Passports: In the safe or in the pocket?
Jun 11th, 2003, 03:55 PM
#63
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I would leave the original passport in a safe where you are staying. When I went to Rome last March I made copies and took them with me. Everywhere accepts the copies. I even used them to change over money and make purchases. This helps a lot because as a tourist you do not have to pay taxes on the things you purchase. It is a lot safer to carry the copy because pickpockets are a problem. In the end it saves you the hassle of applying for a new passport if the original is stolen.
Jun 11th, 2003, 04:28 PM
#64
In general, my husband kept our original passports in the hidden inside pocket of his blazer, and we kept copies in our luggage. The one day he did not have them with him, we stayed back at the hotel and he went to rent a car (we were in Paris). They wanted his passport. He was held up quite a long time while I tried faxing the first page from the hotel. Anyway, we ended up getting an upgraded car - I thought maybe the woman felt sorry for all the time he had to wait.
No one else mentioned showing their passport while renting a car so I thought I'd share our experience.
No one else mentioned showing their passport while renting a car so I thought I'd share our experience.
Jun 12th, 2003, 03:47 PM
#65
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Please be aware that it is the law in some countries that you must carry your passport when visiting the country. You must carry the original, not a copy. My experience is in Budapest. My friend and I were looking for a restraunt down the street from the hotel that we were staying at. As we were walking down the street, a group of police came out of a doorway in front of us. They ask us for our passports. I had mine, but my friend did not. My friend ask the policeman if they could go back to the hotel (which was 1 block away) to get their passport. The policeman responds,
"The law in Hungary is that you have to have your passport on you. You will have to go to the police station." I ask if they would wait for me to get my friends passport. They respond, "No! Come to the police station." My friend was hauled off to the police station and was there a couple of hours after I brought their passport to the police station. It is up to you whether you want to risk this. If you have someone to bring your passport to the police station, then you might risk it. If not, you could spend a lot of time at the police station while they try to find out if you are who you say you are.
"The law in Hungary is that you have to have your passport on you. You will have to go to the police station." I ask if they would wait for me to get my friends passport. They respond, "No! Come to the police station." My friend was hauled off to the police station and was there a couple of hours after I brought their passport to the police station. It is up to you whether you want to risk this. If you have someone to bring your passport to the police station, then you might risk it. If not, you could spend a lot of time at the police station while they try to find out if you are who you say you are.
Jun 12th, 2003, 06:08 PM
#66
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Nowhere on the State Department's consular page on Hungary does it state that passports must be carried by law in Hungary (http://travel.state.gov/hungary.html).
Can anyone verify what Denis says?
Can anyone verify what Denis says?
