I am trying to book directly with a hotel in Piza, Italy. Is it usual to send the credit card info just in an e-mail to confirm the reservation? That is what the hotel e-mailed me asking for. The website I found the hotel on is Hotelsweb.it and it is a hotel suggested in Rick Steves travel book.
Thanks,
Martha
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1003 posts
It's normal for small hotels anywhere. I had to do it for hotels in Rome, England, and Amsterdam. Had no problem with any. If sending your card # over (unsecured) email, you can always fax or call it in or call them up and do it over the phone or you could even split up the number and send it in more than one email.
Posted by
OP
Chandler, AZ, USA
6 posts
Thanks Debra!
Martha
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
It is very common. We have done it for years with no problems. The transmission of email is very secure. The problem is what happens after it arrives at the hotel computer/server. The risk isn't much different that if you fax the number to them.
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon
1056 posts
Martha, my husband and I booked all our Italian hotels for a 22-day stay last fall via computer. It's normal for them to ask for credit card info. I wouldn't send the whole number in one email for security reasons. What I did was send one email explaining that I would be splitting the credit card number into three separate emails along with the expiration date and then I sent three emails numbered "informational email #1, #2, #3" and had no problem. One the emails themselves I didn't mention that the numbers were credit card numbers, I just mentioned that these were information they had requested. I also asked them to send me an email confirming that they had gotten everything satisfactorily. This worked out very well for us. Good luck!