It’s been about a year since my last major adventure abroad, and I’m starting to feel the itch. I’ve started researching exotic travel spots, and I’ve also started picking up new clothes and gear. If I’m going to fly across the globe for a few weeks, might as well do it in style, right?
So, here’s the thing: a lot of “travel stuff” looks like absolute crap. If it’s exceptionally functional, I’m usually willing to let it slide, but really, why can’t we just have both? If you’ve ever bought travel underwear, or say – a passport sleeve – well… I’m sure you can empathize. The passport sleeve I’ve been using for the last 3 years looks like something from a vending machine, and I paid a pretty penny for the privilege to boot. This makes me sad.
Re-Enter Bellroy, Masters of Carry
Do you remember the Hide & Seek wallet I reviewed a few years ago? Yeah, that one… well, same company we’re talking about here. I was pretty happy with the Hide & Seek wallet, and figured I would review their latest offering, appropriately called The Passport Sleeve.
This is usually where I would give you a blow-by-blow bullet point list explaining exactly what I liked, but given the simplicity of the thing, I’m going to do it slightly differently. Instead, suffice it to say the Bellroy Passport Sleeve excels at holding a passport, cash, and a few cards, and it doesn’t look like something you picked up at the dollar store.
Let’s take a look at some of the features…
And you know what’s even more exciting? It comes with a pen! A real, honest to goodness pen. You laugh, but if I had to count how many times I needed a pen while traveling, I would run out of all the fingers on my left hand. Sadly, the included pen didn’t help improve my handwriting at all.
You’ve probably been wondering how exactly you get your passport in and out of the Passport Sleeve. I bet you thought you had to yank it out like a chump, but guess what? You totally don’t. All you have to do is pull that little tab shown in the picture above and bam, you’ve pulled the passport right out – ready to present to the drunken border patrol person in whatever exotic country you’re visiting.
Does he Like It?
Yes, I most certainly do. The design is simple, it does everything that I could possibly need from a passport sleeve, and like all Bellroy wallets and accessories, it looks pretty sharp as well. So if you’re in the market for a new passport sleeve, then head over to the official Bellroy website. You can pick up their Passport Sleeve for about $99 USD.
I started traveling 25 years ago and have learned a few easy tricks.
1. Always carry your passport in your front pocket of your pants. Not in a folder. ONLY your passport
2. Money, always change money at the arriving airport. Lesson, big bills in the right pocket, small bills in the left pocket.
3.Never show your passport to anyone if they are not in uniform, have the proper credentials and speak English. At the Bangkok airport there are those that will walk up to you and ask you for your passport. Don’t do it.
4. Need a taxi sir. Answer NO, check out the booths along the way out of the airport and rent a nice taxi, not some junk. Always know where you are going. Know the name of the hotel, don’t take any recommendations from a cab driver because they always know some place cheaper. Don’t act like a tourist, don’t talk to the taxi driver. Always keep your roll on bag in the back seat of the taxi with you, Never, never put the bag in the Truck.
That’s it, I have had 5 passports in 25 years, visited 21 countries and worked in 10
Cheers
Excellent advice, especially in respect to the taxi drivers. Try visiting Egypt some time… yikes. As for passport storage, I generally do the same as you. However, I also like to use the hidden passport pocket on pants from “Triple Aught Design”. They have two internal pockets for cash and passports that come in pretty damn handy.
Great advice. I always keep important documents in my front pocket (if I have to carry them with me), way less chance of someone stealing it without you noticing it.
In fact – I never carry the passport once inside the country. I will carry a color scanned copy and if the police need more – let’s go back to my hotel. Once they get the real thing – it is theirs until they want you to have it back
#4 “Don’t talk to the taxi driver?” I disagree, why be snobby? I always enjoy friendly conversations with cab drivers, and find that being friendly usually gets friendly treatment in return. We are all unofficial ambassadors of our nationalities when we travel.
Also, #2 depends on where you are. Trinidad yes, the arriving airport is cheaper. If you change your money at an official airport exchange in Venezuela on the other hand, you are a sucker. You will get about 1/6th the real exchange rate.
#3 “and speak English” -any rule starting with “always” or “never” probably isn’t a good rule. I don’t know where you travel, but many places I find myself as an international business analyst – the authorities simply don’t have anyone on hand who speaks English. Besides, I find I am hassled far less when I can defend myself in the local language (usually Spanish, in my case) Insisting on using English when in non-English countries can serve to mark you as a target, or a snob.
sir, before I read your post I wrote mine. you are so right 100%.
I agree with these comments be sensible at all times.
Spot on advice… I would only add: ‘And don’t ever (as in: NEVER!) give your plane ticket to someone – in ‘uniform’ or not – who offers to bypass the check-in queue for you, for a small fee’…
you have the style of a good victim. I’m sure. if you travel in S.A. let my family know when, we will greet you. people that act as if they have money and shy away from any dealings the common people are the first targets . that cabbie you were gruff with will tell us how to find you. ha ha ha . can you scream help me in Spanish ?
Can you say “Head on a stick” in an Aussie Accent?
– jokes
Thanks for the review, Chad. Having just come back (to Canada) from a trip I’ve been thinking of something like this. I notice you have a Canadian passport, and that the product description notes specifically:
“Canadian passports are larger than international standard, so do not fit well in the Passport Sleeve.”
Thoughts?
My new Cdn passport is smaller than my old one, so perhaps they’ve finally met international standards?
Mine fits just fine? I actually find Canadian passports quite small.
Will this fit the 10 year Canadian passport?
Yes it will. I recently got one, and so far as I can tell, the passports are the same size.
Blimey, I thought you were giving good advice on not traveling with all your eggs in one basket so to speak, with vanity traveling wallets like that you are one mishap from a ruined trip!!
I think that if you carried this everywhere, sure… could be a problem. Having said that, it makes life a lot more convenient for say, the airport aspects of a trip.
What kind, or nationality, of pants have a front pocket and how do you manage not to squish up your passport when you sit down?
I’m not exactly sure what you’re asking. Don’t most pants have front pockets?
We call underwear pants whilst you are referring to trousers.
In America they call trousers pants. they are not referring to underwear.
Er… “travel underwear?”
Yes, I know…
Basically they’re highly anti-bacterial, and almost always look strange.
what kind of mug spends that much on a bit of leather?
A non- Canadian.
Where do you stick it? It looks too large to fit in a pocket.
It just seems much easier to carry a man purse
Who would carry passport, cash, ID and credit cards all in the same wallet? What a risk! No to mention that anyone who sees you using it will know immediately you are an Anglophone tourist (typical Canadian, Brit, Australian or American). You are giving bad advice. Also, as a sign of courtesy to your readers, please proofread. I HATE reading typos. There is no excuse for it with today’s technology. It just screams lazy.
Putting your cash, credit cards and passport in one sleeve/wallet/purse is DUMB! Crazy, dumb, advice.
Keep your cash in the currency of the country you are visiting in one pocket. Keep your credit cards in another pocket.
Keep your passport LOCKED IN A SAFE, except when at the airport, and keep it in a third pocket.
NEVER exchange your cash at the airport – that usually translates into the worst exchange rate! Get local currency before you arrive, and then exchange further amounts at a local bank.
If you cannot get local funds for your destination in your home country, use the local ATMs at the airport when you arrive. Yes you will pay an international fee (usually 2.50-3.00 US) but you will get that day’s best rate.
Cash out in an ATM is the safest and best way to get local currency. You get your bank’s exchange rate and their charges which may be zero if you have a good account. That way you take the cash out you need and are not subject to the charges of reconverting it. Most banks will permit this and if you are concerned, put a cap on the amount you can take at a time. Most banks cap it anyway.
Definitely get your cash from local ATMs using a card issued by your own bank. We spent 5 weeks in the United States doing that and never had any problem. Avoid currency traders at airports, they’re very expensive.
I’d never change money here in Australia – I always find there’s a better rate at whatever destination. Also I’ve found in Asia the airports generally give you a pretty good rate.
My daughter was in NYC last year during the hurricane and her passport was in the hotel. They closed the hotel because there was a danger of a crane falling down. She couldn’t get her passport for 3 days and was close to missing a cruise ship she had tickets for because of that. Ever try getting a replacement passport from the Canadian Consulate on short notice? There’s always an exception to the rule.
My God you sound irritable! Have you not had lunch! You talk about courtesy yet you don’t offer any yourself
a target in waiting to be struck.
Reads like a paid ad to me. Pen looks cumbersome in his hand and all the stuff you want *in* a wallet is actually sticking *out* of the wallet…about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
But who would want to be seen with such a product? Hardly LV, Mont Blanc, etc but then again, being Canadian I suppose you are too cheap to spend on anything of quality!
So much anger!
So much truth! Now go and have a sip of your Tim Hortons, check your lottery ticket, have a puff of your BC bud and admire your tattoo in the mirror.
Puzzled by Canada’s principled opposition to terrorism, I’d guess. “Free the Toronto 18!”
You have actually got to be joking me, right? Being Canadian or not has absolutely nothing to do with it. Not everyone can afford to throw however much money they please into the wind for a designer passport holder. Which is just that, a place to literally put your in passport when you travel.. I’m sorry, should it maybe be solid gold or diamond? Will that cradle a passport better? No. Get over yourself, you’re not better than everyone because you choose to spend your money more frivolously and can afford to dish out on something so ridiculously trivial. You must be quite the high maintenance brand whore if you can’t ‘be seen’ with anything less than LV. Sort out your priorities.
Written like a true Canadian who cuts their own hair and collects coupons!
What about cutting ones hair and using coupons? Especially the coupon part. Like seriously, your response to a couple of comments here is rather telling – I’m not sure what made you carry such an attitude.
You’re right, typos are unprofessional, and we do our best to avoid them. Having said that, sometimes errors happen.
Thanks for the feedback.
it is being displayed outside the case for your observation, silly.
looks like a wallet to me… bulging out of your pocket, uncomfortable at all times, an easy mark for pickpockets. Yea for belly bags.
Identical knockoff now available for $12.99. Bought three and can’t tell the difference
Only a man that would carry a purse would be dumb enough to pay $99 for a wallet I can buy at the dept. store for $30!