen would be a bigger concern.

Hi cwh,

I have a credit card style passport along with a standard booklet style passport (I think it was $50 extra).

The credit card one can be used as identification in some circumstances (boarder walk across or something like that) but more importantly, it can be used to have a booklet style passport immediately replaced at any US consulate.

Always carry a second wallet with just a couple dollars' worth of cash in it. If someone tries to mug you, hand them that wallet and go. Then you still have your "real" wallet with you.

GameboyRMH wrote: Most airlines give you a "digital ticket" these days (which you can print out or display on a smartphone), that's been the norm for years now. I'd be surprised if she didn't get one. Getting your passport stolen would be a bigger concern.

Stolen would suck, but there are ways around that, too. Go to your embassy- show them a copy of your passport- paper or digital, and they will make you a new one to go home with.

When out and about, I, too, would travel with as little as possible. This is one case were credit cards can rock- as if it's stolen, you can cancel it quickly. So carry just enough cash, some kind of ID, and a travel specific credit cars (so if it's gone, you have real ones to use).

We always use e-tickets when flying.

I think e-tickets rock...but in the third world? I might want a hard copy.

Streetwiseguy wrote: I think e-tickets rock...but in the third world? I might want a hard copy.

Why? When you go to the airport, they issue the ticket right to you.

It's been over 20 years since I had a ticket of any value issued to me. I'd never want to go back that.

BTW, e-tickets pre-date smart phones by a decade and a half.

If you fly an airline that uses E-tickets to get to a third world country, they will honor the same to go back home.

I'm not sure this will work for everyone, but I always hide my goodies in my fake leg when I'm traveling.

alfadriver wrote:

Streetwiseguy wrote: I think e-tickets rock...but in the third world? I might want a hard copy.

Why? When you go to the airport, they issue the ticket right to you. It's been over 20 years since I had a ticket of any value issued to me. I'd never want to go back that. BTW, e-tickets pre-date smart phones by a decade and a half. If you fly an airline that uses E-tickets to get to a third world country, they will honor the same to go back home.

Yeah, whether you print the e-ticket out or display it on a phone, they need to scan it or enter the code into the same computer they do all their other work with. No airline you can buy tickets for online would operate out of an airport that can't handle e-tickets.

I spend a bit of time outside the US. Good tips are to keep a color scan of your passport on a personal digital device as well as in the posession of someone you can call to arrange delivery (parent, friend, etc).

Always good to know where your US embassy is located as well so favorite this link. US EMBASSY LOCATION LINK

GameboyRMH wrote: Getting your passport stolen would be a bigger concern.

that's when you log on to GRM and hope that there are a crop of canoe postings to save you from international travel nightmares!

In reply to carguy123:

I always thought it would be cool to have a hoof, gorilla paw, or a flask prosthetic with a spigot on the side. If I had to lose a limb anyways...

Carry your untouchables strapped around your thigh inside your shorts. They're called legstrap security wallets. The laced ones for women are a lot more comfortable and lighter. If, you can get over sexy lace on your manly thigh. No one will see it, it's okay, I wont tell.

...unless you're wearing a bikini or speedos then I have no advice.

And use a trap phone while traveling not your $900 iPhone.

yupididit wrote: And use a trap phone while traveling not your $900 iPhone.

Or travel with an old, unlocked iPhone that you can obliterate if it's stolen.

I'm thinking about getting a cheap empty phone to put muy SIM card in if I travel to the US later this year, in case something like this happens:

http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/12/14583124/nasa-sidd-bikkannavar-detained-cbp-phone-search-trump-travel-ban

carguy123 wrote: I'm not sure this will work for everyone, but I always hide my goodies in my fake leg when I'm traveling.

If this doesn't make the "Say What?" column my faith in the editorial staff will be tarnished.

carguy123 wrote: I'm not sure this will work for everyone, but I always hide my goodies in my fake leg when I'm traveling.

I tried that but the third leg made me feel very conspicuous and...it was hard to find pants.

APEowner wrote:

carguy123 wrote: I'm not sure this will work for everyone, but I always hide my goodies in my fake leg when I'm traveling.

I tried that but the third leg made me feel very conspicuous and...it was hard to find pants.

Still a better choice than keistering.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9CAyOJbsaU8

In reply to GameboyRMH:

Yea..you might also want to wipe your computer then redownload the disk image after you go through security too. Hidden partitions also work since they're generally not savvy enough to figure out that you used an adversarial decryption key. That won't help you if they seize the disk though. CBP has been funny about searching non-US citizens laptops when they come through.

The sad thing is when I was traveling overseas a lot I was more worried about the hassle of CBP than basically anything else. That was under the previous president too. I'd hate to deal with it now even as a US citizen.

Yep it's only become a bit worse recently. This has been going on for years. I thought long and hard about switching phones last year and then decided I'd risk it. Not now.

I don't think I'd even take my laptop if I go to the Challenge this year. The main reason I was planning to bring it last year was to dump videos from cameras so that I don't run out of space on the cards, this year I'll have bigger MicroSDs so there will be no need to dump.

Colostomy Bag? All my cash is right in here buddy!