The worst time to be digging for a passport is when you’re at border control somewhere and there’s a long line of people behind you. Worse, as you’re digging through your overstuffed handbag, you realize that you also could not find your ID, too! Don’t let this happen to you. You’re a far smarter traveler than this. Make sure you have a travel wallet to keep all your documentation organized! Yes, a travel wallet to keep all your papers safe and together!
When I was in high school and we went on a trip to Italy, my super organized Mom gave me a travel wallet to put all my stuff in. I had my passport, my plane tickets, my boarding passes, my traveler’s checks and all the phone numbers I would be needing, just in case I get separated from the group. At that time, my travel wallet was made of plastic! It looked like a ziploc storage bag! I was so embarrassed!
Today, the modern travel wallet is as fashionable as they come. In a variety of colors and makes to suit your needs. If you prefer leather, there are styles from every designer and bag manufacturer. From expensive designer leather to drugstore last minute purchase quality. The travel wallet can also be made of nylon or Kevlar. Yes, of the bulletproof, rip-proof variety!
Whatever material it’s made of, a travel wallet’s main function is to keep your money and your documents organized. Looks matter, of course, but what ultimately trumps looks, is function. So here are a few things to look for in a travel wallet:
1. Construction – what your travel wallet is made of plays an important role, especially if you’re a frequent traveler. If you buy quality leather, you’re almost guaranteed that you’ll have it for a lifetime. The seams are tightly and expertly sewn. If there’s a zipper, then it’s of high quality and will not break after a few not so gentle pulls. A good quality travel wallet will also have the right sized compartments. Meaning, your passport is secure inside and is not folded or bent. Just a practical note: compared to US dollar bills, Euro notes and British Pound notes are slightly wider. So make sure the bills compartment is wide enough for these currencies.
2. Safety Features – there’s a new kind of travel wallet in the market and it’s made from military grade Kevlar. Kevlar is fire-retardant, rip and cut resistant. It has a roughened or grip enhanced surface, so it won’t easily slide out of a pocket. Most of these kinds of travel wallet will have a steel clip that’s by itself, also commercial and military grade. This travel wallet is perfect if you’re going off the beaten path and that instead of the Paris Metro, it’s bicycles, rickshaws and motorcycles that will take you to your mountain destination.
3. Chained travel wallet – the chained travel wallet has, as the name suggests, a chain that you can attach to the inside of your bag or to a belt loop. With this kind of travel wallet, you must go for the highest quality your budget will allow. Why? Because cheaper models might have chains that easily detach from the travel wallet itself. Pickpockets in crowded cities will not be easily deterred by a chain. But what will stop them is a sturdy loop and lock security chain. And believe me, they know quality, too!
Traveling abroad is fun. Keeping organized during the entire trip is easier said than done, but a travel wallet makes everything easy. This way, if a surly border agent asks for your passport, you exactly know where it is – inside your travel wallet, protected by Kevlar and secured by a military grade chain!