Booking hotels

I've booked hotels over e-mail many times. I like to have a written record of the times/dates etc. so I can keep things organized and remember exactly what I booked. I usually call the hotel directly though to provide credit card information (sending by e-mail isn't super secure but I have used this method on occasion).

Regarding charges to your card and weather they will occur immediately or later...this will vary based on each hotel's policies. I'm sure the hotel can tell you ahead of time if they'll charge the full amount up front or if they will reserve the room and charge you at checkout. A lot of the hotels in Rick's guidebooks use credit card information only to reserve the room for you and then kindly ask that you pay in cash upon arrival/departure. By booking with the hotel directly and paying in cash you help the hotel to keep their costs down (and the cost of your stay down) by cutting out fees from booking agencies (ie: booking.com) and credit card processing companies.

Why not call them and make your reservation that way? I do not send credit card information by email. The booking form on the website, while it is in Italian, is quite straightforward and can be understood by a non-Italian speaker with use of a dictionary. The prices are certainly reasonable.

I have booked through hotels.com and to get a lower rate have prepaid. I would not do it again, as I had a chance of a better hotel at a similar rate after I had made my reservation and it was non-refundable. I would say it is unusual for a hotel to charge your credit card prior to arrival unless it is a "deal" with a reduction if you prepay.

I have sent the credit card info in several emails. The hotels have always told me when my card would be charged.

I would never send that info via email. That is not a secure method and plenty of hackers can get the info while in transit. I only use secure sites (https) for booking. Go ahead and use Booking.com or another site which has a secure site and will keep records of the transaction (print off the receipt). I have never heard of the Albergo Margeret (and we have lived in Florence and spend me there annually). . What kind of place is that?

If you book via Bookings.com, you are not booking with the hotel directly, you are booking with Booking.com, and they will charge your card immediately. I prefer not to do that.

I usually will search for a hotel and contact them directly, tell them exactly what I need for a room, maybe add that I want something quiet, and let them make an offer. If my stay is out of the norm, maybe an extended stay, I will hint I expect a better than rack rate offer, or ask about leaving my bags erc.

Usually I get a prompt response, a good, sometimes better rate than the website, and a hard copy confirmation.

I do usually have to provide CC information, but I have not ever had a hotel charge my card immediately for anything other than a deposit (not even usually that).

Terri Lynn, the Albergo Margeret in Florence is listed on booking.com where it gets a very good rating (lists as the Hotel Margaret).

I see nothing wrong with sending cc info through email, just as safe as over the phone. If you're concerned try booking it on booking.com where it should be safe to input your cc info. I do it all the time, never heard of anyone having any problems on their website.

Paul is not entirely correct. I book on booking.com all the time here in US and in Europe. Most bookings do not charge your cc immediately. Usually the cc info is just for the reservation, you pay when check in or out of the hotel. A few hotels do require that the cc is charged right away, sometimes that's to get a better rate. I never book at the prepay rate.

We have booked many hotels directly and sent our credit card number, even to Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. There has never been a problem and we have been doing this for years. Recently we have noticed our account is charged when the reservations are made. When we get there we will have that changed and pay in local cash.

I just checked Albergo Margaret's website, and this is how it works:

1. On the home page, click the rust colored bar at the bottom that reads "Calcola Preventivo" (Calculate quote/rate)

2. this will take you to a new page with a calendar on the left side, click on turquoise blue bar (top right) to change to 'English'.

   This is an example of this page: https://secure.iperbooking.net/v2013/index.cfm?Lingua=UK&IdHotel=1222

3. This is the hotel's secure website (https) where you can enter your credit card info to reserve your room.

Hope this helps!

First off, Bookings.com is a great web site. They only charge your card if you pick the budget deal of prepaying. I just booked rooms in Florence and Orvieto via Booking.com and I can cancel up to two days ahead. I seems like this is a popular way for hotels to book rooms now in Europe. I ran into a lot of towns with full hotels until I went on Bookings.com. Many people on this site have been very happy with it. Also you may have to look very closely on the Web site for the British symbol to get English, sometimes they are hard to see. And I have booked via Email by sending my credit card information in two seperate emails. Some of the smaller hotels just don't have secure websites. Or you can also fax. But I have not had problems with the two separate emails. And I use a Credit card which can be reversed if someone steals the information. Which by the way can happen and you don't even know where it happened.

Thanks everyone for your help! Priscilla, that worked for me! I overlooked that the first time.

I'm finding that a lot of hotels are booked too, and had to book one in Venice that was not on Rick Steves list at the price range I wanted.

I also use booking.com and they do not charge your card - the hotel may charge (the non-refundable option is more likely to do this) right away, but that's their policy, not booking.com.