turning over passport in internet cafe

Italy has anti-terrorism laws, that require Internet Cafes to make copies of customer's passports. I wouldn't be overly concerned about it, most all of the hotels/hostels you will be staying at will be doing the same thing.

It is Italian law that they copy your passport when using an internet cafe and it is European Union (EU) law that you present a passport to be copied when checking into any hotel, hostel, agritourismo or similar anywhere at least in the Schengen zone.

You will always be asked for your passport as id in a internet cafe, this is quite normal. I have used my drivers license, as I tend not to carry my passport with me, and that was the only id I had. They do prefer a passport though.

I'll second Helen on this. I don't carry my passport either. I've visited many Italian internet cafe's with nothing more than a drivers' license.

I used the internet cafe in Rome 3 or 4 times about two weeks ago and was never asked for anything.

Greg

It depends on the place. Smaller ones generally enforce the law, as they cannot afford the fines if caught or the bribes to forestall enforcement. We were usually asked for passports

I carry my passport but always give them my DL.Ive never had a problem with them accepting it.

Why are Americans so paranoid about their passports. I mean really, you never see Canadians, or Australians freaked about showing their passports to hotel staff or internet cafe staff. I mean they only asked to make a copy of it,not keep it.
And Europeons accept using their passport for id easily too, but Americans are like all convinced that everyone in the free world wants their passport, I mean , frankly its not the safest one to carry internationally anymore, I 'd way rather have a Swiss one myself.. LOL

Pat said, "...Americans are like all convinced that everyone in the free world wants their passport..."

Yes, Americans are famous as being the only ones who ever make a big deal out of being asked to turn over their passport at hotels and such. I don't have the answer, but would speculate that it's usually nothing to do with thinking that people want to steal the passport because it's AMERICAN.

I think the problem is that most Americans (at least before this year) aren't used to having a passport, have never needed one to visit Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean, have never left North America, and fear if they lose the passport they'll never see home or family again.

European countries are so small, in comparison, that travel to other countries, and passport use, is a normal experience for them.

As to why Canadians don't have the same naive fear as Americans, you're just more worldly than we are. There, are you happy ;-)

I agree with the last comment. Americans are paramoid about passports and a bit naive. Now I will tell you a really scary story about handing about your passport... when I was in Berlin during THE WALL era, I wanted to cross to the east through Checkpoint Charlie. The E. German police took your passport and did not return it until you exited the eastern sector. Now that was scary!!

Canadians are not more worldly , we are less stressed about being trapped in a foriegn country and forced to eat frogs legs and blood sausage for the rest of our lives LOL

Maryann, I wasn't aware that the eastern block countries had made a habit of " trapping" the average American tourist in East Germany,, what did you think they wanted with you, LOL

I'm just glad to know that this is SOP. When I get to Sicily, if I'd been asked for my passport at someplace other than the airport- I'd have been a bit puzzled and curious as to why they wanted it.

Of course, I'm not staying at a hotel, so that probably won't be a problem. I probably WILL be using an internet cafe- if wireless isn't too close to where I'm staying.

A parallel question to ask back- are there times when someone would ask for a passport and you should NOT give it??? (And I don't mean the obvious scams and thieves.)

Bob asked, "...are there times when someone would ask for a passport and you should NOT give it???"

I've traveled all over the world and lots of places might ask to SEE your passport for ID. Car rental places often make a photocopy of it. Other places, like Internet cafes, might do the same.

The only places that TOOK my passport and kept it a while (like overnight) were hotels in Italy and Greece. Also, our tour guide in China kept our passports overnight (probably to install electronic listening gear between the pages).

I have had my passport taken in Paris and kept for a few hours, its simply they have to copy the info and don't want to do it right then, so often they wait till they have all the days check ins and then sit down and record them all. You could request they make a photo copy and return it right away, or better yet give them one of your photo copies and keep your passport with you if you are more comfortable that way.

I guess I would be more cautious in places that seemed seedy, or if I was in a third world country where I would feel it would be possible to encounter corrupt police in kahoots with hotel staff.You know those countries where the government changes monthly and the way to get in power is coups and assasinations.

In Europe if I didn't get my passport returned I feel fairly confident the local police would be of some assistance , and I know my embassy would be anyways.

Honestly, I could think of a worse fate then being " stuck " in Paris for an extra 2 or 3 days!!

Monthly government changes might describe Italy! We're renting an apartment in Florence and the owner emailed asking us to bring copies of all our passports for the day we arrived.

Margaret, the landlord of the apartment that you are renting is required by law to inform the police who he has staying in any of his apartments and for how long. It is part of Italy's anti mafia laws. If anything you should take it as a good sign, it means that he wants to be clear and above board about everything.