Paying deposits with Fax or email (with VISA numbers)

If you're nervous about the miniscule chance of your email being intercepted by someone, send the info in two separate emails - first 8 digits in one, remaining digits and exp. date in the other.

Thanks, good idea. I am not very nervous, just never have done it before and want reassured from others that this is the norm for smaller rentals in Europe without secure websites or paypal.

Hi Lisa. It is very much the norm. We're heading over for 3 weeks in May, and all our accomodations are small family run places. All but one have asked for credit card info to guarantee the reservation (payment will be in cash when we're there). I sent the info off several months ago via email with no problem.

I go to Europe every summer for a month which includes one RS tour and time spent before and after the tour. Mostly we stay in B&Bs but occasionally in hotels. Most of the time I get asked for a credit card number to hold the reservation. I do not send it over the internet, but rather get their phone number and call them to give them the cc number. I figure things do get "hacked" on the internet, but the only ones currently "hacking" the phone lines are the government. I have never had a problem with this method. good luck

I am not a fan of emailing credit card #s. We have made reservations for 3 different apartments in Italy for the summer, and all 3 deposits were done via money transfer through a bank. None of them even gave us the option of credit card (for the deposit---we can pay the balance by c.c. on arrival).