personal check for deposit
 

Should I postdate a personal check that I'm sending to a Florentine hotel as a deposit? On this forum I have read that sometimes they hold the check and sometimes they cash it. Thanks!

Whether they cash it or not is their choice. If they do and you cancel within their time limits, they will refund the money. But if I received a post dated check it would indicate to me you weren't definite about the booking and I might not honor it. (How would you like to receive a post dated check?)

I agree with Janis. I wouldn't think of doing that (postdating a check) if I expected them to take me seriously and not get annoyed. Basically what you are sending them is worthless as you could just cancel payment.

I would never send a check overseas. If you cancel, you have no certainty that they will refund the money and no recourse if they decide not to. They can come up with any creative excuse not to do so and you'd be stuck. If a hotel doesn't accept credit card deposits in the 21st century, they're a little shady, IMO.

Not true!! I've staying at a number of convents around Italy and none of them take credit cards. I don't think they are the least bit shady. See other posts about this subject including how to send deposits.

There's a difference between a hotel and a convent Jim, in case you didn't know.

Hmmmmm. Well, thanks for everybody's input.

The Pensionne Accademia in Venice requires a personal check as a deposit -and they've received rave reviews on this Web site. So, I did send them a check for one night's stay for our April 2002 visit. I guess I've decided that b/c they are so well regarded that it was OK to do so.

Post-dating a check doesn't do any good, anyway. Banks never bother to look at the date.<BR><BR>However, when you do date it, remember that Europeans write the date with the day first, rather than the month. So June 15, 2002 should read 15/6/2002.<BR><BR>And plenty of small hotels, inns, B&Bs, etc. around the world don't take credit cards.

If you can run a modern hotel, you can take credit cards. But why should you, if people are foolish enough to send you their cash in advance because you demand it? Exercise your choice with your wallet, plenty of small places DO take credit cards, as they should.

We also sent a check to the Accademia in Venice. They replied and I am confident everything will be fine, they have a good reputation. But I would check out the hotel before sending my check.

xxx - most of us prefer "Non-Modern" hotels in Europe. If you want a Holiday Inn stay in Houston.

For the record, many small charming hotels DO take credit cards and are NOTHING like a houston holiday inn. As for checks, some hotels still require them, as long as they have a good reputation, it's probably fine. I would be more concerned about the postal service than the hotel as far check deposits are concerned.

By "modern hotel" I mean any establishment that an American traveler would consider staying in...something with running water and some sort of decent bedding, you know, "modern." Europe is not the Third World. Any place that can cater to Americans can take credit cards.