Confused about deposit to book a stay in Siusi (Seis Am Schlern) - Dolomites.

I have never has this happen with a hotel but with an Airbnb. This place does seem to be a little too difficult and I would find another option.

I wouldn't pay unless you had the complete total. Look around and see if you can find a more traditional type of payment request with another accommodation.

They are requesting a bank transfer. Europeans and others around the world, commonly do bank transfers between individuals. We had similar requests in New Zealand. To clarify, is this a hotel? And they are requesting payment for cleaning? If so, that piece is unusual. I would let them know that U.S. folks are unable to do a bank transfer (Actually, you can but you'd have to go thru your bank, typically with a large charge, my credit union charges $60) I would ask if there are alternate payment methods, cash on arrival, paypal, credit card, or ??) Also, do you know if the deposit is refundable? What are their cancellation policies?

It is easy and inexpensive to make a bank transfer using Wise https://wise.com/. We do it all the time. I would write back and ask for a total for room nights plus taxes and cleaning and then for an exact amount in Euros for the deposit. Wise will allow you to send in Euros from your US account.

Thanks all. The accommodation was willing to take a credit card but asking me to email it to them! This isn't the first time this has happened to me when trying to make a European reservation so I knew it's not a scam but still outside of my comfort zone. Ultimately, I found the same place/room through one of the typical online travel booking platforms. I ended up reserving the room through that platform instead even though it was a bit more $$ but feeling much more comfortable/secure using this method. And, jic things get weird, it's also fully refundable. BTW, the place isn't a hotel per se - it's referred to as "holiday apartments". I guess something between a hotel, B&B, and airbnb. I appreciate the quick replies/advice!

An "holiday apartments" is not a B&B: is simply a flat rented for short periods. Usually for a full week or more weeks together. Cleaning and changes of bedclothes is done only at the end of the staying: that is the reason why they charged the extra for cleaning. Is a fixed costs who is charged only once.
If you prefer to pay by credit card they should give you a link to do the payment: is often the best method for both. Even if in Italy the bank transfer is often done.
About the local tax and the total amount you can even ask them: is part of their job provide you al details, including a rental contract with all the information about cancellation policy!

The conditions are about standard for places in that area; I hire an apartment in Austria, quite close to them, and the conditions are similar. You may ask and you should, but the deposit is usually not refundable; this is to protect them from customers that reserve and do not show. A sensible thing to do, as I see on this very forum people writing "it looks it will be raining next week so we are changing our plans". Probably they are asking a deposit only to unknown customers; once they know the customer, from the second time the deposit will be likely not required.

The final cleaning is typical for apartments for hire.

European bank accounts come with an IBAN code that identifies the account; bank transfers between European bank accounts are very cheap or even free. The BIC code identifies the bank and is sometimes required for international transfers (for internal transfers the IBAN is enough).

I understand bank transfers are expensive to US people and they are also afraid to send their credit card number, but after all, how can the service provider (in this case it will be likely a family business) charge if all payment options are not good?