All holidaymakers planning a trip to Spain over the coming months have been warned over leaving passports with hotel receptions when checking in - but not for the reason you may think.
Hotels in Spain have a legal duty to register the passport details of visitors who check-in to ensure that customers don't leave without settling their bills.
However, it has now been recommended that you wait until the hotel staff has registered your passport rather than leaving it at reception to collect later.
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Sean Tipton, a spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents told the Daily Mail: "In the past, many hotels retained passports to ensure that customers didn't sneak off without settling their bills, but in the days of credit cards this is largely unnecessary.
"Although it is highly unlikely that your passport would be misused, lost, or stolen by your hotel, once your details have been taken down, you are quite within your rights to insist that it is returned."
It's also important to not carry all your valuables in one place and to keep a photocopy or scanned copy of your own passport somewhere safe, according to the Echo.
If your passport is lost or lost or stolen, you’ll also need the report it to Spanish police. The police report will sometimes be accepted by some airlines in lieu of a passport, and this may allow you to travel back to Ireland. However, you should always check with your airline before going to the airport.
If your airline will not accept the police report, you should contact the Irish Embassy or your nearest Honorary Consulate to make arrangements for an alternative travel document.
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