We are going to be traveling to Spain and Portugal for our first trip to Europe. A friend who has traveled to Europe several times told me that hotels there will take your passport from you during your stay. Is this still common? <BR><BR>Thanks for shedding light on this subject.<BR><BR>Nancy

Hi Nancy, when I was in Portugal and Spain 2 years ago, the hotels asked for our passports long enough to make a copy of the first pages then gave them back. In one case it was overnight, but the others were back in our hands within a hour.<BR><BR>

Nancy: there was a thread on this subject a couple days ago.<BR>Search "passport" and go to the thread "passport .. hotels" (now # 13)

I don't know if anyone knows this, but the passport we have is actually the property of the USA. So, we are not allowed to hand it to a hotel clerk no longer then it takes him/her to glance at it. To leave it in anyone elses possession overnight is certainly illegal.

In Italy, I have always been asked to leave my passport with the front desk...they are required to register you with the local police. It usually takes a few hours...I'm always reluctant but never had a problem getting it back. It is a little freaky to part with it...I did not know it was illegal to be asked to leave it. Do you have any more info on this law?

I am sure we have all had the same experience. You have to hand it over to be registered, they return it within a few hours or the next morning. I am interested in the illegal aspect of this also. Kay

It is only illegal to hand it to someone for any lengh of time, not for the clerk to ask for it. Besides,why would anyone just hand over their passport!! What if you don't get it back? I always walk out of an establishment where I have to surrender my passport.

So after a lot of research and recommendations I book at a wonderful small hotel in Italy. I get there and they tell me they need to keep my passport for a few hours. So I should just walk out and walk down the street looking for a new hotel? I've been leaving mine for a couple of hours or even overnight for years -- I guess I'm just not as paranoid as some of you.

Will hotel accept a copy of your passport? I always carry a copy of my passport when I travel. It seems like you could just carry a couple of extra copies. YOu could show them the original and then give them a copy. I surely would never want my passport to be out of my sight.

No one has asked for my passport for at least a decade. I doubt you'll be asked for yours.

Well xxx, this happend to my son. He never did get his passport back. It mysteriously disappear from a hotel in Hungery. While he did finally get a new one issued, he had to listen to a lecture about the legality of it all and was told how stupid most tourist are in handing their passport over to anyone, when in fact there is no reason to hold one especially if you pay the bill with your credit card.

I checked the State Department web site to check the statement that was illegal to let someone have your passport. I found NOTHING. I did find that it is not uncommon in some nations for the hotel to take your passport overnight. See the following: <BR>Your passport is the most valuable document that you will carry abroad. It confirms your U.S. citizenship. Please guard it carefully. Do not use it as collateral for a loan or lend it to anyone. It is your best form of identification. You will need it when you pick up mail or check into hotels, embassies or consulates.<BR><BR>When entering some countries or registering at hotels, you may be asked to fill out a police card listing your name, passport number, destination, local address, and reason for travel. You may be required to leave your passport at the hotel reception desk overnight so that it may be checked by local police officials. These are normal procedures required by local laws. If your passport is not returned the following morning, immediately report the impoundment to local police authorities and to the nearest U.S. <BR>

Good luck in Italy, Julie.Hope you like sleeping on a park bench, They will ask and take your passport.It's their law. You are not on US territory, our laws don't count.

We just came home last night from our trip to France, Italy and Switzerland. At each hotel they did ask for our passports, made copies and immediately returned them to us.

I wonder has Julie ever found a place to sleep...

Like said above by others - in Italy, the hotel people tend to keep the passport for awhile. In other countries, they merely write down the needed info. Where I've stayed in italy, I didn't mind them keeping the passports (I had copies on me). I really don't know the legalities, but I really don't see the problem. Sure, with some unscrupulous types it might turn out to be a problem, but that's why I prefer to stay in nice places (not that that makes me exempt to getting taken).

Thanks for all this information! I feel much better informed. So, it looks like I will have to be prepared to hand it over in some places. I also liked the suggestion of traveling with a couple extra copies in case some of them will take that instead. And thanks Bob for the smart move of looking on the State Department's website!<BR><BR>Nancy

Every hotel I have stayed at in Europe has asked for my passport and then offers it back to me and I just tell them to lock it up in their safe until I check out. <BR>In Russia, you have to surrender your passport for the duration of your stay at a hotel.<BR>One thing that I have been told that is illegal is for any country to seize your US driver license. No country is allowed to do this.