Do you carry your passport when out and about when on holidays?

[justinbrett]

When I stayed at The Bellagio, I walked straight through the gaming area to the lifts to get to the room. Maybe the tables have ID checks, although didn’t appear so. However, no checks when I lost some money on the machines. So, you may be thinking of another casino.

All casinos will check IDs when table gaming - but not every person. In recent years I rarely get carded gambling, but if there's people who are obviously under 25s at the table they will usually get asked for ID. It seems a much more pragmatic approach (similar to Australian bars). Compared to going to an actual bar or club in Vegas, where they card 80 year olds (I guess if that venue is paying to have a bouncer, they may as well card everyone - but if the dealer is carding everyone, that's stopping gameplay and thus revenue for the casino).

If you're at a machine (other than at a bar) I think you can get randomly carded. I think you would only get carded at the cage if you had a very large amount - but that's more for tracking than age verification.

But as stated there's no check on entry so I don't know how you can be denied entry... They rarely even have people on the doors, and I was there when masks were mandatory and that wasn't being policed.

 

[harvyk]

Interesting how people are talking about digital drivers licenses not being accepted, and this may be something interesting for another topic.

There is something "real" about a piece of plastic which is just not the case for any "digital" ID solution. IMHO a digital solution can be (virtually) impossible to fake if it is secured with a digital authentication signature, the reality is that most people would do a visual check of the ID, and thus not actually validate it is valid. This means that whilst the police are likely to validate a "digital" ID, that nightclub bouncer probably won't (and I'd put a 50/50 chance on a car rental place).

Of course that piece of plastic can be faked as well, but it requires equipment that the average person is unlikely to have at home (seriously, how many people have a card printer that can do holograms stashed away at home), but the code to make a digital ID that passes the eye ball test is not exactly hard.

 

[Muriel]

Have never carried a passport including in countries like Thailand where I believe it is the law to do so.

While travelling in USA we left our passport in hotel. We were challenged by a poker faced police/border security close to Mexican who insisted that we should always carry our passport with us in USA. It was not a pleasant experience for 2 ho eat seniors.

 

[QF029]

I think it's completely different if you're doing something that needs an ID. If I was going to a casino or bar

While travelling in USA we left our passport in hotel. We were challenged by a poker faced police/border security close to Mexican who insisted that we should always carry our passport with us in USA. It was not a pleasant experience for 2 ho eat seniors.

It's a calculated risk. I lived in the US for 2 years and was never asked for a passport but I wasn't close to the border.

 

[RooFlyer]

Archives are another one as well if you do family history research.

I found it easier to get into the Pentagon than the Archives in Washington.

Ha ha. You just reminded me of a wasted half day, when I rocked up without my passport. Bizarre policy, given what you are actually accessing.

 

[DC3]

There are a lot of different things that can happen when you go outside. A passport is what identifies you as a citizen of Australia, as a person. I take my passport every time I go outside, especially if will drink or go out of the city. If you lose it, you can always redo it, but if there happen some unplanned things, at least police or medics will identify you.

Love it. Living on the edge. Craaaaazy.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

In China, I took a photocopy of my passport everywhere.

As I posted above the days of laminated colour copy of data page of Passport way gone in China - now impossible for foreigner to buy train ticket or to enter railway station without real Passport - other than trains and now inter city buses I have never required Passport anywhere in China for last 25yrs

I too have been going to LV annually for >20yrs and never had request for Passport except when checking into hotels

 

[justinbrett]

There are a lot of different things that can happen when you go outside. A passport is what identifies you as a citizen of Australia, as a person. I take my passport every time I go outside, especially if will drink or go out of the city. If you lose it, you can always redo it, but if there happen some unplanned things, at least police or medics will identify you.

There are some countries in the world where this is a legal requirement (though most will accept a photocopy). It is not a legal requirement either in the US or Australia. You can drive in most states of the US without an IDP - which means if you get pulled over by police, your Australian DL is all you need to show.

You do you, but IMO there's far more cons form potentially losing or having your passport stolen, than the pro of a very unlikely situation where you might need it. Obviously if you are doing something that day where you think you'll probably need it (banking etc), sure, but to do it every day just in case - wowzers, I wouldn't be doing that. I have enough trouble not losing my passport when I'm only carrying it on travel days!

Losing your passport can put a very big spanner in the works, especially if you are not near a consulate. It's up to 6 weeks at the moment for an ordinary passport - sure the consulate will get it faster but it will cost you! And the more it happens, the more it will cost you.

Police/Medics in an English speaking country are perfectly able to read an Australian drivers licence in the event of an emergency.

 

[justinbrett]

I too have been going to LV annually for >20yrs and never had request for Passport except when checking into hotels

As you probably know, most Vegas properties are doing digital check in now (similar to Hilton). I stayed at the Bellagio earlier this year and got an Uber from the airport, I checked in on the drive to the strip and could walk straight to my room, using phone as a key (or they have machines to print keycards) - all without speaking to a human.

So definitely don't need to show a passport to stay in hotels anymore. In any case, I always had just given my DL, never got asked for a passport that I can remember. In fact that goes for all of the US, not just Vegas.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Um the $20 upgrade trick in LV still hasn’t found it’s way into the digital world as yet so yep it’s still a visit to front desk for me - I like human interaction too

 

[DC3]

So definitely don't need to show a passport to stay in hotels anymore. In any case, I always had just given my DL, never got asked for a passport that I can remember. In fact that goes for all of the US, not just Vegas.

That was my experience in the US recently. Digital check-in everywhere and no lining up at the front desk. . Go straight to the room.

 

[justinbrett]

Um the $20 upgrade trick in LV still hasn’t found it’s way into the digital world as yet so yep it’s still a visit to front desk for me - I like human interaction too

And 2 hour queues it would seem

I'll take my interaction at the tables!

Had pretty good upgrade rate automatically booking with my players card (MGM usually)

 

[justinbrett]

Um the $20 upgrade trick in LV still hasn’t found it’s way into the digital world as yet so yep it’s still a visit to front desk for me - I like human interaction too

Follow up - how do you do the $20 trick with a passport? That requires a DL and credit card. A bit weird with a bulky passport!

 

[DC3]

Follow up - how do you do the $20 trick with a passport? That requires a DL and credit card. A bit weird with a bulky passport!

Bribing the front desk clerk?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

You just fold the note up and put it inside passport b4 passing it across - not that complicated - and the only tables I am interested in in LV have food on them - must be lucky as I have never ever stood in a line for any length of time to check in that I can remember

Or you can upgrade to $50 if you want - I have done that too - bribe? Nah it’s called a pre-emptive tip in good ol’ USA

 

[justinbrett]

You just fold the note up and put it inside passport b4 passing it across - not that complicated - and the only tables I am interested in in LV have food on them - must be lucky as I have never ever stood in a line for any length of time to check in that I can remember

Or you can upgrade to $50 if you want - I have done that too - bribe? Nah it’s called a pre-emptive tip in good ol’ USA

I am surprised that works, because I often leave bits of paper in my passport - not out of the question I'd have money in there unintentionally. It's a brave person at the desk to assume it's a tip, even if they clarify (very different to how it's supposed to be done, a sandwich in between your DL & CC, which is obvious).

To be clear, I've got no problems with the $20 trick, I just think it's really weird to be doing it with a passport. That said, most Vegas regulars are reporting the trick is becoming less and less effective. They're moving towards recognising guests through the players club loyalty programs similar to the major hotel chains.

 

[Scarlett]

For those who have answered in the affirmative and do carry their passport with them, how many times has it gone through the washing machine?

For those who answer zero, what you really mean is, not yet.

 

[UP4014]

For those who have answered in the affirmative and do carry their passport with them, how many times has it gone through the washing machine?

For those who answer zero, what you really mean is, not yet.

Never, but then I don't wear my jeans when they are in the washing machine.

 

[JohnK]

For those who have answered in the affirmative and do carry their passport with them, how many times has it gone through the washing machine?

For those who answer zero, what you really mean is, not yet.

I used to carry passport with me in Thailand.

Never went through washing machine but it was in my back pocket at golf (yes silly idea) and it had stains from sweat or rain. Had some issues at immigration in some countries and I was forced to renew 3 years early.

Current passport is now 5 years old and it is starting to look raggedy.

 

[Katie]

I think I carried my passport with me in Moscow, but that was in 2011. I'm pretty sure I needed it for accessing Lenin's tomb.

I was also aware of scams of "police" asking for your passport around the tourist hotspots, then demanding to be paid to return it to you. I have a vague feeling I may have carried a colour photocopy of it for the tourist areas.

I haven't had an issue having my Qld DL accepted for proof of age in the US. Sometimes confusion over my birthdate, as it's valid in both the US and AU date formats, without changing from the AU format.

When I used to go to Atlanta, and stayed out in the suburbs, I'd always get carded, as did my colleagues. One was 50+, and we were going to places like PF Changs. They carded everyone. So, it depends on the local rules in the US. As we probably all know, there's a lot of regional variation about many things - coke, pop, soda, sweet tea ...