Spain's new law (Royal Decree 933/2021) - re personal information at lodging

[Pilgrim2022]

I wonder how many other people (besides me) are giving second thoughts to walking the Camino in Spain because of all the new information needed to submit under the new law for entry that became effective Dec 2?

 

[Marbe2]

I am not sure why you would hesitate coming? What information are you concerned about giving them. If you use a company like booking.com they will provide most of that information as understand it? .

 

[Pilgrim2022]

I am not sure why you would hesitate coming? What information are you concerned about giving them. If you use a company like booking.com they will provide most of that information as understand it? .

I do use Booking.com and I know they have my CC info and also when arrive at the places I stay, they make copies of my Passport, but it seems that this new law is asking for much more. Am I mistaken and perhaps a bit intimidated by this new law?

 

[C clearly]

We have had no shortage of discussion on this topic. Here are a few threads, for your Saturday reading pleasure:

• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...or-spanish-accommodations.84192/#post-1203912
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...law-royal-decree-933-2021.89898/#post-1313539
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-travellers-in-spain-starting-feb-2023.78423/
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/new-spanish-tourist-rules.89792/#post-1311412
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ccommodation-requirements.89777/#post-1311057
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ersonal-data-now-required.89748/#post-1310632

 

[Pilgrim2022]

We have had no shortage of discussion on this topic. Here are a few threads, for your Saturday reading pleasure:

• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...or-spanish-accommodations.84192/#post-1203912
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...law-royal-decree-933-2021.89898/#post-1313539
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-travellers-in-spain-starting-feb-2023.78423/
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/new-spanish-tourist-rules.89792/#post-1311412
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ccommodation-requirements.89777/#post-1311057
• https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ersonal-data-now-required.89748/#post-1310632

Thank you! Gracias!

 

[JCLima]

I wonder how many other people (besides me) are giving second thoughts to walking the Camino in Spain because of all the new information needed to submit under the new law for entry that became effective Dec 2?

Not me.

 

[henrythedog]

Not me.

I have some sympathy with the donativos and municipales where ‘check-in’ currently can be as informal as ‘hola!’; but as prior threads ad nauseam have discussed; it’s no different than checking into a hotel is now.

 

[Marbe2]

Suggest you go with your camino plans, and not be too concerned about your data. I would be proactive about monitoring your credit reports periodically. And I always ask my CC companys for new cards after using the on an international trip. I tend to stay at hotels or private places and they take most of this data anyway.

 

[henrythedog]

Suggest you go with your camino plans, and not be too concerned about your data. I would be proactive about monitoring your credit reports periodically. And I always ask my CC companys for new cards after using the on an international trip. I tend to stay at hotels or private places and they take most of this data anyway.

Seriously - you swap any credit card you’ve used on an international trip?

Why?

 

[Marbe2]

Seriously - you swap any credit card you’ve used on an international trip?

Why?

I usually use only two. Security…if someone gives the data away, they no longer have the card number I used.

 

[Tincatinker]

I’ll bang on on this until I get bored. Then I’ll stop.
You use the internet; you have a mobile phone; you use banks and credit cards; you use tap&go; you use Farcebook, Berking.con, Instagrab, you pay local property taxes, are a library card holder…

Your personal and private data is already available to anyone that wants it bad enough to put the effort into collating it.

You’ve probably already published your favourite coffee bar / restaurant / pub. You’ll have put up a dozen pictures of your so kidnappable pet, or worse, your children. You’ll have raised your health concerns that any insurer can find with a simple search when they seek to refuse a claim. Anyone who has watched a movie with Tom Cruise in it knows how easy it is, unless, of course, they thought it was just a movie. And, of course, your streaming provider knows exactly what movies you like to watch and can feed your needs even when you didn’t know you had them.

And, please remember that just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you

 

[dougfitz]

I'm with @Tincatinker, @Marbe2 and @henrythedog on this. It doesn't seem to me to be a good reason not to travel to Spain. Someone more knowledgeable about EU data protection laws might explain what protection they give. Any collection tools will have to comply with those, and any additional protections included in the law. It appears that these are pretty strong protections, certainly more robust than many places outside of the EU.

 

[naplesdon]

The security offered by the newer tap and go credit cards is only as good as the distance you are standing away from the scanner you about to use. User beware.

 

[PelegrinNikolai]

I'm not concerned. One of my CCs is from Wise, so I get a notification on my phone app every time money goes in or out. I'd freeze the card quickly if there were transactions happening that shouldn't be. I normally travel with a 3 different CCs and enough cash - just in case. The same cards have been re-used for travel, I've never had any incidents.

As for identity fraud, the best way to minimise that is to avoid social media

I've seen users on here post images that include their passport numbers, full names and addresses . I would implore users to espcially avoid doing that on public Facebook posts.

 

[Robo]

Suggest you go with your camino plans, and not be too concerned about your data. I would be proactive about monitoring your credit reports periodically. And I always ask my CC companys for new cards after using the on an international trip. I tend to stay at hotels or private places and they take most of this data anyway.

I've never asked my Bank for 'new' cards, but I tend to take 2-3 just in case of problems.
I have to say the fraud protection by the banks we use here in Australia is really good in our experience at least.

I even had a call that went..........

Bank. Are you in Manila?
Me. No.
Bank. So you didn't just buy a diamond ring valued at $5.000?
Me. No!
Bank. Don't worry, we didn't approve the transaction, as it was did not fit your normal spending profile.

I now also tell my bank of my travel plans. with dates and countries.

One lesson I learned last year though.

How do you contact your bank when overseas?
And how do you 'approve' payments that they might hold until you confirm they are legit.

I had my phone set to SMS messaging for such things.
Of course with a Spanish SIM card this didn't work.
(though I had my home SIM with me, just not in the phone)
So on calling the bank, they switched the approval process for me.
I can now do it through the phone app.

 

[Robo]

I wonder how many other people (besides me) are giving second thoughts to walking the Camino in Spain because of all the new information needed to submit under the new law for entry that became effective Dec 2?

Doesn't worry me.
I'm sure booking dot com, Amazon and half a dozen others already have more information on me.

 

[truenorthpilgrm]

I wonder how many other people (besides me) are giving second thoughts to walking the Camino in Spain because of all the new information needed to submit under the new law for entry that became effective Dec 2?

Absolutely not.

 

[bestfootforward]

I wonder how many other people (besides me) are giving second thoughts to walking the Camino in Spain because of all the new information needed to submit under the new law for entry that became effective Dec 2?

I think you'll be staying home alot as what's now in place in Spain is in place pretty much everywhere, if you're not confining yourself to free-camping or couch-surfing at friends' places. It's not a big deal. And as @Tincatinker so brilliantly put it, your stuff is already out there.....everywhere. Just keep enjoying your life and your travels....and many more Buen Caminos!