Hello,
I apologize for the question if it has been brought up before, but I am staying at a VRBO flat in Paris in the beginning of August and the proprietor has asked for copies of my (and my family's) passport ro be sent to her private email as well as a form de Police that gives general information on myself and my family. Is this usual? I am nervous about sending a stranger my passport info especially in a city that is somewhat crazy at the moment.
Thank,
Kristy
Posted by
Mayberry on the Willamette
355 posts
Very normal. As I understand it all hotels & rentals are required to have lodgers info on file
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2544 posts
This is common at hotels and rentals all over Europe.
Posted by
la la land...
1003 posts
Very normal. As I understand it all hotels & rentals are required to have lodgers info on file
True, but I have never been asked by a hotel to email any such info to them prior to my arrival. I haven't booked an AirBnB in Europe since 2018 (Paris in 2016), and I was never asked for that info in advance, either, so maybe things have changed in the rentals biz.
However I did use VRBO for a rental in Avignon in 2012, and dealing with the owner on the booking was quite involved, lots of paperwork emailed to him (he wanted proof of liability insurance from me, he wanted to be paid via PayPal - no credit cards - and he wanted a security deposit in the form of a personal check made out for $1,000, to be cashed only if there were damages - there were none, and he emailed me a photo of my check that he tore up.. That loopy experience turned me off of VRBO, and I exclusively used AirBnB in Europe after that through 2018, but I no longer care for the AirBnB experience - short notice cancellations, the proliferation of fraudulent and illegal listings - so I now stick with hotels.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8963 posts
It the only piece of identification you have that is legally proof of who you are. They dont go by drivers licenses there.
Posted by
Paris
7299 posts
This is quite normal indeed.
And even th experience below was the norm for pre-Airbnb rentals. In France, home insurance includes liability insurance, so the proof of insurance bit is no issue
However I did use VRBO for a rental in Avignon in 2012, and dealing with the owner on the booking was quite involved, lots of paperwork emailed to him (he wanted proof of liability insurance from me, he wanted to be paid via PayPal - no credit cards - and he wanted a security deposit in the form of a personal check made out for $1,000, to be cashed only if there were damages - there were none, and he emailed me a photo of my check that he tore up.