I don't normally go to the beach in Europe, so that hasn't come up for me. I'm surprised this is such a lenghty discussion. I do carry my passport, but it's no big deal, honestly I never gave it that much thought. I just assumed it was the correct thing to do. I keep it in a small leather pocketbook worn close to my body.

I still want to know how the poster above goes thru airports with no passport :-)

Good heavens, just when I thought I had everything under control something else pops up!

I know this thread has gotten way too long, but can some one answer a simple (I think) question? I will be in Spain, and I had not planned on carrying my passport with 24/7. From some of the posts on here, it seems to states one needs to have ID at all times. Will a driver's license work? I will have that on me at all times. Or must it be my passport? Any one consensus on this issue for just one country here, please?

Will a driver's license work? No.
Or must it be my passport? Yes.

The only acceptable form of identification for an American travelling in Europe is a passport.
I do bring my driver's license, although I'm not really sure why, as I never drive while there. Habit, I suppose.

Logos ~ bless you and thank you for the much simplified answer! :)

except that it isn't true -- I've used my driver's license for ID in many countries of Europe for various things. I'm sure it won't be acceptable ID for official, legal situations (such as being arrested, as someone above feared), but it is for most any other.

Christina is talking rubbish to confuse you.

Remember
- read question
- try to understand it
- post answer
;-)

We ALWAYS carry our passports with us in a money belt under our clothes along with at least one credit card just in case. I also have a copy scanned into an email account that I can access anywhere. Plus, I keep a copy in our luggage. I wouldn't leave in in the hotel safe.

I always thought that a passport is the proper form of identification instead of a driver's license.