How do you book a hotel room with a credit card?
 

I am making several bookings at European Hotels and they ask for my credit card. I am loathe to e-mail it because of security issues. Do you call them directly? Any issues with language? If they ask for a deposit, do you expect them to charge it when you book or when you arrive? How much of a deposit is reasonable - one night? Thanks.

You should either call them or fax your credit card number. If you reserve with a credit card, it is unlikely that they will ask for a deposit. I have never had that happen. As for language issues, ask when you call if someone speaks English. Normally, someone does.

Try and learn how to say, "Do you speak English?" in the native language of the country you are calling. They wil appreciate it.

I usually email to get all the information, then fax my credit card. I also ask them to email or fax me confirming they have received it. On occasion I'll call. When calling I always ask if they speak English, and naturally my email and fax are in English. I've never had a problem. I have never had to leave a deposit.

bashful...I use one credit exclusively for all hotel business..guarantee,deposit,payment,etc.In the unlikely event that it is hijacked, then I have other cards I can use for "daily usage".I have never had any language issues.However, if you call, I suggest you be aware of the time in the locale of you call.You are far more likely to get an English speaking employee if they get your call between say 8.30am and 5.30pm, or therebaouts.If you call at 3pm your time you may get the night clerk whose command of English is less enhanced..Hope this helps....S

bashful-
Here is a recent thread about booking hotels. I think the consensus is to split up sending your credit card # + expiration date via 2 separate emails or faxes if you are worried about security. Some people prefer calling though.
Most hotels usually tell you whether they will charge you immediately or not on their website. My experience is they don't charge until you arrive. Some hotels have rules that if you don't show up AND don't cancel ahead of time, they will charge you 1st night's stay.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34474852

And in some cases, you have to cancel 72 hours or 48 hours or 24 hours in advance - be sure to find the appropriate cancellation policy ahead of time.

I usually do send the number via email, but write it out (with words) in the local language on multiple lines.

E.g.:
eins-zwei-drei-vier
fuenf-sechs-acht-sieben
...

I figure this should be enough to foil any of the email sniffers that are looking for the classic 16 (or 4 groups of 4) digits. I've used this quite a bit over the past couple of years and never had a problem with the hotels accepting it. While I've never had a security problem, of course I make no guarentees.

Paul

Since your original question was "how do you...?" I have to say I always send my CC details in e-mail, have never had a problem of any sort, and since the liability for most users hit by fraud is limited to $50 max by the issuing bank, etc., I continue to do so. I also save on phone bills by not faxing and not knowing IF the fax actually went through.

If you are still hesitant to send your CC details via e-mail you might consider doing it in DIVIDED e-mails...what makes you think that doing it by fax is any safer..who is reading that fax at the other end?

we just had this thread on here. I guess I'm in the minority in that I just send the number by email, I don't care, it doesn't bother me and I'm not worried about that at all. I don't think there's any measurable risk in that in comparison to any other method. Besides, as Jon says, you are protected from fraud.

I think by deposit, bashful means what they are going to charge immediately on that card number. If they didn't charge it, it wouldn't be a deposit. The whole point of giving the CC is for a guarantee, and some do use it for a deposit, but I've never had any hotel charge me before arrival (except maybe in Provence in peak season), but when they do, I guess it's one night. In resort areas, like Provence in high season, it is often more than one night, however. Hotel web sites should clarify all that, the ones in Provence are pretty specific because it's more than one night.

I know other people stay in hotels where they are charged ahead of time, but I don't.

I'm with Christina. I've booked well over a hundred hotels in Europe over the past ten years all with credit card by email, and have never had a problem, and never worry about having one. I have much bigger things to worry about than that.

Good one Beachboi. I too have a credit card specially for this kind of use, with a low credit limit - just enough to cover hotel deposits but not enough for anyone to go on a spending spree with.

I think many people are overly paranoid about emailing their credit card numbers on the internet. I think this has almost become one of those urban legends. The amount of time that it happens that someone gets their CC # is stolen from the internet is probably minimal and about the same as simply faxing it or handing the card over to a hotel employee or anyone else. A hotel employee could just as easily take all the info down and use it for their own purposes. Besides, most CC companies will work with you on fraudulent charges, if any.