We enjoy the small Germany hotels & have made reservations at a couple along our route for our September trip. The hotels are so nice to respond back if they have a room & the price. When I post reply I ask "do you want my credit card # to confirm?" They respond "pay when you leave". Has anyone had any problems with these smaller hotels that I found on line?

thank you, ckn

I am sure that you will get some responses from people saving that they have had problems. However, in five trips since 2000 staying in small hotels in Germany and Austria, we have not had any problems. Most have not requested credit card numbers to confirm. A couple have requested the numbers, but they have not charged our credit card until we have checked out. The only exception was the Hotel Ruebezahl in Fuessen which wanted a one-day guarantee which was refundable up to 30 days prior to our arrival.

I hope that your experiences are as good as ours have been. Have a good trip!

Hi C,

>Has anyone had any problems with these smaller hotels that I found on line?<

Would you mind giving us their names?

Like JoeE, I have made five trips (10 weeks) to Germany since 2000. I stayed in 19 places. 2 were "holdovers" from trips the previous century; 2 more were through the tourist office when I arrived in town. The other 15 I found using the town's website.

Most of the places did not even accept credit cards. I had no problems with the reservation, although admittedly, at the time I was usually traveling, I was one of two people, or the only person, in the place. Once, however, I reserved the last room, and it was waiting when I got there. Another time I was asked to FAX a "Bestätigung" (confirmation) to them. They may be more inclined to trust me, because I write in German.

I think sometimes Germans distrust our showing up, because in the past they have mistaken a request for price and availability for a request for a confirmed reservation. I always try to make it clear in my emails when I just want price and availability or when I want a confirmed reservation.

I too have traveled to Germany several times and never had any problems. I always send an e-mail reconfirmation a few weeks before we leave for our trip, just to remind them of my reservation. Many of the smaller hotels don't have credit card machines and therefore cannot hold your reservation with one.

Tracy

I wonder what those hotels which don;t have CC machines and can't use a CC number to "guarantee" a reservation DO when and if people don't show up? Do they eat it or what?

<<I wonder what those hotels which don;t have CC machines and can't use a CC number to "guarantee" a reservation DO when and if people don't show up? Do they eat it or what?>>

Probably so. The Germans are very honest people and expect others to be the same, so don't belie their trust.