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[jeremystravels]

Since I am getting ready to go on a trip, I was thinking if there are any places that do not allow people to enter with a bag. I know many people, like myself, carry around a backpack when visiting sites to hold belongings like cameras and other gear. I think it would be really useful to have a list of places that do not allow bags inside to help people when planning. Last time I was in Europe a friend of mine was not allowed in St Marks Basilica in Venice after waiting in line because he had his bag, and there were no places for him to store it. He had to wait for us to get out to go in, which he decided not to do.

Here are a few places I know of from first hand experiences or read about:

St Marks Basilica - Venice, Italy [No Photos]
Egyptian Museum - Cairo, Egypt [No Cameras, Check Room Available]
Inside the Pyramids - Cairo, Egypt [No Cameras Either]
Inside the tomb of Tutankhamen - Luxor, Egypt [No Cameras Either]

I know there are more, but lets get a list going. Where are places you have been that do not allow bags inside? If you remember, note if they had a check room available as well or allowed cameras!

[mmbcross]

I'm just wondering why you would visit Tutankhamen's tomb with a bag. I imagine they they would be nervous that you are carrying something in that you shouldn't, of perhaps you would be taking something out you shouldn't. Most stores make you check your bags before entering the store to avoid shoplifters. It just wouldn't occur to me that Tutankhamen's tomb has a check room for people with bags.

[jeremystravels]

I'm just wondering why you would visit Tutankhamen's tomb with a bag. I imagine they they would be nervous that you are carrying something in that you shouldn't, of perhaps you would be taking something out you shouldn't. Most stores make you check your bags before entering the store to avoid shoplifters. It just wouldn't occur to me that Tutankhamen's tomb has a check room for people with bags.

They don't have a check room but sometimes I read you can leave them outside near the guards. I've just read that they don't like people going in with bags. Since people go to the Valley of the Kings purely for the tombs, I can see people leaving the bags in the hotel. Still, some people still carry bags while going out there. I don't think there is anything inside the tombs anymore that you could remove anyway. But if I were going out on a day tour to say, the Pyramids, I might take a bag with me to carry some things, and I'd have to leave it outside with someone not going in. The other thing is some of these places don't allow cameras either, and taking a bag with you will at least help you hide the camera when you leave it outside. People might be less grabby with things if it is just a regular bag than if it were a $1000 camera. I am not going to make the trek to a remote tomb like this only to not go in because I have a camera, so having something safe to hide it in and leave it with someone trust worthy is an extra precaution.

[polydemic]

City Lights Bookstore, in San Francisco, requires you leave your backpack at the front register on entering.

[greekcypriot]

I'm just wondering why you would visit Tutankhamen's tomb with a bag. I imagine they they would be nervous that you are carrying something in that you shouldn't, of perhaps you would be taking something out you shouldn't. Most stores make you check your bags before entering the store to avoid shoplifters. It just wouldn't occur to me that Tutankhamen's tomb has a check room for people with bags.

I think Martin is absolutely right here.
These people over there need to be sure that they keep the place safe.
Anyway, I have visited all three places you mentioned and I was holding a bag with my video camera, my digital camera and personal belongings. And always they have a safe place to place your belongings -personal things besides cameras I mean - and get them when back.

And besides, it is better leaving your belongings at the hotel if you are planning to go to the desert where it is so hot. Just take your cameras.
And I remember that most of the times I am allowed to have the digital camera at least with me.


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[mmbcross]

It's true that many places don't allow photography, but I've never been told I must leave my camera outside. I guess it's because I just carry a digital camera. I would imagine that if your equipment looks more professional, they may balk at allowing it inside. In this case, if you do have to leave it, they should give you some kind of receipt stating exactly what you have left with them. If no one can write in English, then you are in trouble!

[travelmonster]

The Hypogeum in Paola, Malta do not allow people to take bags or cameras inside. They take them off of you as you go in and put them in a cupboard under the reception desk.

[mmbcross]

Goodness, that sounds really efficient. Don't they even give you a ticket?

[purplebuggy]

I just found out today that Kenya has banned plastic bags in Nairobi. The Australian govenrment travel information site sent an email today updating Kenyan travel and I found this in the Local Laws Section of the Advisory:

"Plastic bags are banned in Nairobi. It is illegal to sell, import, manufacture and store non-biodegradable carry bags less than 30 microns thick. Offenders could be jailed for six months."


I wonder how that affects ziplock baggies...

pb

[greekcypriot]

I find this positive!

Don't you think that it is time that we use more natural products my friend? Why the panic?
And in Germany, and probably UK but the second I am not sure, you pay for the plastic bag you get to put your products in. This is just to make people bring along their (cloth bags) to put everything in, at the supermarkets.


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(New entries-Many photos)

[mmbcross]

Well said, Popi. Seems like Kenya is way ahead of us all.

Oh, and by the way, indeed a ziplock bag is plastic, so watch out. They will probably confiscate the bag and contents at the airport if they find it on you. If you smuggle it in, goodness knows what will happen to you if they find out. You will probably get thrown to the Tsavo lions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man-Eaters_of_Tsavo

[starlagurl]

Re: King Tut, probably most people just leave their bags on the tour bus.

[travelmonster]

Goodness, that sounds really efficient. Don't they even give you a ticket?

No, they just pull the all the bags out afterwards and everyone just steps forward and gets theirs. They only allow a small group in at a time - 10 people if my memory serves me right, so there isn't loads of bags.

[purplebuggy]

I rarely get plastic bags when shopping and I don't buy garbage bags, the few bags I do get are recycled for garbage bags instead. I love my calico bag...

I definately agree it's positve but jail time seems a little extreme... but maybe a fine isn't always appropriate, especially when it comes to tourists taking it seriously. I guess I'll see when I'm actually there as to why that would be so. But as for getting thrown to the Tsavo lions, maybe it's a chance to see them up close and personal jk

pb