When attempting to make a pre RS tour reservation in Rome I was disappointed to find there was no secure area on the hotel site for credit card information. This information of course is necessary to hold the room. I emailed the hotel and was told that I could call them with the information. I had not come across this when making reservations in Italy on a previous trip and am wondering if this is unusual. Added expense of the international call aside, this practice just makes me nervous. Any thoughts?
Posted by
California 🦋
5301 posts
Pat,
I had the same questions a few months ago before my trip to Italy & these are the replies I received on this post:
I did end up sending my credit card info via email & I didn't have any problems.
Don't forget to call you bank to notify them that you will be making hotel reservations in Italy
& also notify them regarding your travel dates.
Safe travels!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32405 posts
Pat,
I'd encountered the same situation in a few of the smaller hotels in Europe, and just sent them the credit card information by E-mail. Some people prefer to split the credit card details into two E-mails, but I'm not sure this really provides any better security. If it were every necessary, I'd have no reservations on phoning them to provide the information. An international long distance call is of no concern in the overall price of a holiday that's costing thousands of dollars.
Posted by
693 posts
Sending credit card details by email is a bad idea and if fraud occurred you would have possible problems with the issuer. I would only ever use a cc with an https secure link as you have then taken reasonable precautions to maintain card security. Much better to make a short international call which I have done on rare occasions in circumstances similar to yours.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I often send info via email, but a phone call is not expensive unless you settle in for a long chat. Be aware of the time difference when calling.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23671 posts
This is a frequently discussed issue of sending cc info via email. It is an area with lots of misunderstanding, myths, faulty assumptions, etc. Actually transmitting cc info via email is the most secure way. It is nearly impossible to intercept an email. Far more secure than phone, faxes. Maybe a letter is better but not convenient. Whether the hotel has a secure site or not is not terribly critical either. Most of the hotels/B&Bs I have used don't and it has never been a problem.
The very weak link in the security line is the human operator at the end of the line. What does he do with your cc info is the key? Whether he/she gets it via mail, email, phone call, or fax, what is the first thing that happens to that number? It gets entered into the hotel reservation system - which is at best password protected but known by a dozen employees. It may have been written on a piece of note paper that gets tossed into the trash once it is entered. In other words, how your number is handled by the hotel determines your security risk. Not how it is transmitted or given to the hotel.
And sending it via email does not compromise your rights with the credit card company. That is just a smoke screen. The credit card company doesn't ask question about how or where you were using your card. We have had two cards compromised in the US. They just cancel the account and send new cards.
Over the years we have had dozen of hotel reservations, tickets, etc., all done via email and many unsecured web site with absolutely no problems. Your risk at that hotel is very, very low. Your probability of being pickpocketed, while very low, is still higher than having your cc compromised via the hotel web site.