The Foreign Office has issued a warning to British holidaymakers in Spain reminding them not to leave their passports at hotel receptions when checking in. It's something many of us do or reportedly have done in the past, however it could lead to your identity being stolen, and even you and your loved ones being stranded abroad.
When you've been travelling for hours, the first thing you want to do when you get to your hotel is unpack and relax, before you begin your holiday properly. This can lead to holidaymakers just leaving their passports at reception when checking into their hotel, as they simply want to get their room keys and be on their way.
Hotels across the world, including in popular holiday destinations for Brits in Spain, have a legal requirement to take down passport details of tourists. While you might be thinking that handing your passport over to hotel staff while you wait is no cause for concern, leaving your passport or other travel documents with staff for long periods of time should be cause for some concern.
Read more: UK passport holders given nine month warning
To make sure you understand what to look out for, we've compiled a handy guide ahead of your next holiday...
Why do hotels take passport details?
In many countries, including here in the UK, there are laws that mean hotels are required to request a form of ID from guests when they check in. This law is called the Immigration (Hotel Records) Order 1972 and requires hotels to keep a record of the full name and nationality of every guest above the age of 16.
When it comes to international guests, hotels have to record both the passport number and where it was issued - this also applies to any other document confirming their identity and/or nationality. According to the Foreign Office's travel advice for Spain: "Hotels have a legal duty to register the passport details of tourists on check-in.
"Wait until the hotel staff have registered your passport details or taken a photocopy of your passport. Don’t leave it at reception to collect later."
What are the risks to handing over my passport?
If you are asked to leave your passport at the front desk when checking in, so you can head up to your rooms, you should really insist you wait. Think of your passport and/or ID like a family member and don't leave it with strangers.
The Foreign Office advises holidaymakers not to leave without their IDs. This is partly due to the rising concern around identity theft, which can lead to a whole host of problems for the victim - from the time and energy spent retrieving your stolen identity and proving you are you, to the possibility of financial losses, fraud and other issues.
Your passport contains everything a criminal would need to create a fraudulent identity, so make sure you don't leave it alone with a stranger at the hotel desk. No matter how friendly they are or how 'safe' they say it will be with them.
You should hand it over to hotel staff so they can make a quick note of the information they need to record by law, but there is certainly no need to leave it with staff for any long periods of time, including overnight. Your passport is the most important document you carry with you when you travel abroad, so it's well worth waiting a while longer down at the desk so you can ensure you won't be left stranded there for a far greater time period because your passport has been stolen.
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