The Solo Traveler Blog

Travel Safety: Backup Important Documents on USB Key




While solo travel is safe most of the time, things can go wrong.  With a USB key and some advance preparation, you can be ready for the most difficult situations.

After your physical and emotional safety, the next most important things to guard carefully are your travel and personal documents. Your passport, visas, driver’s license, credit cards…

Carry your wallet in your front pocket. Use a money belt or the hotel safe for things that you don’t require easy access to. And keep a digital copy of your critical documents tucked away some place safe.

Before you leave, scan your passport, visa, credit cards. etc. And, while you’re at it, create a document that contains your medical information,  all the prescriptions and over the counter medications you take and supplements that you know are safe for you. Store it all on a USB memory key and keep it separate from your documents.

Hopefully, you never require the information on the key, but if you do, you will be able  to replace documents more easily and get medical care that considers all health issues.

solotiny rgb4 Travel Safety: Backup Important Documents on USB Key

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  • Julie

    would like to add that I always leave a copy of those documents back home with someone I trust (friend or family member). In the worst of situations, you can lose both the original documents and the backup. This way, someone at home can just email them to you or directly to your embassy – it can avoid a serious headache! I also include a copy of my travel health/baggage insurance, just in case!

  • admin

    You’re most welcome. It’s wonderful to get your feedback. Thank you.

  • Amy MacLeod

    Many thanks for a great website with excellent articles and suggestions. This is an especially helpful idea! And I just bought myself a 64 gb flash drive – for photos – so this will work perfectly.

  • http://www.ehow.com/how_5042075_iphone-iphone-apps.html w I Got a Free iPhone With Free iPhone Apps

    I was just searching for about this when I discovered your blog post. I’m just stopping by to say that I truly liked seeing this post, it’s very well written. Are you considering posting more on this? It seems like there is more material here for future posts.

  • http://www.enchanted-traveler.com Enchanted Traveler

    I like the idea too of including medication/health info too! Great tip.

  • http://www.enchanted-traveler.com Enchanted Traveler

    Great tip! I hadn’t thought of the flash drive. I scan passport copies to Google Docs, so I can access from any Internet cafe worldwide. IF you dont want to use google docs, then you could also scan these docs, or create in a Word document, and then email them to yourself, so you can access thru public email (HotMail, GMail, Yahoo Mail, etc).

  • Janice

    swisbrot on Twitter said: good tip @solotraveler ! I want to add that I store that info on a drafted SMS in my phone!

  • http://solotravelwomenblog.com wanderlustwomen

    Thanks for the USB tip, Janice. I consider myself a pretty savvy world traveler but even I never thought of that!

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The content of Solo Traveler and any resources published by Solo Traveler are meant for entertainment and inspiration only. Every person and every travel situation is different. Your safety, satisfaction and fun traveling solo are your responsibility alone and not that of Solo Traveler, its publisher, editor and/or writers.