police registration in italy?
Oct 18th 2006, 10:13 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
police registration in italy?
I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
it's eight days. Which is right?
Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
help, so thanks.
with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
it's eight days. Which is right?
Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
help, so thanks.
Oct 18th 2006, 10:22 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
traveler wrote:
> I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
> with the police when they arrive in Italy,..........
Who's writing his material?
> I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
> with the police when they arrive in Italy,..........
Who's writing his material?
Oct 18th 2006, 11:01 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
traveler wrote:
> I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
> with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
> time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
> arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
> it's eight days. Which is right?
I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
countries required this. Isn't that why you are required to
show your passport when registering at a hotel? (The hotel
usually takes care of the details, so the guest is unaware
of them - I'm not sure how it works if you are staying at
the home of a friend or relative.)
>
> Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
> and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
> Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
> keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
> against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
> FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
> help, so thanks.
>
> I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
> with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
> time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
> arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
> it's eight days. Which is right?
I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
countries required this. Isn't that why you are required to
show your passport when registering at a hotel? (The hotel
usually takes care of the details, so the guest is unaware
of them - I'm not sure how it works if you are staying at
the home of a friend or relative.)
>
> Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
> and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
> Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
> keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
> against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
> FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
> help, so thanks.
>
Oct 18th 2006, 12:28 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
On 18 Oct 2006 15:13:10 -0700, "traveler"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I'm a little confused.
Agreed.
> I know every tourist is supposed to register
>with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
>time frames are.
News to me. Didn't bother in two trips, just gave a copy of
my passport details to the hotel desk clerk.
> Some travel books say it's three days after you
>arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
>it's eight days. Which is right?
>Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
>and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
>Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
>keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
>against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
>FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
>help, so thanks.
Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Alhambra
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I'm a little confused.
Agreed.
> I know every tourist is supposed to register
>with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
>time frames are.
News to me. Didn't bother in two trips, just gave a copy of
my passport details to the hotel desk clerk.
> Some travel books say it's three days after you
>arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
>it's eight days. Which is right?
>Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
>and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
>Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
>keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
>against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
>FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
>help, so thanks.
Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Alhambra
Oct 18th 2006, 4:08 pm
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
"traveler" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
> with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
> time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
> arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
> it's eight days. Which is right?
> Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
> and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
> Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
> keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
> against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
> FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
> help, so thanks.
everybody is obliged to register with police in Italy.
I mean that even if my mother comes to visit me and stays with me a few
days. I should register her to police.
In the case of people staying in hotels.. the hotel will register all
guests. tourists or business.. whatever they are.
it is easy to understand why..
police will check identities and computers will give a response.
whether you for any reason are on their files..
news:[email protected] ups.com...
> I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
> with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
> time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
> arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
> it's eight days. Which is right?
> Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
> and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
> Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
> keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
> against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
> FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
> help, so thanks.
everybody is obliged to register with police in Italy.
I mean that even if my mother comes to visit me and stays with me a few
days. I should register her to police.
In the case of people staying in hotels.. the hotel will register all
guests. tourists or business.. whatever they are.
it is easy to understand why..
police will check identities and computers will give a response.
whether you for any reason are on their files..
Oct 18th 2006, 6:25 pm
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
Following up to "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> :
>I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
>countries required this.
It used to be the case in Austria and Germany but it's not anymore.
They sometimes ask you to fill out a form - but its normally for the
administration of the tourist or "Kur" office. In return you get discounts
on fees for local attractions.
--
Tim C.
>I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
>countries required this.
It used to be the case in Austria and Germany but it's not anymore.
They sometimes ask you to fill out a form - but its normally for the
administration of the tourist or "Kur" office. In return you get discounts
on fees for local attractions.
--
Tim C.
Oct 18th 2006, 6:27 pm
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
Following up to Alan S <[email protected]> :
>> I know every tourist is supposed to register
>>with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
>>time frames are.
>News to me. Didn't bother in two trips, just gave a copy of
>my passport details to the hotel desk clerk.
And the hotel registers on your behalf, you don't have to do it yourself.
You'll often see someone from the hotel early evening or early morning - on
their way to the police-station (sometimes the local tourist office will
take this on).
--
Tim C.
>> I know every tourist is supposed to register
>>with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
>>time frames are.
>News to me. Didn't bother in two trips, just gave a copy of
>my passport details to the hotel desk clerk.
And the hotel registers on your behalf, you don't have to do it yourself.
You'll often see someone from the hotel early evening or early morning - on
their way to the police-station (sometimes the local tourist office will
take this on).
--
Tim C.
Oct 18th 2006, 6:49 pm
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
Tim C. wrote:
> You'll often see someone from the hotel early evening or early morning - on
> their way to the police-station .
I've always wondered what all the consigniers are about wandering away
in the dusk - now I know!
> You'll often see someone from the hotel early evening or early morning - on
> their way to the police-station .
I've always wondered what all the consigniers are about wandering away
in the dusk - now I know!
Oct 18th 2006, 6:57 pm
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
On 18 Oct 2006 15:13:10 -0700, "traveler" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
>with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
>time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
>arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
>it's eight days. Which is right?
If you're staying at a hotel, the hotel fills in a form with your name
and passport number and submits it to the nearest police station.
That's why they want to see your passport when you check in. You don't
have to do anything. Some hotels take your passport and return it to
you later in the day or the next morning, so that they can fill in the
form at their leisure. However, you're within your rights to ask them
to write down the information and return the passport immediately.
If you're staying in a private home, your hosts are supposed to report
your presence to the police, but this rule seems to be almost totally
ignored. I think most Italians don't even know they're supposed to so
this. I've had friends and relatives staying with me many times and
have never reported their presence. I think if I did, the local police
would give me strange looks.
>Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
>and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
>Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
>keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
>against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
>FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
>help, so thanks.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
wrote:
>I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
>with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
>time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
>arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
>it's eight days. Which is right?
If you're staying at a hotel, the hotel fills in a form with your name
and passport number and submits it to the nearest police station.
That's why they want to see your passport when you check in. You don't
have to do anything. Some hotels take your passport and return it to
you later in the day or the next morning, so that they can fill in the
form at their leisure. However, you're within your rights to ask them
to write down the information and return the passport immediately.
If you're staying in a private home, your hosts are supposed to report
your presence to the police, but this rule seems to be almost totally
ignored. I think most Italians don't even know they're supposed to so
this. I've had friends and relatives staying with me many times and
have never reported their presence. I think if I did, the local police
would give me strange looks.
>Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
>and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
>Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
>keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
>against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
>FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
>help, so thanks.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Oct 18th 2006, 7:25 pm
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:27:22 +0200, Tim C.
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Following up to Alan S <[email protected]> :
>>> I know every tourist is supposed to register
>>>with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
>>>time frames are.
>>News to me. Didn't bother in two trips, just gave a copy of
>>my passport details to the hotel desk clerk.
>And the hotel registers on your behalf, you don't have to do it yourself.
>You'll often see someone from the hotel early evening or early morning - on
>their way to the police-station (sometimes the local tourist office will
>take this on).
>
Possibly. Well, probably at the Holiday Inn in
Venice/Marghera (don't ask - never again!) but I don't
remember providing any details beyond those we emailed in
advance at Giglio Bianco B&B in Florence. In fact, I'm sure
we didn't.
One thing I did use regularly was an "ID" I made for myself
by photocopying my personal page from the passport, reducing
it to business-card size and laminating it. When European
hotels asked for the passport I gave them that and they
always accepted it with no problems. Maybe they thought it
was a new style in Aussie passports. Even the bureaucratic
types in Slovakia and Poland accepted it without qualms. I
was much more comfortable doing that, because I did not let
the real passport leave my custody for the entire trip.
Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Alhambra
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Following up to Alan S <[email protected]> :
>>> I know every tourist is supposed to register
>>>with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
>>>time frames are.
>>News to me. Didn't bother in two trips, just gave a copy of
>>my passport details to the hotel desk clerk.
>And the hotel registers on your behalf, you don't have to do it yourself.
>You'll often see someone from the hotel early evening or early morning - on
>their way to the police-station (sometimes the local tourist office will
>take this on).
>
Possibly. Well, probably at the Holiday Inn in
Venice/Marghera (don't ask - never again!) but I don't
remember providing any details beyond those we emailed in
advance at Giglio Bianco B&B in Florence. In fact, I'm sure
we didn't.
One thing I did use regularly was an "ID" I made for myself
by photocopying my personal page from the passport, reducing
it to business-card size and laminating it. When European
hotels asked for the passport I gave them that and they
always accepted it with no problems. Maybe they thought it
was a new style in Aussie passports. Even the bureaucratic
types in Slovakia and Poland accepted it without qualms. I
was much more comfortable doing that, because I did not let
the real passport leave my custody for the entire trip.
Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Alhambra
Oct 18th 2006, 8:07 pm
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
traveler schrieb:
> I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
> with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
> time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
> arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
> it's eight days. Which is right?
At the campsite I was staying at last year there was a poster next to
the checkin desk in at least four different languages stating that the
registration is a statutory requirement, but I can't remember how many
days it was. In any case, the hotel or whereever you are staying does it
automatically.
>
> Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
> and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
> Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
> keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
> against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
> FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
> help, so thanks.
>
--
Igor Domnikov
Sergey Novikov
Iskandar Khatloni
Sergey Ivanov
Adam Tepsurgayev
Eduard Markevich
Natalya Skryl
Valery Ivanov
Aleksei Sidorov
Dmitry Shvets
Paul Klebnikov
Magomedzagid Varisov
Anna Politkovskaya
http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2005/ru...a_murders.html
> I'm a little confused. I know every tourist is supposed to register
> with the police when they arrive in Italy, but I don't know what the
> time frames are. Some travel books say it's three days after you
> arrive, but I called the Italian Embassy in Washington and they say
> it's eight days. Which is right?
At the campsite I was staying at last year there was a poster next to
the checkin desk in at least four different languages stating that the
registration is a statutory requirement, but I can't remember how many
days it was. In any case, the hotel or whereever you are staying does it
automatically.
>
> Also, what do the police do with this info? I had my identity stolen
> and I'm kind of paranoid about letting even more people including the
> Italian police (no disrepect intended) have this info. Do they just
> keep it handy in case you're injured in an accident or do they check it
> against a terrorism list or do they do a deep background check with the
> FBI or what? Any info from you experienced travelers would be a big
> help, so thanks.
>
--
Igor Domnikov
Sergey Novikov
Iskandar Khatloni
Sergey Ivanov
Adam Tepsurgayev
Eduard Markevich
Natalya Skryl
Valery Ivanov
Aleksei Sidorov
Dmitry Shvets
Paul Klebnikov
Magomedzagid Varisov
Anna Politkovskaya
http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2005/ru...a_murders.html
Oct 18th 2006, 8:10 pm
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
Tim C. schrieb:
> Following up to "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> :
>
>> I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
>> countries required this.
>
> It used to be the case in Austria and Germany but it's not anymore.
> They sometimes ask you to fill out a form - but its normally for the
> administration of the tourist or "Kur" office. In return you get discounts
> on fees for local attractions.
The owner of a hotel near us told me that it's still a legal
requirement, but all they do with the information nowadays is collect
statistics for the tourist office. He thought it was a very tedious
timewasting piece of bureaucracy.
T.
> Following up to "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> :
>
>> I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
>> countries required this.
>
> It used to be the case in Austria and Germany but it's not anymore.
> They sometimes ask you to fill out a form - but its normally for the
> administration of the tourist or "Kur" office. In return you get discounts
> on fees for local attractions.
The owner of a hotel near us told me that it's still a legal
requirement, but all they do with the information nowadays is collect
statistics for the tourist office. He thought it was a very tedious
timewasting piece of bureaucracy.
T.
Oct 18th 2006, 8:18 pm
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
Am Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:01:35 -0700 schrieb EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque):
> I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
> countries required this.
No, certainly not. At least in Germany they don't do that anymore in all
Hotels.
> Isn't that why you are required to
> show your passport when registering at a hotel?
In many cases they simply want an ID to make sure they know who stays with
them, in case a guest leaves without paying his bill or steals something
from the room or breaks something.
In some countries the hotels are still required to give this data to the
local police, but I don't think that someone really bothers to check this
data.
Regards,
Frank
> I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
> countries required this.
No, certainly not. At least in Germany they don't do that anymore in all
Hotels.
> Isn't that why you are required to
> show your passport when registering at a hotel?
In many cases they simply want an ID to make sure they know who stays with
them, in case a guest leaves without paying his bill or steals something
from the room or breaks something.
In some countries the hotels are still required to give this data to the
local police, but I don't think that someone really bothers to check this
data.
Regards,
Frank
Oct 18th 2006, 8:34 pm
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
On Thu, 19 Oct 2006, B Vaughan wrote:
> If you're staying at a hotel, the hotel fills in a form with your name
> and passport number and submits it to the nearest police station.
Sincerely I ignore if they submit it regularly or just have to have it
available if rquired to show it. Next time I see my uncle (who was in
the police many years ago, and ran an hotel afterwards) I'll ask him.
Surely you have to carry an id with you in case you are stopped by the
police for any reason.
> If you're staying in a private home, your hosts are supposed to report
> your presence to the police, but this rule seems to be almost totally
> ignored. I think most Italians don't even know they're supposed to so
> this. I've had friends and relatives staying with me many times and
> have never reported their presence. I think if I did, the local police
> would give me strange looks.
I agree. I do not know whether this rule applies, nor to whom it does
apply (I suspect this is not applicable when the German husband of an
italian friend of mine comes with their children of German nationality
to see the grandparents ... I doubt such a rule applies to EU citizens,
I am not even sure it applies to "extracomunitarian" citizens who are
allowed to enter Italy for tourism without visa ...
I know in the past rules were rather strict for some particular cases
(at the time of USSR, Russians coming to Italy got a visa valid only for
particular cities ... I remember once we had a science meeting near
Catania, I was on the coach with them from the airport to the hotel, and
we had a police escort with motorbikes and so on ... quite funny to go
at full speed through the traffic).
If your passport or other id allows you to enter Italy for tourism for
90 days without or with visa, I won't bother. Your transit will be
recorded by the border police. If the police will ask you to see your
papers you will be fine. They have enough to look after irregular
immigrants !
May be the www.poliziadistato.it site has something to say.
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected] is a newsreading account used by more persons to
avoid unwanted spam. Any mail returning to this address will be rejected.
Users can disclose their e-mail address in the article if they wish so.
> If you're staying at a hotel, the hotel fills in a form with your name
> and passport number and submits it to the nearest police station.
Sincerely I ignore if they submit it regularly or just have to have it
available if rquired to show it. Next time I see my uncle (who was in
the police many years ago, and ran an hotel afterwards) I'll ask him.
Surely you have to carry an id with you in case you are stopped by the
police for any reason.
> If you're staying in a private home, your hosts are supposed to report
> your presence to the police, but this rule seems to be almost totally
> ignored. I think most Italians don't even know they're supposed to so
> this. I've had friends and relatives staying with me many times and
> have never reported their presence. I think if I did, the local police
> would give me strange looks.
I agree. I do not know whether this rule applies, nor to whom it does
apply (I suspect this is not applicable when the German husband of an
italian friend of mine comes with their children of German nationality
to see the grandparents ... I doubt such a rule applies to EU citizens,
I am not even sure it applies to "extracomunitarian" citizens who are
allowed to enter Italy for tourism without visa ...
I know in the past rules were rather strict for some particular cases
(at the time of USSR, Russians coming to Italy got a visa valid only for
particular cities ... I remember once we had a science meeting near
Catania, I was on the coach with them from the airport to the hotel, and
we had a police escort with motorbikes and so on ... quite funny to go
at full speed through the traffic).
If your passport or other id allows you to enter Italy for tourism for
90 days without or with visa, I won't bother. Your transit will be
recorded by the border police. If the police will ask you to see your
papers you will be fine. They have enough to look after irregular
immigrants !
May be the www.poliziadistato.it site has something to say.
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected] is a newsreading account used by more persons to
avoid unwanted spam. Any mail returning to this address will be rejected.
Users can disclose their e-mail address in the article if they wish so.
Oct 18th 2006, 8:47 pm
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: police registration in italy?
On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 10:18:14 +0200, Frank Hucklenbroich
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Am Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:01:35 -0700 schrieb EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque):
>> I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
>> countries required this.
>No, certainly not. At least in Germany they don't do that anymore in all
>Hotels.
>> Isn't that why you are required to
>> show your passport when registering at a hotel?
>In many cases they simply want an ID to make sure they know who stays with
>them, in case a guest leaves without paying his bill or steals something
>from the room or breaks something.
>In some countries the hotels are still required to give this data to the
>local police, but I don't think that someone really bothers to check this
>data.
>Regards,
>Frank
I was asked to produce my credit card for a security
"imprint" at nearly every hotel - but my passport only
occasionally:-)
Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Alhambra
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Am Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:01:35 -0700 schrieb EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque):
>> I've never been to Italy, but I thought ALL European
>> countries required this.
>No, certainly not. At least in Germany they don't do that anymore in all
>Hotels.
>> Isn't that why you are required to
>> show your passport when registering at a hotel?
>In many cases they simply want an ID to make sure they know who stays with
>them, in case a guest leaves without paying his bill or steals something
>from the room or breaks something.
>In some countries the hotels are still required to give this data to the
>local police, but I don't think that someone really bothers to check this
>data.
>Regards,
>Frank
I was asked to produce my credit card for a security
"imprint" at nearly every hotel - but my passport only
occasionally:-)
Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Alhambra
