Do I take my driver's license?

[wvjules]

I leave tomorrow for Europe. (In 32 hours! YAY!) We are not renting a car and I can't see any need for bringing my driver's license so do you think its safe to leave it at home? Or is there some reason I'm not thinking of that I might need it?

 

[mom2travel]

I leave tomorrow for Europe. (In 32 hours! YAY!) We are not renting a car and I can't see any need for bringing my driver's license so do you think its safe to leave it at home? Or is there some reason I'm not thinking of that I might need it?

Are you driving yourselves to the airport? Then I'd want to have it.

The only thing I can think of right now, is what if you lost your passport? Wouldn't you want/need a form of photo ID?

Have a great trip!

 

[wvjules]

Are you driving yourselves to the airport? Then I'd want to have it.

The only thing I can think of right now, is what if you lost your passport? Wouldn't you want/need a form of photo ID?

Have a great trip!

We have a ride to/from the airport. Good point about needing ID incase of losing the passport. I guess I should just take it. I'm taking my wallet so its not like it will be something extra I'm bringing.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I would take it and keep it locked in your suitcase or the room safe. What if you lost your passport or it was pickpocketed and you had no ID?

My best friend was at a US airport recently and struck up a conversation with a fellow traveler who was stranded at the airport - his wallet had been lifted on his way to the airport. With the strict ID requirements, he wasn't allowed to check in and board his plane home. He had NO money, NO ID, and was going to have to wait for his dad to overnight his passport to the airport. He couldn't even receive a Western Union of cash without ID to pick it up, or check into a hotel without ID. He was going to spend the night at the airport. After hearing his story, I'd travel with the extra ID in a separate location and make sure I had a way to prove my identity.

 

[4nana]

IMO, take it ! I never leave home w/o my driver's license, even when out of country, I like 2 ID's in seperate places. Better safe than sorry, as you never know when it might be necessary. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[mom2travel]

I would take it and keep it locked in your suitcase or the room safe. What if you lost your passport or it was pickpocketed and you had no ID?

My best friend was at a US airport recently and struck up a conversation with a fellow traveler who was stranded at the airport - his wallet had been lifted on his way to the airport. With the strict ID requirements, he wasn't allowed to check in and board his plane home. He had NO money, NO ID, and was going to have to wait for his dad to overnight his passport to the airport. He couldn't even receive a Western Union of cash without ID to pick it up, or check into a hotel without ID. He was going to spend the night at the airport. After hearing his story, I'd travel with the extra ID in a separate location and make sure I had a way to prove my identity.

This reminded me... we made two copies of the ID page of our passports. One we gave to my parents so someone would have them that could get them to us. The other we keep with us, but in a different spot than our actual passports

 

[castmemberb4]

This reminded me... we made two copies of the ID page of our passports. One we gave to my parents so someone would have them that could get them to us. The other we keep with us, but in a different spot than our actual passports

We do this too, I carry the copy of DHs and he carries mine.
Once we get to the hotel we put our passports in the room safe and carry our DL for ID. In some areas we had to have a passport to use our credit card they all accepted a color copy.

 

[FireDancer]

This reminded me... we made two copies of the ID page of our passports. One we gave to my parents so someone would have them that could get them to us. The other we keep with us, but in a different spot than our actual passports

I did the same as this. I had a copy with me, in my room in a separate area away from my passport and at home with my mom. When I went to Europe (and hopefully when I go again next year) I did bring my license not for the purposes of driving but because it was a good form of ID that was more official then a photocopy of my passport.

I think it doesn't hurt to have it on you and it is easy to carry.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Might I also suggest scanning both your driver's license and your passport, and then emailing them to yourself. Since I can access my yahoo account anywhere, I know that a copy is always accessible should I need it.

 

[wvjules]

Ok so for the passport I should scan, email, give extra copies to family, and bring an extra one on the trip.

Now I just need to remember to bring them tomorrow to scan and copy. lol

Oh, and I had NO IDEA that my phone didn't work globally. I called a month or so ago and the guy gave me the roaming rates and never mentioned that my phone wouldn't work. I had called Verizon this morning to add the monthly fee that makes calls cheaper when she told me that my phone wouldn't even work! Talk about panic! Luckily they lend out global phones. I had to pay $15 to get it overnighted though. I was panicing that I wouldn't be in phone contact for DD or in case of emergencies. Whew!

 

[Abbie]

Maybe international flights are different and the passport supercedes the license but you need a license to board a flight, at least domestically. My daughter is in Europe right now and we knew her phone wouldn't work but Verizon told us she could purchase an international phone over there to use. I don't know if she's figured that out yet.

I do know now that I advised her incorrectly about her passport though! I told her to keep it in her suitcase in her room, not to carry it around in her purse all day but now I found that was wrong. Best thing is to lock it in the hotel safe but if not, keep it with you! She does have a copy and so do I but I hope we don't have to figure out how to replace it in an emergency.

 

[Planogirl]

I'd take it as a backup in case you lose your passport.

More importantly, have a wonderful time!

 

[NotUrsula]

Maybe international flights are different and the passport supercedes the license but you need a license to board a flight, at least domestically.

No, you don't. The rule requires government issued ID, and there is no more golden form of government issued ID than a valid US passport.

There are a LOT of Americans (mostly disabled folks or those who live in major cities) who do not drive and who do not hold driver's licenses. For those of them that travel often, a passport or passport card is usually their travel ID of choice, even domestically.

 

[Muffin]

Maybe international flights are different and the passport supercedes the license but you need a license to board a flight, at least domestically.

You can fly domestically using only a passport for ID.

 

[FireDancer]

Ok so for the passport I should scan, email, give extra copies to family, and bring an extra one on the trip.

Now I just need to remember to bring them tomorrow to scan and copy. lol

Oh, and I had NO IDEA that my phone didn't work globally. I called a month or so ago and the guy gave me the roaming rates and never mentioned that my phone wouldn't work. I had called Verizon this morning to add the monthly fee that makes calls cheaper when she told me that my phone wouldn't even work! Talk about panic! Luckily they lend out global phones. I had to pay $15 to get it overnighted though. I was panicing that I wouldn't be in phone contact for DD or in case of emergencies. Whew!

Verizon is CDMA while pretty much all of Europe uses GSM technology. The cheapest way to use a phone oversees is usually to bring an unlocked GSM phone (AT&T or T-Mobile in the US) and purchase pre-paid SIMs.

This is a bit late for this trip but something to think about in the future or for someone else. When I went in 2008 it was much cheaper to do it this way then add an international plan, at least with T-Mobile. In some places using a prepaid SIM will only expire minutes on outbound calls, not inbound, so you can have someone call you and talk for free.

Also, if you have a phone capable of receiving data (iPhone, Android)and you don't want a ridiculous bill turn off the data connection while oversees.

 

[NHdisneylover]

First of all, I hope you have a great trip--where are you going?

It won't hurt to take it, but I wouldn't actually bother. The passport scans, and the email to yourself that you can access anywhere with that information will be of much more help to you should your passport be lost or stolen. DH's passport was stoled in France last fall. The embassy had requested copies/scans of his passport and birth certificate if available and did not ask for a DL at all. I am not sure what they would have asked for had we not had a scan. We were lucky that the police recovered the stolen passports the next day so we did not have to finish the process. Apparently about 10 people in the same small area had laptop bags and all contents stolen in the same evening. The bags, passports and other personal items--as well as the two laptops of my DHs coworkers which were completely confugered in Japanese) were found in a field the next day. It was really funny to see what they took, like the broken dollar store umbrella--it WAS raining-- and what they left, like DHs Maui Jim sunglasses).
Other than for replacing a passport, a driver's license really is seen as just that and not a form of ID at all in most of Europe.

 

[wvjules]

Frank, yes the Verizon woman told me it was different technology/networks. I'm so glad I got that figured out today.

NHDisney, I'm going to Copenhagen and Ringstad in Denmark; Bergen, Geilo (actually an overnight stop on the Flam railway on the way to Oslo) and Oslo in Norway; Stockholm, Sweden and finally; Helsinki, Finland. Here is the itinerary outline from the tour website: Fjord Norway, Stockholm & Helsinki

We added the Denmark portion at the beginning for a wedding we are attending.

My first time out of the country and I get my passport stamped 4 times!

In 48 hours I'm going to be eating dinner at Tivoli Gardens.

Unfortunately DD is in school and won't be able to go so we are making it up to her by taking her to Hawai'i over Christmas break next year. She is really looking forward to it. (Guilt is expensive! )

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. I'm getting really excited.

 

[jsmith]

For the technically challenged or someone who will only be using a global phone for overseas calls Verizons loaner program is cheaper -and easier than buying an unlocked phone and doing all the switch of sim cards-im neither techinally or communications challenged and after careful research i decided its the best option for me-hubby has a quad band phone since he uses his in iraq.
Also-PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not think a copy of your passport is good as ID -the ONLY thiing you can use a copy of your passport for is to speed the process of getting a new one-it will not allow you to board flights from foriegn countries or get back into the US and it is not a form of ID.
For the PP who said you needed a license to board a domestic flight-i have never used my drivers licenses when flying domestically-my military dependant Id is my prefered, goverment issued ID.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Frank, yes the Verizon woman told me it was different technology/networks. I'm so glad I got that figured out today.

NHDisney, I'm going to Copenhagen and Ringstad in Denmark; Bergen, Geilo (actually an overnight stop on the Flam railway on the way to Oslo) and Oslo in Norway; Stockholm, Sweden and finally; Helsinki, Finland. Here is the itinerary outline from the tour website: Fjord Norway, Stockholm & Helsinki

We added the Denmark portion at the beginning for a wedding we are attending.

My first time out of the country and I get my passport stamped 4 times!

In 48 hours I'm going to be eating dinner at Tivoli Gardens.

Unfortunately DD is in school and won't be able to go so we are making it up to her by taking her to Hawai'i over Christmas break next year. She is really looking forward to it. (Guilt is expensive! )

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. I'm getting really excited.

Thanks for the link--it looks like a lovely itinerary We spent a week in and around Copenhagen last summer and just had a wonderful. Everyone was so nice, and we all decided that the Danes REALLY know how to build nice castles
BTW--I think ti was just a figure of speech, but do not expect to get multiple passport stamps. You will get one when you arrive, but are not likely to get any going in between EU countries (so that is everything but Norway) as it is now as simple as going from one US state to another. It is very likely that some sort of agreement exists with Norway as well that will mean not much of anything as a border crossing, but I have not gotten up there yet to know first hand.

For the technically challenged or someone who will only be using a global phone for overseas calls Verizons loaner program is cheaper -and easier than buying an unlocked phone and doing all the switch of sim cards-im neither techinally or communications challenged and after careful research i decided its the best option for me-hubby has a quad band phone since he uses his in iraq.
Also-PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not think a copy of your passport is good as ID -the ONLY thiing you can use a copy of your passport for is to speed the process of getting a new one-it will not allow you to board flights from foriegn countries or get back into the US and it is not a form of ID.
For the PP who said you needed a license to board a domestic flight-i have never used my drivers licenses when flying domestically-my military dependant Id is my prefered, goverment issued ID.

Yes to what she said--in case anyone is ever confused about that point.
I have also boarded MANY US domestic flights with just my passport. Passports are just about always considered a better form of ID than a driver's license anyway.

 

[wvjules]

I'm not confused about using a copy of the passport for anything other than unlikely possibility that I lose the actual passport and need it to help me.

Just to be on the safe side I'm bringing my DL, CAC Card, passport and library card. (kidding about the library card - I don't even have one. )