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Is it necessary to have a Passport for London Hotels?

  • 12-12-2013 2:38am
    #1
    Dude240502
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 229 ✭✭


    Does anyone know if most hotels in London ask for a Passport if you are travelling from Ireland when you arrive, is it enough to have booking or payment details, does anyone know?


Comments

  • #2
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,912 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    You'll always need a credit card but I don't think I have ever been asked for a passport in the UK.


  • #3
    Dude240502
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 229 ✭✭Dude240502


    Do you need any ID at all?


  • #4
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,912 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    I've stayed in London maybe 10 or 12 times over the past 10 years and I don't think that I was ever asked for ID. I've needed it twice in the US but generally in motels where any photo ID worked.

    The ID isn't to prove who you are so you get a room but a way of tracking you in case you wreck the joint and leave maybe?


  • #5
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Ponster wrote: »
    The ID isn't to prove who you are so you get a room but a way of tracking you in case you wreck the joint and leave maybe?
    Some countries have mandatory registration of hotel guests and you will need official ID.


  • #6
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,912 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    Victor wrote: »
    Some countries have mandatory registration of hotel guests and you will need official ID.

    True, but I don't think that the UK has this requirement (though I know that sometimes ID is asked for). I'd just call the hotel in advance and ask.

    edit : A quick search says that the Immigration (Hotel Records) Order of 1972 states that UK, Commonwealth and Irish visitors do not need to present ID to register at a hotel. I'd still call ahead just in case.


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  • #7
    ProudDUB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,569 ✭✭✭✭ProudDUB


    I have never been asked for any form of ID in any UK hotel I have stayed & I've stayed in quite a few. I have been asked to fill out a registration card, giving my personal details, but I have never been asked to show any ID proving it. I am normally asked for a valid credit card though.


  • #8
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,624 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    ProudDUB wrote: »
    I have never been asked for any form of ID in any UK hotel I have stayed & I've stayed in quite a few. I have been asked to fill out a registration card, giving my personal details, but I have never been asked to show any ID proving it. I am normally asked for a valid credit card though.

    +1 Have never been asked for ID of any kind in a UK hotel and I've stayed all over the place on business and on personal trips. All they want is to swipe your credit card to cover themselves in case you do a bunk on the last day.

    The only recollection I have of being asked for a passport in a hotel in Europe was in Italy, the receptionist used to ask for the passport when you checked in and held on to it, they'd usually hand it back when you arrived back from your first trip out the town.


  • #9
    Dannywoka
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ✭Dannywoka


    coylemj wrote: »

    The only recollection I have of being asked for a passport in a hotel in Europe was in Italy, the receptionist used to ask for the passport when you checked in and held on to it, they'd usually hand it back when you arrived back from your first trip out the town.

    Thanks for the tip. I am considering go to Italy this Christmas.:D


  • #10
    munchkin_utd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,921 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    Dannywoka wrote: »
    Thanks for the tip. I am considering go to Italy this Christmas.:D
    I also found this in Italy, and thought it a little strange but it seems to be normal that they take the passport and process it at their own pace.

    Its actually more convienent than say Luxembourg or Belgium where you have to fill out the form fully with all passport details before they'll give you a room key.


  • #11
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,624 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    munchkin_utd wrote: »
    I also found this in Italy, and thought it a little strange but it seems to be normal that they take the passport and process it at their own pace.

    I suspect there's a whole Govt. department kept in jobs entering the data into their computers. What use (if any) they make of it is anybody's guess.

    A similar scheme which only serves to keep paper pushers in jobs happens when crossing borders by land in Africa. You fill out a few forms and go from Billy to Jack to get the forms and your passport stamped. On the way out of the office you have to step over bundles of the previous day's forms lying on the floor tied up with twine. That's just when exiting, you then have to walk 50m to the immigration hut of the country you're entering and do the same thing all over again.


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