My private tour guide in Europe is asking me to remit a 30% deposit via wire transfer to a European bank. My small community U.S. bank does not offer outgoing international wire transfers, although they accept incoming international transfers as well as receive and send domestic transfers. I opened an account with a larger national bank in my area, but learned too late that they will not send an international transfer until I have 6 months of account history. Has anyone used a money transfer service such as Xoom, Transferwise, XO, or Western Union to make an international transfer? Those companies offer transfers from a bank account or credit card, but the limited reviews I have read are not positive. I am concerned that if I use a credit card to pay, it will be treated like a cash advance, and I don’t want to pay unnecessary interest. I was all set to use Xoom (because they are owned by PayPal), but that service is intended for person-to-person transfers. (The name on my guide’s bank account begins with her company/business name, so I am concerned that my transfer won’t be processed.) My guide does not accept PayPal, which is generally how I send deposits to my guides. I am not concerned that this is a scam or that the request is not respectable. The guide will allow me pay my balance in person in Euros when I arrive, I just need to make the bank transfer to give my deposit. Because I am using the guide and a car with a driver for several days, the deposit is substantial even though it is only 30% of my total bill, so I don’t want anything to go wrong with the transfer. Thoughts/experiences using a third-party to send an international wire/bank transfer?
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8223 posts
There are bill payment services in Europe that will charge your charge card and forward the funds by wire transfer directly into any European bank checking account. Many people have to use them when they get charged with speeding tickets in rental cars--from radar-cameras. I found their service charges to be far cheaper than using a U.S. National Bank to wire transfer funds.
You can Google for European bill payment services.
If I had a private tour guide ask for a deposit, I'd be looking for another guide. It's just too much a hassle to send a deposit when my word is my bond.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
No way would I wire a deposit. That would leave no recourse if there a problem. There are plenty of guides who do not have such requirements.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11464 posts
Assuming you trust the guide's legitimacy (sometimes we just have to go with our gut), I can highly recommend Transferwise. We have used it a great deal living in Europe. I would NOT wire final payment. that should be in person for your security.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
I used TransferWise for the first time this year to wire money to 2 places in Barcelona and also to Switzerland for my chalet rental. All of the transfers arrived safe and sound. Previously whenever I needed to wire money I used my local credit union which charged a flat fee. Transferwise was MUCH cheaper.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9023 posts
Guides and tour companies ask for deposit because not everyone is as trustworthy as the people on the RS forum are.
If a guide has set aside a whole day for a guest and then they just don't show up, not only are they out the pay for the day, but they have lost business by not being able to book someone else. Asking for a deposit is the norm in the tour business.
Surprised they won't take PayPal though.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33201 posts
I have been successful with Transferwise.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
Deposits are fine...I just prefer to use a method that provides some recourse.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you transfer money there is no recourse. That's why you use a trusted/recommended guide or a trusted place like www.toursbylocals.com to book your guide (with a credit card).
Posted by
Honolulu, HI, USA
408 posts
I just used TravelWise to pay our VRBO host (Nice lodging).
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9023 posts
Question for those of you whose word is enough and who don't want to pay deposits?
If you got ill shortly before your tour was supposed to begin and didn't want to go on the tour, what would you do? Pay a certain percentage, pay the full amount of the tour, pay nothing cause you didn't tour and you can get away with it, or just hope the guide will be kind and tell you it is ok, you don't owe anything?