We're planning our 11th trip to Europe for May . Destination France.
Previous years we've always used our credit card to hold rooms or sometimes no deposit was requested.
This year we are finding most establisments(B&Bs mostly) are wanting a percentage of the stay sent by check which they will hold until our arrival.
With about 7 places in mind I don't know if I want to send checks hither and tither in France especially this far in advance.
Can anyone advise me as to the pros and cons and if you've done this yourselves? Any problems or should I just bite the bullet?
TIA

I think you should read your post again. You have about 7 places in mind. Do you want them all to hold a room until you decide where you want to stay?


In the past, people have left credit card details and then not turned up and refused to pay the hotel for their empty room, complaing to their credit card companies. This could not go on.


I have one night booked at a hotel in Paris for an early flight from CDG, and there is a clause that if I cancel within a certain time, it costs me about a third of the room rental costs. For the hotel this can mean that if I do not turn up or cancel late, this is all they get since the room could stay empty as they had relied on me going there.


If you find a place that you actually intend to stay at, what is the problem with leaving a deposit?

I think more than a few people will hold several rooms in various hotels on a CC guarantee and then cancel all but the one they actually want.

AND there are hotels which probably OVERBOOK their rooms knowing full well that this activity occurs and if you asked them they would probably say it is part of doing business.

But it becomes a little harder when you
talk about sending actual checks, doesn't it?

I think you need to make THE decision and send the deposit and "bite the bullet" not about the money but about the fact that after 10 trips to Europe (which means you CAN make up your mind when you WANT to) that THIS time you are going to reserve a place and then NOT waste time looking for a bunch of others to "possibly" stay in.

The alternative: stay in places that will accept CC guarantess.

As I reread my post I realized I didn't make myself clear.
I wasn't referring to 7 places in the same area. This is month long trip and each place is in a different region.
We're not in the habit of making reservations and not showing up but I'm concerned about sending that many checks out this far in advance.

grimmy I understood what you meant first but I'm afraid this is the rule and you'll have to do with that. Just remember to be at the right place at the right time and you shouldn't lose any money It would be the same with CC numbers anyway...

Welcome to France!
coco

HI G,

There is no difference between sending a check, which the hotel will hold, and sending a CC number.

Either way, you could be defrauded. However, the possibility is small.

Send the checks. Enjoy your visit.

Several times I've been asked to write a check in US dollars as a deposit and the check is held by the owner of the apartment as a security deposit, then returned when I leave. But I don't quite get that. I thought they couldn't deposit a US dollar check in their bank -- so what good is the check? Or am I missing something here?

It <b>is</b> possible to deposit US $ checks at European banks - but only at considerable expense in administration fees etc. to the depositor.

So there is no incentive at all for the B&amp;B to deposit in advance a check that is intended purely as an arrival guarantee.

I have sent a deposit check to a Parisian hotel once. It was written in my local currency (USD). If it will cost them so much in fees to cash it why is it they refuse to accept a credit card guarantee instead?

The original question was about B&amp;Bs, many of which simply do not have a sufficiently high volume of business to make it worth their while to sign up with the credit-card companies.

Did the hotel in Paris accept payment for lodging by credit card? If not, the reason given above would apply. If it did, then I'm at a loss to explain their request for a US $ check. (American Express cards, if that was what you wanted to use, are accepted by fewer and fewer places because of their high administration fee.)

Yes, the Parisian hotel accepts credit card as payment. Sorry, yes, the original question concerned a B&amp;B, but I was just wondering why the hotel insists on having deposit checks sent.

I would send the checks. Since May is not a particularly busy tourist season I would not reserve ahead but just take a list of the places I have researched and rent the room upon arrival. You will be able to negotiate better rates this way and you will have no problem finding lodging.

Larry J

I wouldn't expect a small B&amp;B type establishment to let you book without a deposit, so I think the problem is that you want to stay in that type of accommodation but not give a deposit. I don't think there's anything you can do about it but either send the deposit or decide to stay in a different kind of place.

I've had one or two French hotels request a deposit by check, also (although some years ago, I think more take CCs now for that), and they allowed me to send it in USD. I think they are doing that to be nice and accommodating. I'm sure their point of view is trying to provide good customer service, and from their experience, they expect that they will not actually have to deposit and cash most of them, so they can afford the fees when they do.

I am not sure why a hotel that allows payment in CC requires a check deposit, but I've encountered that. I think it may be some legal issue, actually, or laws in France. Perhaps legally they are not allowed to charge a credit card if someone doesn't show up, or something. I don't know, I think I've read something like that, but there must be a reason as some do.

&gt;they allowed me to send it in USD. I think they are doing that to be nice and accommodating. I'm sure their point of view is trying to provide good customer service, and from their experience, they expect that they will not actually have to deposit and cash most of them, so they can afford the fees when they do.&lt;

Exactly Christina

I meant to say I would NOT send checks

Larry J