We are booking for one night at Hotel Le Mouton Blanc for June 30. I researched through bookings.com, and then contacted/emailed the hotel directly to make a specific inquiry for our group. The front desk quickly responded that they do have 2 rooms in the annex. Their website now says they are full, but they say there are still our two rooms available. They ask us to provide a credit card number or a bank transfer to secure the booking via email, rather than go through bookings or their website.
Rick Steves recommends this hotel. Has anyone had similar experience?
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
I stayed there in the annex two years ago... don't remember exactly how I booked it though..maybe through booking.com or maybe direct?? Anyway, however I did it... we arrived, got the room and had a wonderful stay. I did not fully understand their directions for parking, but after a bit of time and help from someone in the parking lot, I managed it. Once I found out what to do it made more sense... but anyway, it was a spectacular stay. Hotel is not elaborate, but fine for us.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
It sounds like they are holding those rooms for you, for a limited time. We provide the credit card info directly to the hotel whenever possible. Hotels have to pay a service fee to a third party like bookings.com, which they would prefer not to do. There should be no need to send a bank transfer and doing that would basically be nonrefundable (or at the mercy of the hotel, without the protection that your credit card provides).
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
It's not uncommon for a hotel's website to indicate that they are full, when they are actually holding a room or two, which can be booked by contacting the hotel directly.
It's also common for a hotel to prefer bookings directly through e-mail; among other things, this means no middleman, so the hotel does not owe anyone a commission.
And finally, hotels often ask for a credit card number to secure a booking. (I have even had this from hotels that wanted cash payment). If you feel insecure sending it through e-mail, you can send it in two separate e-mails, send it by fax, or call them with the number.
So, while I have no experience with this specific hotel, nothing they are doing is out of the ordinary.