We have reserved La Calcina in Venice for 5 nights. In order to secure the reservation, the hotel has asked for a personal check for $485 USD. Does anyone know if they hold the check then return it to us upon check out so we can pay for the stay with a c/c (and only deposit in the event that we are no shows). Or, do they deposit the check upon receipt?

Sounds most strange, a credit card should be all that is required to secure a reservation. Why not call "La Calcina" and hear it from the horse's mouth?

I've actually encountered this before, and in Italy (a Rome hotel), although I didn't book the place. I suppose you can just ask them how they handle it.

Just a thought...can you find the same hotel on one of the booking sites and book it that way with a credit card?

I sent an e-mail to the hotel a couple of days ago. I thougt that I would see if anyone here had a similar experience while I wait for a reply. But, I will do some searching and see if they use any outside booking agencies as well.

Why on earth don't people ask these questions at the time they make their reservations? A simple and brief phone call would easily explain any procedure. English is spoken at La Calcina.

La Calcina will cash your check soon after receipt and deduct this amount from your final bill upon check-out. This is standard operating procedure for many popular boutique hotels in Italy.

I did ask the hotel. And, I'm asking the users of this forum for their experiences (while I wait). Thank you for your response.

alg: I have stayed at this hotel 3 times in the past 3 years and have booked it again for my upcoming (4th) trip in May. I only mention this because every time I have booked with La Calcina they have requested a personal check as a deposit in order to hold the room. And I can vouch for what NYCFoodSnob has said, that each and every time they have cashed the check upon receipt and deducted the amount from my bill upon check out. Just a futher note, you can pay the balance at check out on your credit card. My friends who live in Venice say that they find this a little unusual from most other small hotels in the area. That said, however, they are all in agreement that La Calcina is a fabulously run hotel and they recommend it highly to anyone considering staying there. Hope this information helps and hope you decide to stay at some point - I've always found it worth the extra paper work.

Hotel Galleria in Dorsoduro requests a Euro money order or bank draft for, I think, 50% of the anticipated stay.

Alq, I remember reading a posting - perhaps on slowtrav - from someone complaining about a currency exchange deficit regarding a deposit cheque. I think she had provided a USD cheque some months prior but the hotel didn't cash it until the check-out date. She was unhappy about the exchange rate differential between the two dates.

Cheers, Linda

We were at La Calcina for 6 nights in the Fall of 2002(and yes we did have a terrace in front to the left as you are looking at the hotel from the canal). Our room rate was $170 euros and I think we had to send them a deposit for something in that neighborhood months in advance. The check was cashed and the amount deducted from our final bill which we paid for with a credit card.

BTW~I think it is a well run hotel in a great location!

I booked 2 rooms recently at La Calcina (for August), and they took my credit card number as a deposit. They never asked me for a credit card number, how strange... And I also booked directly though them, not a booking agent.

When we stayed there in Oct. 2002, they requested a personal check in the amount of one night's stay when I made the reservation. They deducted the amount from our final bill, and we paid the rest with a credit card when we checked out. No problem. Wish I were there right now!

This is strange! Like awbaker, I was not asked for a check at all. I simply gave them a credit card number to confirm. I stayed there in February of 2003.

Like awbaker & Crazymina, I gave them a credit card number as garantee. That was in November 2002. In my trips to Venice in last 4 years, I was never asked to send a deposit (Pensione Accademia, la Calcina,etc).

And, we did book directly with them via their internet site!

I also sent a check (they wanted only one night deposit) and sent me a e-mail with my confirmation. They told me once we got there then they would bill me on my credit card or whatever way I wanted to pay. Funny how everyone is billed differently. Have a good time!

Awbaker, I re-read your post.

"..they took my credit card number as a deposit. They never asked me for a credit card number.."

Did you mean "..card number as a GARANTEE. They never asked me for a DEPOSIT.."?

Which is precisely why, for matters regarding financial policy and procedures, the smartest thing to do is go directly to the horse's mouth for information that concerns YOUR reservation.

I'm sure it would be easy to find out the explanation for the required check deposit vs. not, all you have to do is ask them on your next visit. Since I've only stayed in La Calcina's "view" rooms, maybe it's safe to assume that the policy is different for prime (in demand) real estate. People who commit to a cash (check) deposit are less likely to cancel for whatever reason. After all, La Calcina knows that their view rooms are quite special and they're willing to guarantee you one if it's available. Not every hotel is eager to provide this service.

The policy may also differ, depending on season.