Loisde

What would be the simplest way to provide a lodging deposit to a B & B? My husband and I have made reservations for a place in Tenterden, Kent, that does not take credit cards, but asked for a £25.00 deposit instead. We could certainly send a check, but it would be drawn on a US bank in US $.

Any suggestions?

ira

Hi Lois,

Ask your B&B if they would take a check in dollars at the current equivalent of 35GBP (the extra is for the cost of cashing the check). You can then give them cash upon arrival.

SandyBrit

Hello:

Here's what worked for us. I ask the B&B if they would be willing to accept a check drawn on our American bank at the current exchange rate and if they wished they could immediately cash at their English bank or they could hold as a security deposit. Check takes about 2 weeks to clear. Upon our arrival at the B&B we were returned our deposit check and we immediately paid in cash. It was clearly understood that in the event we were a no show then the B&B could still go ahead and cash the deposit check.

Every B&B that we have stayed with that took only cash was happy with this arrangement and always held our check which we always tore up upon arrival and paid in cash.

I always promptly mailed the deposit check and again suggested that they should certainly go ahead and deposit the check if they were more comfortable with that arrangement.

I always received a e-mail upon receipt of the deposit check and often a little note saying something like holding your check and looking forward to meeting you.

Someone else on this board suggested going to your US bank and buying a traveller's check for the 25 GBP. I assume they still sell them. We used them years ago but of course no longer bother.

Sandy

janis

I have several times done what ira and SandyBrit advise. The B&B almost always holds the $ check until our arrival when we pay the full tabe in £ cash.

Only once has the B&B actually cashed the check ahead of time - but that was fine w/ me.

a $ check is enough insurance for the B&B since they can cash it if you don't show up.

Bob_C

It is not a Traveller's Check that you get but a Bank Draft in pounds. The draft is made out to the B&B, the only problem has to do with the fee that the bank will charge, which could be as high as $25. So the best would be to check if they would take your check as stated in the previous posts.