Requirement to leave passport at hotel front desk
Jul 19, 2017, 8:12 pm
#31
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Because if you don't consent, they will not let you stay there (at least that was the case in Iran). I had to do the same in Turkmenistan and Yemen.
Jul 19, 2017, 10:48 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 58
Spent 12 days in Vietnam in June and everywhere I stayed demanded that I leave my passport with them, and said it was a legal requirement. Every one of those places settled for copies when I refused to leave the passport, although they required a copy of the photo page, visa, and stamps.
Jul 20, 2017, 8:11 am
#33
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Ok, so you CAN go elsewhere, but it's a matter of finances, not that there will be some mixup regarding your registration with local government authorities preventing you from moving. Given the topic, I thought you might have been suggesting the latter.
Jul 20, 2017, 8:25 am
#34
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Jul 22, 2017, 12:11 pm
#35
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Hotel in Spoleto held our passports last month. It happens from time to time, not a fan.
Jul 23, 2017, 3:41 am
#36
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You can also do outright illegal stuff ... for a while at least.
Jul 23, 2017, 7:58 pm
#37
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Jul 25, 2017, 9:23 am
#38
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Jul 25, 2017, 11:32 am
#39
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I used to encounter this very frequently in Italy and in various parts of Asia. But with the cheaper, widespread use of scanning/photocopying and internet access, the "leave passport at hotel front desk" has become way less common than it used to be.
Aug 18, 2017, 4:05 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Last time a hotel wanted my passport for the Entire stay happened a few years ago in Ukraine. But they agreed to get a photocopy.
When it is only to photocopy they always agree (my experience) to get a photocopy. Last time in Andora last month - gave them a photocopy because they said they are busy and will take a few hours or until next motning.
When it is only to photocopy they always agree (my experience) to get a photocopy. Last time in Andora last month - gave them a photocopy because they said they are busy and will take a few hours or until next motning.
Aug 19, 2017, 5:55 pm
#42
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I have had far more than 100 hotels hold my passport. Often, the hotels are performing a required registration with police on you behalf. Sometimes they probably just think their own safe is the most secure place for it - assuming local law enforcement doesn't require that you have it on your person.
Aug 20, 2017, 11:15 pm
#43
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If you don't give the hotel a credit card at check in, they could be concerned that you might try to leave without paying. If the hotel holds your passport, in principle this cannot happen.