Livette

Hi again,

Ivitaly - hi there . She wants 30% wired and e-mailed me all the bank information to do it. And, the refund is NOT refundable. Gosh, that's pretty harsh don't you think? Or is this a normal thing for reservations abroad? I have been to Europe before but only on a tour where all that was taken care of so I'm really clueless here.

Hey Patrick I should've told her the same thing (it's actually true)! I want to stay there so bad but we'll see what she responds.

Linda

Patrick

I may be "well traveled" but that has taught me one major thing -- never make an assumption of what they want. I have often been asked to pay in full up front for a rental or even for a two or three hotel stay in a "hot" area in high season. This next year has been rather unique. The apartments in Venice and Montepulciano (both very small and privately owned) have made clear no deposit is required at all, just pay on arrival.

I always pay 1/3 up front (yes even if I book 10 months ahead) on my flat in London -- even though I've now rented there six or seven times. And I already did a $500 deposit on my apartment in Paris to a private owner in the US, even though I won't be there until July.

One only has to read the posts here to know how many people would reserve a variety of apartments and wait till they got there to chose, leaving an owner high and dry with no rental if no deposit was required.

I really don't bat an eye at the idea of a deposit and 1/3 seems relatively standard. And of course if they're holding it for you, then you'd normally have to pay at the time you reserve it. But normally I'd hope in case of cancellation to get all but maybe 10% back (cancelling within 30 days of arrival).

I've become accustomed to looking carefully at websites for hotels, particularly the big chains. More and more they offer a really super advance rate -- but often it must be paid in full at the time of booking and there is no refund and no change of date allowed, even if you called back the next day -- ten months ahead of arrival -- to make the change.

lvitaly

I guess Patrick answered your question and mine as well. Seems that it is standard abroad more than one relalizes. I would try one more time on the credit card end of it for a deposit. I still dont know why they are adverse to that for a deposit as it is so much easier. Good luck in your ultimate decision.Keep us all posted.

Livette

Hi again,

Well she got back to me today and said she could not accept any other form of payment. She said at this time she was not set up for credit card payment? I responded by saying that I was sorry to hear that because I know of two other people who had stayed and are staying in her apt. that held it with credit card.

She told me to check again later on to see if they were set up. I basically left it that I was going to look elsewhere and that this information made my decision much easier to find another location .

I am sooooooooooo upset because I really wanted to stay there. Now, it's back to researching to find another place. Any recommendations?

Linda

Patrick

How weird. How long were you planning to stay there? I gather by the price that it wasn't for a week. I wonder if they are less accommodating for short stays and trying to encourage the weekly stays?

NYCFoodSnob

"I am sooooooooooo upset because I really wanted to stay there."

Well, Linda, you have only yourself to blame. Palazzo Olivia has plenty of people who are willing to pay by their rules. Welcome to the world of vacation rentals!

People...if you want records, receipts, and guarantees, then book your ass into a name hotel. Renting apartments is an unregulated industry. Tourists who aren't willing to take any risk, forego the record keeping and need for receipts, and demand things that only a name hotel is obligated to provide, shouldn't be looking to play in this arena.

I've been renting apartments in Italy and France for six years and I've never been permitted to pay by credit card (as much as I would love to). That's the name of the game, end of story. I've never been asked for a wire transfer either. The place would have to be very special before I'd go through that hassle.

ecat

Linda, She just wants the deposit wired right, not the whole payment? I know it seems like a hassle but banks do it all the time so it's not a huge thing.

Although I would not want to do it everyday, I think it's your only option if you want to stay here. What are your concerns about wiring?

Many other agencies will require you to do the same and some will allow you charge the deposit and you will need to pay the balance in cash when you get there.

I had listed the Via Panico one above for you on 11/13, any interest in that one? Another site to check out is www.realrome.com

Take care, Eileen

ecat

Question too for NCY. I'm curious if you don't wire or use a CC how do you secure an apartment, what are the other options?

Thanks, Eileen

Livette

Hi,

Patrick, we were planning on staying for four nights.

Eileen, she wanted 30% wired and that was unrefundable regardless if you cancelled months in advance. Although we have no plans of cancelling I think this is kind of harsh. But then again, this is the first time we travel independently to Europe so I'm not well aware of the "rules".

I have traveled extensively to the islands, Hawaii and other parts of the US and credit card deposits are always accepted. And, there is almost always a window of comfort if circumstances occurr that result in a cancellation.

Oh well, I'm learning here. Thank you all for your comments . The search goes on.

I'm going to e-mail the San Lorenzo apartments at the recommendation of Statia for Florence. I spoke to my parents and they were ok with the no lift situation. If I can get that location than I may splurge a little in Rome and try for the Albergo del Senato. What a gorgeous hotel that accomodates triples. We'll see.

Linda

Patrick

I think that four nights still might be part of the problem. Look at it this way. Normally apartments are only rented by the week. They are making an exception and will rent you this one for four days. Perhaps it gets rented up to your arrival and immediatly after your departure. Then let's say you cancel. They are left with an apartment that is only available for four nights. The possibility of renting it at all for those specific four nights is almost nil. I can't blame them for keeping the full 30% deposit. I have made payments in FULL that couldn't be refunded even if I cancelled a month ahead.

My apartment I rent in Paris, I am required to make a $500 deposit at time of booking, no matter how long ahead (11 months this time). I lose 50% of that if I cancel MORE than 3 months before scheduled arrival even with 10 months notice. If I cancel within three months -- let's say 2 and a half months, I get none of the $500 back.

I don't think these are unusual policies at all. I welcomed Palazza Olivia's offer to accept a credit card for deposit or to guarantee the reservation, but I was actually perfectly willing to go ahead with a wire transfer if she had so insisted. It wouldn't have bothered me at all, just a slight inconvenience.

Hawaii, the islands, and the rest of the US is NOT Europe. It is not at all unusual for places including even small hotels NOT to accept credit cards. It is very common for apartment rentals NOT to accept credit cards in Europe.

MarkY

Linda:

Keep me posted on this. I'm going thru the same thing with Polazzo. They also told me NO credit card. I think I might just go ahead and wire them the money.

The apartment rental in Florence that you recommended only wants a credit card deposit.

Keep in touch.
Mark

NYCFoodSnob

Well, now the whole story is revealed. Four nights for an apartment rental??? This idea would never occur to me. I'm surprised Palazzo Olivia doesn't request a total pre-pay. I would. When people say "we wouldn't cancel" I say, how the hell do you know that? Why should PO or any popular rental take any risk for just a 4 day rental? I wouldn't. Linda, I think they offered you a very fair deal. "I think this is kind of harsh" Sounds to me like you don't know much about running a business.

Eileen, dear, the apartments I currently rent are arranged through their owners. Before they new me, one owner accepted for deposit a CC through an agent, one accepted a personal check and never cashed it, and the other accepted a bank check (money order) with that amount deducted from my final rental bill. All remaining funds were paid in cash. I logged my ATM receipts for tax purposes.

Livette

Hi,

Yes Patrick I do know the islands, Hawaii and US is NOT Europe. What you say makes sense about apartment rentals so I may just opt for a hotel. However, everywhere is different. For example I just e-mailed Gianna at San Lorenzo apartments, got a response within 10 minutes and she accepts credit cards. I am staying there for 5 nights only.

NYCFoodSnob, it's just hard to change when you are used to doing things a certain way. I'll sound like a broken record but I am painfully learning the European ways. Thanks to you both for the education (no pun intended).

Linda

Marianna

Hello Linda,

The Palazzo de Olivia apartments only required a three night minimum and you wanted four so that wasn't the issue. When we inquired it seemed that they would accept a credit card reservation but we were only staying two nights so we could not book it. If you didn't feel comfortable with their reservation requirements then you did the right thing for you. It has nothing to do with how much apartment rental experience you have. At that moment in time, it just wasn't right for you. It sounds as if you found something you are happy with - that's the important thing.

I wish you a delightful trip to Rome and Italy with your parents. You will love it!

Livette

Thanks Marianna

Patrick

I received an email from Carla at Palazzo Olivia this morning. I had questioned here regarding my Master Card not yet being charged for the deposit. Her reply was something like this: "we have established a policy of wire transfers required. But since we already accepted your credit card for deposit we will leave it at that. We will not charge your card, but hold the number for guarantee of your arrival. We will charge the full amount when you arrive."

So it looks like I got in "under the wire" so to speak.

NYCFoodSnob

"it's just hard to change when you are used to doing things a certain way"

ADAPTABILITY is the key to fully enjoying a quality travel experience. DON'T ever forget these words of wisdom.

lvitaly

Livette, Sorry to read this did not work out for you. I learned a lot from this thread and i can honestly see the point in all of it. Just did not realize thats how it is done. It's not the worst thing in the world though. Like someone said an inconvience, yes! You may want to breath a bit and reconsider.One word of advice, if you rent an apartment from anywhere else i would NOT reccomend an apt. without a lift. Unless it is on a ground floor you have no idea how hard it can be to lug suitcases up and down a few flights of stairs. If Palazzo Olivia did not have a lift it would have been extremly difficult.The stairs are made of stone, slippery and spiral.In Italy the buildings are old and you never know what set of circumstances you will be faced with.Good luck and have a fantastic trip

NYCFoodSnob

Be sure to keep in mind, Euorpean "lifts" (elevators) break down often. If you're not prepared to walk five flights with your luggage in the event of a broken lift, stay in a hotel with an elevator.

Patrick

I happen to live in a three story townhouse. I'm used to going from my den on the ground floor to the third floor where I left my glasses. Or from the bedroom on the third to the first floor to make sure I locked the door or turned off a light. So I'm used to stairs. But having four or five flights without an elevator is quite another matter. When I travel I tend to go in and out of the apartment or room a lot -- one of the reasons I like staying in the center of things. And don't forget to always add a floor in Europe. When they say it is the fourth floor, that's the fifth floor to us Americans.

The flat I rent every year in London is on the second floor (third to us). No doubt it is a chore getting the suitcases up and down at the beginning and end of the trip, but I manage, and the third floor is really no different that my three floors at home. But that is sort of the limit.

In Paris, our flat has a tiny elevator which is good because the apartment is on the fifth floor. But if someone doesn't make sure they close the door tightly, it will stick on the floor (invariably the top floor) that it was last taken to. That means I still walked up more than I care to. Nevertheless, the no elevator thing is nothing to toss off lightly.

And I can't quite get over the "used to doing things a certain way" line. I must say it is the first mindset one needs to get over when doing a lot of travel.