Hello, I am taking my over 65 year old mother to Spain in early June. For many of the sites in both Madrid and Barcelona, she qualifies for a Senior's discount. Does anyone know if a photocopied page of her passport will suffice as proof of her age or does she need to carry her actual passport around each day with her? Thanks for the help! Hopefully the photocopy will work as the passport is bulkier in her money belt and just plain riskier to carry!
Linnet
Linnet, I would imagine it would be good to have the required proof with you (I am in the camp of always carrying my actual passport). However I was in Barcelona last week and for several places I had a senior ticket for myself and a non senior ticket for my friend - both were on my phone. Anecdotally no one ever asked to see proof. Just the tickets.
At least once a museum has refused to accept a copy of my passport for renting an audio guide. (Sometimes they want ID as security.) My guess is that the photocopy will nearly always work as proof of age, so I suppose the question is how much it will bother you if at one or two sights your mother has to pay the full entry price.
In some places your mother may not be asked for any proof at all; that may depend on whether the ticket checker/seller thinks she looks like she qualifies for the discount. I am definitely not asked all the time.
You can take a look at the websites of the museums you're planning to visit to see what they say.
Thanks to both of you travel mom and acraven for your thoughts! I really appreciate your time!!
Not sure if it is an issue anymore, but at least some visitors have reported issues with the discount only applying to Spanish Pensioners, or those with an EU ID card, so being refused. I am sure it also varies depending on private vs State museums. I would carry your passport anyway, securely on your body, and try. If for some reason you are refused, just be gracious and pay the required amount. You may also have no problems, just be prepared.
My guess is any Photo ID, passport, driver’s license, etc., would be sufficient, but it really depends on the venue. Not certain about photo copies.
Does she have a state ID card or a driver's license. That's all I've had to show for discounts at sights and at Renfe to get the senior discount card - tarjeta dorada.
I've had good luck with a photocopy, but have not traveled in two years.
Paul's right that some discounts are for EU citizens (or residents??) only--and not just in Spain. Back before Brexit it crossed my mind that some ticket folks might assume I was English and therefore qualified for the discount. I would certainly never lie about my nationality, but I confess that I don't walk up to the ticket desk waving my US passport around. Now, post-Brexit, I guess there won't be any confusion at all.
Museum websites usually make it clear when discounts are restricted to EU folks, local residents or some sub-set of people. You may need to click through a few screens to find the details about qualifying for the various discounts, but it will almost certainly be there.
We used our driver's licenses as proof of age at museums in Madrid.
My drivers’ license is what I’ve presented when asked for proof of age to obtain senior discounts. I don’t remember ever having to present my passport for age verification. Naturally, it’s generally a must for hotel checkin. I’ve always presented the original documents.
Thanks all for the information! I really appreciate it! We're going to try to buy most of our tickets online ahead of time, so it will just be a question of showing proof onsite. Thanks again for everyone's input!!
