Will l be asked to show passport at Hotel?

imme62

Hi, I'm trying to do Disneyland Paris on a shoestring budget in early January. Staying off site in a budget hotel with my teenage twins. My question is, will l be asked to show their passports on check in? Im on a really tight budget, they only turn 18 at xmas and ive read theres a daily tax for all over 18. Just wondering could I avoid that extra cost by putting them in as 17, which they would have been a few weeks earlier! They certainly don't look 18, but as much as l'm counting every cent l don't want to get into big trouble either!

Victor

Quite possibly yes. If you can't afford the tourist tax, can you afford the trip? What if there is a sudden expense?

Have you looked into the cost of an Airbnb? That way you would not have to worry about paying the tourist tax, unless of course Airbnb include that in the cost of your accommodation.

It certainly was a legal requirement in France, not sure if it still is. Tourist tax is a pittance though. If you can't afford that what are you going to eat?

munchkin_utd

you are joking?

You can afford a spin to Disneyland paris where tickets cost €100+ per day but you cant afford a tourist tax which begins at 20c per person per night . How do you propose to eat or drink if you havent even 20c spare for this trip ?

But on the question, if you go somewhere like hotel b+b you may end up checking in at a machine and never interacting with a human let alone show a passport. Hotel b+b also let you checkin online and you get the keycode for the room by email, so again, no human interaction.

There are countries like Italy where the reception has to see the actual passport, but from experience and a quick lookup of forums, France no longer has this system since at least 20 years.

imme62

Sorry guys, l guess l misunderstood the tourist tax. Thought it was going to be €50 each for the trip. Not a huge amount perhaps, but l figured that €150 would go towards the food budget. Yes, it is a bit crazy to be going somewhere so expensive, but the kids will buy their own disney tickets from their savings, so thats a big help. Its just that we havent had the best year. A diagnosis has put things into perspective. We go now, or it wont happen. Always said id rather stay home than go on holiday on a shoestring, but l've changed my mind on that now. Hopefully it works out. The plan is for lots of cheap croissants and memory making! Thanks for the comments.

munchkin_utd

>The plan is for lots of cheap croissants

baguettes are even cheaper, 60c or something in a supermarket, and a different level than you'd get in Ireland

making brekkie in the room a great way to save the cash, even if not in proper self catering. Just bring a few knives and spoons and if youve the space maybe bowls and (paper) plates too. We did it often enough ourselves as sometimes theres savage cheap offers on Novotels for family rooms but the breakfasts are insanely expensive.

If youre getting baguettes for brekkie then you can always get extra to make some sort of a pack lunch to save on having to eat in the park. Theres a ban on picnics but i think thats a ban on actual proper ground mat 1hour long events, not on bringing snacks with you.

Just be aware that in France a lot of hotels are in random industrial estates so getting to a shop may be difficult and require a bit of planning ( see if theres a bike you can borrow from the hotel ??)

as for the tourist tax.... not sure how you thought itd be so dear. There is a separate issue that USA based websites separate out "tax" from the accomodation price but thats just normal VAT

imme62

Thanks a million for those tips, much appreciated. Baguettes it is!

walterking

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119938093#Comment_119938093

What a ridiculous response.

People want treats. Sometimes you might be able to stretch yourself but need to avoid costs as much as possible. Disney is a once in a blue moon holiday and as the "kids" are 18, possibly the last family holiday.

Fair play to the OP for choosing somewhere that they can all laugh and enjoy themselves as it will be a wonderful memory.

For OP, you may be thinking of USA style hotel taxes that can add $200+ to a stay. A 3 star hotel in Paris will charge €1.88 per adult per night.

10-10-20

Top tip: Do not buy the water in DLP, bring your own.

On the first day in the place we spent 25 or 30 EUR on water for three people. All of the bottles were 300ml and €4 too.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119938928#Comment_119938928

Ridiculous would be not knowing the Schengen Area requirements for an EU citizen and demonstrating it.

imme62

Guess I'm ridiculous! Thank you walterking for your understanding comments. Think I somehow must have read an article relating to hotel taxes in Disney USA by mistake. But as far as this Shengen Area goes, am l correct in thinking we just need our Irish passports and travel insurance? Thanks

naughtysmurf

there is a huge supermarket at Val d’Europe in Marne la Vallee, think it’s only 1 stop / 5 minutes on the train from Disney, get all your foodstuffs there, can’t remember if there is a food court or not, avoid eating in the parks, it’s outrageously overpriced muck

Disney & shoestring budget can be difficult, maybe bring some paper plates, plastic bowls & cutlery, breakfast in the hotel room & make lunch & bring it with you to the parks

jhegarty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119940162#Comment_119940162

Just need your passports. And while travel insurance is a good idea, it's not required.

Livefornow

OP, you can bring food into the parks no problem. As naughtysmurf said Val d'Europe shopping centre is only one stop on the train and there is a Supermarket there where you can buy drinks, snacks, baguettes, ham, cheese etc. Make lunches and bring them into the parks with you and that will stretch your budget. Food in the parks is basic and as others have said here, very overpriced.

Val d'Europe is only a 15 min walk to the park so depending on where you are staying it may be close to you. Some of the Disney hotels are almost as far away in the opposite direction. There are plenty of restaurants there too offering a wide range of cuisine and a lot cheaper than the park restaurants for dinner in the evening.

We have stayed in hotels onsite and in outside accommodation and much preferred bringing our own food in rather than the food in the parks, and not just because of the price, but for quality. Hope this helps and enjoy your trip OP