Why do Portugal’s Airbnbs want my details?

Whenever you book a hotel or AirBNB, you always have to provide some details. But is a Portuguese owner's request for a passport number  reasonable or a red flag?

The owner’s request is not only reasonable, it’s mandated by Portuguese law governing border control and immigration.

Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions.

I’ve booked an apartment in Portugal using Airbnb and the owner has requested my passport number, flight number and country of origin, citing “Portuguese Government entry requirements”. Is this correct?

Ah, the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (or SEF) strikes again. I know it sounds dodgy, but the owner’s request is not only reasonable, it’s mandated by Portuguese law governing border control and immigration. What this essentially means is that all accommodation – be it private holiday rentals through the likes of Airbnb, or hotels – must provide detailed reports on each guest to the SEF.

The reports include a guest’s full name, birth date, nationality, home address and, yes, details of an identity document. Most owners will request the information once the reservation/booking is made. Flight information? I suspect that’s mostly for their own benefit.

Portugal isn’t the only country that requires this level of personal information before a stay. Spain and Italy are two other destinations where accommodation providers must report the finer details of all guest stays to the government.

Most owners will request the information once the reservation/booking is made.

I can understand your reluctance to share your personal information but, if you refuse to comply, they’re likely to cancel your booking. Anyone who continues with the booking after your refusal (and some do) is breaking the law.

Airbnb has strict rules about sharing personal information, but I would call them to discuss your concerns, plus any options that may be available to you.

Don’t ever send personal information – particularly copies and details of identification documents – via email. Only send them via secure cloud storage or end-to-end encryption.

It might be lacking in airport hotels, but LAX is home to more than 20 lounges.

I have an eight-hour stopover in LAX and am flying economy. Can you suggest a good rest area?

It might be lacking in airport hotels, but LAX is home to more than 20 lounges – some of which can be enjoyed by any passenger willing to buy a day pass. Check out Alaska Lounge ($US60), the Star Alliance lounge ($US65) and the United Airlines United Club ($US59). Just note the Star Alliance lounge has a three-hour time limit.

Are any cruise ships dog-friendly? I love cruising, but I don’t want to leave my dog at home.

I wish I had better news, but as of 2023 only one cruise line allows garden-variety dogs (and cats) on board. Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 has specific sailings between New York and Southampton where they’ll allow Fido and Puss to hitch a ride, but even then our seafaring pets are confined to the (luxurious) pet quarters of deck 12 and dedicated owner’s lounge, so no in-cabin snuggling allowed. Instead, they have their choice of 24 kennels, plus a team of staff who will walk, feed and play with them, and yes, clean up after them when you’re not visiting.

Other cruise lines will accept service dogs, but each one has its own rules as to what this means. On Royal Caribbean, only pets that are “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the person with a disability” are allowed, while on Carnival “working service dogs, which are legally defined and individually trained to meet disability-related needs by performing tasks like guiding a blind person, alerting a deaf person, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks” is allowed. You can argue your case for your “emotional support maltese terrier”, but such a request will likely be rejected.

In Europe, your pooch would be able to cruise its many rivers, courtesy of 1AVista Reisen, a boutique German river cruise company as geared towards canines as it is to humans. In Australia, however, we’re out of luck. Short of a daytrip on a cruise such as Perfect Nature Cruises in Western Australia, Tamar River Cruises in Tasmania, or the Daintree River Cruise Centre in Queensland, you may have to look to houseboat adventures instead. Mildura Houseboats and Riverfun Houseboats are happy for you to bring your dog upon request.

Originally published as Why do Portugal’s Airbnbs want my details?