The 1 Place You Should Never Put Your Passport—and the Foolproof Way to Always Keep It Safe

International travelers are no longer the only ones using their passports at the airport. With new ID requirements now in place, plenty of domestic travelers are using their passports in lieu of a Real ID. That means it's more important than ever to keep your passport safe—and there's one passport mistake you probably don't know you're making.
When you pack your passport in your carry-on luggage, you're seemingly tucking the document away where you can't lose it. In reality, this is a big mistake that can cause major headaches.
When traveling internationally, it's essential to keep your passport on you at all times. If you pack your passport in your carry-on and later need to gate-check your bag, you won't be able to retrieve your passport before you reach immigration. This could result in being denied entry to your destination.
If you have to gate-check your bag, you'll be separated from your passport at immigration.
Thieves may target travelers with suitcases, even stealing carry-ons in the airport and nearby areas.
Fellow passengers can steal your passport from the plane's overhead compartment.
Plus, many travelers report experiencing theft upon landing at their destination. Whether it's at baggage claim or while heading to your hotel, someone can easily snag your luggage with your passport still inside.
Even if you're traveling domestically, you shouldn't keep your passport in your carry-on. Travelers frequently need to stow their carry-on luggage in an overhead bin far from their seat, and in this case, you won't be able to keep an eye on your belongings. Sadly, in-flight theft happens, and your passport can easily be stolen mid-flight.
There's one easy alternative to packing your passport in your carry-on, and as expert travelers, we always recommend it to our family and friends: Wear a crossbody bag, belt bag, or money belt. These simple bags keep your wallet, passport, phone, and other valuables close to your body and safe from thieves. Keep reading to shop 11 reliable travel bags ahead of your next trip—from $9 at Amazon.
More than 20,000 shoppers purchased this crossbody bag in the past month, and plenty of satisfied reviewers report using it to secure their valuables while traveling internationally. It features four separate pockets to organize your belongings, including a hidden back pocket that's ideal for your passport.
If you prefer a traditional money belt to conceal beneath your clothes, this one from Alpha Keeper is 'comfortable to wear' and keeps items 'secure from pickpockets.' It is slim enough to be discreet under clothing, and the length is adjustable to suit every traveler. Plus, it has two zippered pockets and one hidden compartment to secure your valuables.
This trendy option from Pander looks so much like a shopper-loved version that's much more expensive, and one shopper says it has the 'exact same feel and quality,' too. The bag has a water-resistant nylon exterior that's durable enough for any itinerary, along with two zippered pockets. One of the exterior compartments is even hidden at the back of the bag for extra peace of mind.
This fashion-forward option will secure your passport while complementing your summer travel outfits. It has a vegan leather exterior, gold hardware, and an adjustable woven strap. There are two exterior zip pockets, along with internal compartments to keep your belongings organized.
Sling bags are another popular option for travelers, and reviewers rave about this one from Simptech. One shopper used this bag on a seven-day trip to Europe and had plenty of room for their family's passports, cash, and more. They add that the conveniently-placed buckle at the front of the bag ensures pickpockets aren't able to unlatch the bag from behind.
You'll wear this stylish leather crossbody all summer long—in and out of the airport. It features three external pockets, along with internal pockets. The adjustable strap can be worn as a crossbody or shoulder bag, making this a versatile purse for any occasion.
This bag is designed to defend against pickpockets, so it features multiple unique safety features. The strap and bag are slash-resistant to prevent thieves from cutting the bag off your body, and it has RFID-blocking passport and card slots for extra security. Plus, its classic black design is versatile enough to pair with any travel look.
This stylish sling bag has several zippered compartments, so you won't be rummaging through an unorganized bag at the airport. It has three front pockets, along with a hidden back pocket that's perfect for hiding your passport. It even has card slots inside to organize your IDs and credit cards. We love the summery look of this bag, which comes in 17 vegan leather colors.
Over 10,000 shoppers purchased this low-key sling bag last month, which also happens to be the least expensive option on our list. One reviewer used this bag on a trip to Italy and said they 'often forgot' they were wearing it thanks to its comfortable, barely-there feel. They added that the secure pockets and discreet size gave them peace of mind.
One shopper calls this the 'perfect purse for international travel.' It has a gorgeous vegan leather exterior that looks expensive, as well as stylish gold hardware. The small sling bag also includes two large compartments that are large enough to hold all the essentials 'without feeling bulky or cumbersome.'
Travelon bags have some of the best security features on the market, and this convertible bag is no exception. Its body and straps are slash-proof to ensure pickpockets can't remove the bag, and it also has zipper pulls that lock for security. As if that's not impressive enough, this bag even has RFID-blocking technology to protect against cyberattacks. Wear this bag as a crossbody or belt bag for a comfortable, hands-free fit.
Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Forbes

28 minutes ago

• Forbes

Inside A $400 Million Maldives Resort, A New French Riviera Villa And More Travel News

. The Maldives is renowned for its quiet luxuries—overwater villas with plunge pools, candlelight dinners on the beach, and of course private butlers. But hospitality entrepreneur Ahmed Siyam Mohamed understood that some guests actually want to turn up the volume on vacation. For those travelers he took a big risk, spending an estimated $400 million to build Siyam World, an all-inclusive resort in the Noonu Atoll. Among the activities at the property are a horse ranch, a go-kart track, hydrofoil e-bikes and a jet car—for those who like to make waves when they drive. . Billionaires can basically afford any indulgence they want—private concerts by pop stars, personal submarines, trips to space—but which of those perks wouldn't they give up? In an exclusive new survey, Forbes asked billionaires: What's the one luxury you can't live without? The overwhelming answer was a real time saver. . By the time F. Scott Fitzgerald immortalized the Hôtel du Cap-Eden Roc as Hôtel des Étrangers in Tender is the Night, the French Riviera resort had already been a chic destination for nearly 50 years. It was so posh that until 2006, the property didn't accept credit cards—only cash. But the Hôtel du Cap is always innovating. And it recently opened its second luxury villa: The Provencal-inspired Villa La Guittière was originally built in the 1970s and underwent a years-long renovation to bring it up to 21st century standards, including a spa, a wine cellar and a private screening room. Rates for the nine-bedroom compound start at around $73,000 a night This is the published version of Forbes' Passport newsletter, which offers a first-class guide to luxury travel. Click here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. . Flight attendants may be on board to assist passengers, but sometimes they don't want to be understood. And among the crew lingo you may not want to overhear are Code 300, Squawk 7500 and Pan-Pan. Oh, and you sure don't want to be a VIP in their eyes. Here's a handy decoder for the code words used by flight attendants. 'The Riviera isn't only a sunny place for shady people.' . Every year since 2022, some 12 million travelers have gone on an overnight vacation that included at least one round of golf. While most courses have a regional appeal, there are an increasing number of national brands that are embracing a modern approach to golf tourism. From Florida to Oregon, here are 10 extraordinary golf resorts offering play-and-stay experiences.

Washington Post

39 minutes ago

• Washington Post

Why you should quit your suitcase and embrace a duffel bag

What it's like to be on the 9-month cruise around the world January 12, 2024

Forbes

an hour ago

• Forbes

How A Tampa Bay Treasure Is Celebrating 100 Years

Even at the century mark, The Vinoy still looks great. The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection For a hotel to remain in business after 100 years, it means it has endured world wars, global pandemics and travelers' ever-changing needs. For a hotel to do it in Florida, it not only overcame those obstacles, but it dealt directly with natural disasters and had to work around Mickey Mouse's shadow. So, the fact that The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection, a sophisticated, salmon-toned hotel in the heart of St. Petersburg, Florida, has been open since New Year's Eve 1925 is a cause for celebration. Find out why the milestone is the perfect opportunity to visit the property and its surrounding area. Every inch of the hotel tells a story. The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection The Vinoy looks like a structure you'd find along the Tuscan coast. The bold exterior color helps with that assertion, but so too does the Mediterranean Revival-style hotel's ceramic tiles, hand-painted cypress rafters and custom rocking chairs. The Tampa Bay property teeters between nuanced nostalgia and contemporary cool without leaning too heavily either way. Inside the hotel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, details are nearly as dashing. Stately white columns and wood-beam ceilings are but some of the bold touches in the grand lobby area. And more subtly, you'll find iron railings and indigenous foliage dotting the spaces. Over the years, spaces have been enhanced — when The Vinoy's leadership team called for a major renovation in 2023, the Rockwell Group architecture and design firm upgraded everything from the public spaces to the spa — but the same charm from a century ago can still be felt within the hallowed halls. Newly renovated rooms feel like elevated residences. The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection There are 354 rooms at The Vinoy. You owe it to yourself to reserve one that looks out to the North Yacht Basin and North Straub Park. Morning, noon or night, the scene is phenomenal. When you turn from the window to look inside your room, the views are almost as nice. The property's modern makeover called for units to receive fresh crown molding, art from painter Alicia LaChance and blue-patterned carpet that gives the appearance of a coastline. For our visit, we stayed in a newly renovated Historic Premium Room with Bayview. While far from the biggest accommodations (that distinction goes to the 1,420-square-foot Marina View Suite), it has a rattan and wood dresser, a couch and a mini fridge that gave the space an elevated residential feel. A bathroom awash in marble and scented with Ortigia Sicilia toiletries makes the 'home' that much more refined. The just-opened Elliott Aster is an elegant epicurean affair. Anthony Tahlier One of the property's commemorative gifts to its guests is Elliott Aster, a sophisticated brasserie that opened in May 2025. In a dining room filled with dark woods and muted golds, you'll nosh on flame-kissed wagyu strip and beef cheek tortelli while sipping on signature pours named Downtown St. Pete (bourbon, amaro, raspberry cordial and grapefruit) and Old Havana (rum, chile liqueur, Italian bitters, pineapple and lemon). Elliott Aster is the high-end culinary experience Vinoy visitors were missing. But the hotel understands that every night won't call for sports jackets and Lilly Pulitzer sweaters. For those more casual evenings, there's Paul's Landing. The indoor-outdoor eatery serves up juicy burgers, plump wings, cold beers and priceless peeks at the marina across the street. If you want to have some fun with your order, give the exquisitely blackened grouper sandwich a try. Skip any sweets Paul's Landing might have and head down to the ground-level Lottie. This cute, French-inspired counter specializes in coffee drinks and delicious desserts. Though all the creative confections in the glass display will catch your eye, the colorful macarons and fruit tarts are what you'll remember most. Bask in the pool, spa and other Vinoy treats. The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection With fun on the Vinoy's calendar in the summer (themed brunches) and winter holidays (Nutcracker High Tea), centennial-focused events will occur in 2026. Until they do, make the most of all the property regularly offers its guests. Explore the park and surrounding neighborhoods with a complimentary one-hour e-bike ride. Go on a docent-led hotel history tour that includes tea and pastries. And if that new putter is just itching to get out, make the six-minute drive over to Vinoy Golf Club for a round. Back at the hotel, be sure to reserve some time for Vinoy Spa. While always having one eye on the calendar — this summer, for example, there's a seasonal package with a 50-minute Manuka Honey Facial, a 50-minute aromatherapy massage with Himalayan stones and a food credit to the Parasol poolside eatery — the sanctuary's everyday menu offers a host of plant- and coastal-centric treatments like Marine Renewal, a body-balancing massage that uses Swedish techniques to blissfully renew and center. The bay is breathtaking from the pier. DeMarco Williams The scenes from your room are so special because you're just that close to the water. Before you can pull out your phone to order an Uber to the park, you will have already walked to it. Stroll along the bay for a few minutes and you'll run into St. Pete Pier, a family-friendly attraction with a big playground, a snack bar and a complimentary shuttle that circles the area. Keep walking until the pier ends, and you'll hit Teak. The seafood-focused restaurant's sesame-crusted salmon is good, but you'll want seconds of the bay views. Mosey over to the St. Petersburg Museum of History after your meal. The small but substantial attraction uses artifacts ('Pathway to Eternity: Life, Death and Afterlife'), photographs ('The American Soldier: Conflicts, Shipwrecks and Homefront'), excursions (Historic Civil Rights Trolley Tour) and other mediums to shed light on local history and global affairs. Just down the street from it is the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. Housing an impressive collection of classics while also featuring strong temporary exhibits ('In Caravaggio's Light' will show from October to February), MFA makes a great afternoon detour. Coincidentally, the museum marks its 60th year in 2025, giving yet another reason to come to this quaint corner of Florida to properly celebrate.