My USA passport shows the customary 2 surnames (as per birth certificate in Puerto Rico).
However, my Oregon Driver's License shows only 1 surname (following USA naming convention).
Will I be able to use my USA driver's license as ID to confirm my tickets to various attractions (Vatican museums, Colosseum, etc.)?
Or to they require to see the USA passport?
Thanks in advance!
Some of the attractions are checking ID against the names on the tickets to reduce scamming and scalping. In fact, when I checked into their website last week, the Vatican Museums had a new notice on the opening page of the website stating that starting August 1 they are checking the validity of each and every ticket/tour purchased online at the entrance. They check at the Colosseum too.
Bring your passport; that's your legal ID when traveling abroad.
Editing to add: this was in reference to a post that has since disappeared.
Thank you!
I didn't use the passport name when purchasing the tickets. I'll try to contact the ticketing office to clarify.
As long as your first name and one of the surnames that you used to book the tickets appear on your passport, I'd think you'd be fine.
Just a few of the many, many discussions, over many, many years, on this forum about carrying one's passport:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/do-i-need-to-carry-my-passport-at-all-times
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/carry-your-passport-and-get-idp
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/carrying-identification-in-italy
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/passports-1ed8a725-76b6-46b2-b1c9-8f657b8b5054
The consensus (when there is one, which is almost never) is essentially 'you do you' but it is the law and there are more reasons besides attraction entry that you might want to have the thing with you. Look at it like insurance? You don't need it until you do.
'Nuff said. :O)
It is required by law.
Carry your passport- not a copy. It is your legal ID and the most important thing you are traveling with. Along with a credit card it is your ticket home.
We found that it is not that unusual to be stopped and asked to show it
As I shared in this post- and yes they were real polizia
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/carry-your-passport-and-get-idp
As for driving- drivers are required by law to have an International Driving Permit along with their US issued DL. Your US DL alone will be of no help if you are stopped for any reason. Many car rental agencies are now asking for the IDP- they should have been all along.
Many people will have to have their drivers license with them. Even if you don’t drive on your trip, most people have to drive to and from the airport at home.
My usual approach is to carry the passport in a money belt for more security, but to have the drivers license more accessible. I can only remember one time an attraction wanted my passport and wouldn’t accept my drivers license. In that case, I went into the bathroom to retrieve my passport and then stored it again. I’ve been assuming that if I were asked for ID by the police we could work something out to allow me to retrieve the passport appropriately but it has never come up.
My rationale is that if I lose the drivers license, I’d rather take the time to replace it at home after my trip than to try to replace my passport on the trip to get home.
As long as your first name and one of the surnames that you used to book the tickets appear on your passport, I'd think you'd be fine.
I absolutely agree with Kathy. My items are often without my middle name, which I use often as well. I've never had an issue with the first and last name only.
As for the off topic ongoing about carrying your passport, I carry mine with me. You never know what might happen when you will need it and have to turn on a dime. A passport is pretty easy to replace, as testimony from others have indicated, especially in a geographically small country like Italy.
Great discussion!!
Thanks to all for the detailed explanations.
I plan on carrying my passport at all times. I will NOT be driving at all (wouldn't dare LOL) in Italy.
My fear was to be refused entry because my tickets to museums/attractions do NOT match the passport name exactly. It sounds like it won't be an issue as long as I have proof of identity. :D
Miuccia - with all due respect, in my 60 years of life, I have never had a negative encounter with a cop. I support police officers. My father was a cop. I respect the very risky work they do and the fact that my town is kept safe thanks to their efforts. I do believe in law and order. :-)
Thanks again to everyone for your insightful comments!
