Should I keep my passport in the hotel safe?

Only if the safe is bolted to the furniture. Otherwise, it is safer on your person in a concealed pocket or RFID-blocking pouch.

Are digital copies legally sufficient?

No. They are useful for emergency replacement (e.g., at an embassy), but they do not replace the need for physical originals at borders.

Keeping Your Business Documents Secure While Traveling

Digitize everything into an encrypted cloud vault and carry physical originals in a dedicated, slim RFID-blocking folio. Never leave your main documents in a hotel room; carry them in a crossbody bag or keep them in the hotel safe if absolutely necessary.

Digitize before you leave. Scan your passport, visas, business contracts, and travel insurance policy. Save these as PDFs in a password-protected cloud storage service like Bitwarden or a dedicated encrypted vault. Ensure you have offline access enabled on your mobile device.
Organize the physical stack. Use a slim document folio that fits inside your carry-on, not your checked luggage. Use a color-coded system: blue for travel docs (passport/boarding passes), green for business/legal docs, and red for emergency contacts and insurance.
Layer your security. Keep originals in a secure document neck wallet or an RFID-blocking organizer under your clothing when in high-theft areas. For business documents, use a TSA-compliant locked bag if you must leave items in your hotel room.
Create a 'Go-Bag' duplicate. Print one set of critical documents (passport copy, hotel address, emergency contacts) and keep them in a separate bag from your primary documents. If you lose your main bag, you still have the essentials.

Should I keep my passport in the hotel safe?: Only if the safe is bolted to the furniture. Otherwise, it is safer on your person in a concealed pocket or RFID-blocking pouch.
Are digital copies legally sufficient?: No. They are useful for emergency replacement (e.g., at an embassy), but they do not replace the need for physical originals at borders.