B&B - No reservation

You'll most likely be fine. I've done this with small hotels several times over the years. I'd suggest you cancel the other room, but keep their phone number to call them if you are stuck (assuming you don't plan on arriving very late at your original BnB) .

Thank you, balso, much appreciated.

Tom,

I stayed in several B&Bs during my visit to Sicily last year.

I think there was only one that didn’t require a credit card to reserve my room.
My friend had stayed in the same b&b previously so I wasn’t worried.

Have you found any reviews of the b&b online?

Have you re-confirmed your reservation?

Do you mind sharing the name of the b&b in question?

Enjoy your time in beautiful Sicily!

This used to be how we always traveled because that is how most B&B's handled reservations before third booking sites became so prolific. We had a problem once. (the person I booked a room with in the Cinque Terre got a "better" offer for our room. He booked us with someone else who met us and took us to the room. I knew instantly it was not what I had booked, but we did have a room and it was less money-but not the view we were promised.) Keep in mind, there is as much risk to them as there is to you. They are trusting that you will not be a "no show" after they have turned away other people. A couple of things I always did:

1. Called 2 days in advance to re-confirm and tell them our arrival time. (Sometimes I e-mail, but if they don't respond I still have to call.) This lets them know you are still planning on coming and you know they are still expecting you.
2. Carry a couple of phone numbers of other places in the area in case there is a problem.

Have a great trip.

I haven't stayed at any B&Bs in Sicily yet - I normally stop going south at Rome or Naples, and I stay at hotels there - but I have often emailed or phoned a small hotel in Germany, France, Netherlands or Belgium and had a similar experience - always with positive outcomes. Only the chains need credit cards or deposits... The rest, a person's word is their bond. They expect you to turn up and I expect a nice room at the agreed price. Always works out.

Thank you to everyone who replied. Still not quite sure what I'm going to do, but it does sound like this arrangement isn't necessarily unusual.