Safety plan·4 questions

QUESTION: Security plan: what copies of documents should you make?

Answer

Proper preparation of documents before a trip is the key to peacefully passing borders and checking into hotels without unnecessary stress. Experienced travelers always recommend having not only the originals of papers with you, but also their duplicates on various carriers, as losing a passport in a foreign country can completely paralyze your plans and turn your vacation into a serious problem.

To ensure maximum security, it is useful to have 2-3 alternatives in the form of digital and physical copies of all key papers. This list must include foreign and internal passports, medical insurance policies, driver's licenses, as well as confirmations of flight and hotel bookings for the entire duration of the trip.

Having a well-thought-out Plan B regarding documentation significantly saves nerves and time in critical situations, such as flight delays or booking cancellations. If the airline cancels your flight, a digital copy of the itinerary receipt in your smartphone will allow you to rebook your ticket faster at the information desk or through support service.

We recommend using a step-by-step algorithm for collecting and storing documents before departure:

Make high-quality color photocopies of all main passport pages and visas, and put them in a separate pocket of your bag away from the original.
Scan or take photos of all documents and upload them to secure cloud storage that you can access from any device.
Send an archive with copies of documents to your own email address so that you can access them even if you lose your smartphone using any third-party computer.
Leave one paper copy of your passport and insurance at home with relatives or friends so that they can quickly send them to you or the consulate in an emergency.

Taking care of document duplicates in advance minimizes any force majeure on the road. The confidence that your data is protected and duplicated allows you to feel safe anywhere in the world.

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