Bike Hire: Philippines
 

Hi all!
I'm planning to ride around northern Luzon in the Philippines. A requirement from pretty much all the bike hire companies is that they hold onto your passport. I'm a little reluctant to give my passport and they will not accept a photocopy. What is everyones opinions/experience with this?

What do u do when an authority in that country demands to see your passport ?

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I can't speak for the Philippines, but in Thailand they try to pull the same shit. The law says you must keep your passport on you at all times, and as far as I'm concerned that over rides what they want.

I would always just offer them the photocopy, and if they don't like it just walk away. There's always another place just down the road, and they know it. They also know it's the law to keep your own passport on you, unless you're a local and you've got an ID card.

Enlist the help of your long haired dictionary to get a lease doctored up to say you're staying around for a few months, it might help.

Lots of Passport Scams out there so I would avoid it, although when I rented in Cebu a couple years ago I ended up losing the passport battle, which is something I rarely ever do.

I would offer an extra deposit instead and a copy.

Where are you going in Luzon?

The Roads to Baguio are Amazing and they actually have Pine Trees there, very crazy. Banaue is very cool, dress warm both places are cold this time of year

Edit: Bat Highway is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in my life, it is near subic bay and requires you be there when the sun sets.

2 of the passengers on flight mh370 had false passports traced to a rental shop in Pattaya, thailand , where they had gone missing. Maybe just tell them you would report them to the authorities and see what they say?