We are going to Florence in January and have made reservations at Hotel Pendini, recommended by Rick. After giving them, and only them, our credit card information we began to see charges for ferry rides in Vienna. Of course we have cancelled that credit card and don't want to give them another credit card number. So, how can we ensure that we have confirmed reservations there? Thanks for any advice.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Gee, thats awful Linda, but I wouldn't assume it will always happen.
I have never been able to make an online reservation without my CC number, but I have never had a problem.
I think you just chalk it up to experience( a bad one) and go on. I would also phone my CC company and let them know exactly where I used it to make reservations and not to accept any charges for any other places until you notify them you will actually be in the countries .
My CC did phone me this year when I used it to buy an airline ticket on an Spanish airline online, just to confirm the charge since it was foriegn, surprised your CC company was not as careful.
Posted by
Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA
606 posts
We're booked at Pendini next June. There have been no bad charges on the card I gave them a few months ago. You probably got hit by something very rare.
My thinking is that you don't NEED to give them another card number. They only want the number you've already given them to charge you in case you don't show for the first night. I'm sure they have no idea that card is now canceled*, and they will never know. Just gather enough Euros to pay them in cash when you're there and you should be fine.
*This assumes you haven't already flamed them about the card number being charged for ferry rides. If you've done that (and I wouldn't blame you) then they WILL require a new card number to hold the reservation. Your only convenient choice would be to give them your new card number or find another hotel and give THEM the number. Believe me, if you explain what happened I think Pendini will be very careful to make sure nobody at their location leaks your number again, unless you're again dealing with the same scoundrel who leaked the number the first time. Ah, life. It comes with no guarantees.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
Every few months I receive a call from CitiBank about charges to my CC account. Some times they are not mine and I cancel my card and obtain a new one.
I am glad that our CC companies are consistent in watching for fraud.
I dont guarantee rooms by CC any longer. I reserve and just appear at the hotel and ask for my room. So far I have not had a problem.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Carl, please tell us the hotels where you have reserved with no CC and just showed up. I'm definitely curious about that one!
Posted by
Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA
606 posts
I've certainly been turned down for my room when I arrived at a Rome hotel with what I thought was a confirmed reservation.
Months earlier they had told me they had a room, got my contact info, and told me to send CC info to hold the room. I never got around to sending the CC info.
When we arrived they said I'd never sent the CC info so they released the reservation and were now full. We had to go wandering the streets of Rome looking for a hotel room. Luckily, it didn't take long, but we didn't get the hotel we wanted, and paid more than we'd planned.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
I have made a reservation by phone for a room in a hotel where I have stayed before and they know me. The reservation was for that same week and I guaranteed that I would show up before noon. I wouldn't expect an unknown hotel to hold a reservation without CC unless it was for the same day or next and I agreed to show up by a certain time or forfeit my place.