Coastaljen Posted December 7, 2008 #1 Share Posted December 7, 2008 Just checking. I know nobody responded that they knew anything about this company. However, they also asked for passport numbers when we confirmed via email. I have done that in other countries like Russia for private tours, but this is the first time for South America. I am just the super overly cautious type with other people... sorry. It is probably just fine, but I wondered. I did google and found the company and website on several boards. Then someone on here took them in 2002. Yeah ... one post in 2002. argh.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmelita Posted December 7, 2008 #2 Share Posted December 7, 2008 We're booking several private transport & hotel options for our post-SA cruise time in February and everybody seems to want that info so it doesn't seem unusual. We were in Peru this past May and also had to provide passport #'s for several bookings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastaljen Posted December 7, 2008 Author #3 Share Posted December 7, 2008 Thanks for the information! :) I just wanted to make sure. Their website looks very professional. I thought I was "paranoid" until someone else on the tour said they wondered about providing that information too. That is why I figured I might as well see what others have experienced. Jennifer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greatam Posted December 7, 2008 #4 Share Posted December 7, 2008 Hotel booking in most of SA-yes ALL bookings in Peru (so you don't have to pay the 19% tax)-yes Other tour companies-I have RARELY been asked and wouldn't give it to them if they did ask. WHY would they want to know???? IF it is for credit card processing, you have your choice of ID-DL/passport, but most foreign countries will ask for passport FOR CREDIT CARD PROCESSING. If they are just asking for a booking (no credit card processing and no tax issue), they are overstepping, IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmelita Posted December 8, 2008 #5 Share Posted December 8, 2008 We're using El Chalten Travel to take us by bus to/from El Calafate & Torres del Paine. They want passport #'s for all 6 people that will be travelling - maybe because we are doing a border crossing? A couple of Refugios in Torres del Paine Park require one number to complete the booking. In both cases. I'd rather give them the numbers than risk not getting the transport or hotel. In the last 10 years of travel we've had to hand over our passports many times to the hotels for the night in Europe, Asia & Africa, never had a problem getting them back so I guess maybe I'm a bit laissez-faire about giving out the numbers. During our 52 hour door to door trip from Arequipa, Peru to Midway, UT, the biggest passport fiasco was at the Lima Airport when they cancelled the flight the the US and we had to "re-enter" Peru. American Airlines quit giving English instructions about an hour into the debacle and at one point asked everybody to hand in their passports. Kind of scary watching one person carry a couple of stacks of passports out of sight. Upon returning, they handed back the Peruvian National ones and no US ones. The crowd went ballistic!! Eventually we got them back but definitely was not the most secure environment. Still laugh at the video clip we have of the craziness at the Lima airport. So, all in all giving out the numbers to secure bookings doesn't seem too horrendous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray&Sara Posted December 8, 2008 #6 Share Posted December 8, 2008 We were asked for our passport numbers for both Punto Tombo and Buenos Aires. I balked and both tour operators told me it was for insurance purposes. I called the State Department and asked if there had been reports of scams or something that used passports and was told it is not unusual to be asked for the passport numbers in South America. Sara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastaljen Posted December 8, 2008 Author #7 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Great to hear Sara. It also makes me realize I wasn't the only one that thought twice about it. I was thinking I was just too paranoid. :-) Now I think I might actually be normal after all. ha ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoOneWillAnswer Posted December 8, 2008 #8 Share Posted December 8, 2008 However, they also asked for passport numbers when we confirmed via email. I have done that in other countries like Russia for private tours, but this is the first time for South America. Hi, we just returned this weekend from Argentina & Uruguay. We used only private services and the Buquebus, but were asked for passport and personal details. It seemed to be a uniform procedure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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