Getting ready to book a day tour out of Siena but the company just sent a request that the deposit and balance be paid in US dollars rather than euros but had calculated what I owe using a rate of 1.3968, which is noticably over the current exchange rate
. Is that a common practice?
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
No. A company in Siena should accept Euros. Period.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32987 posts
I'd give it the smell test. If it smells bad, run away...
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Are you originating this tour out of Florence? If yes, Grayline has a 1-day bus tour of San Gimignano and Siena for 52Euro. In Florence, Grayline is operated as CAF Tours. You get about 90 minutes in San G. and about 4+ hours and a tour in Siena. We took this tour a few years ago and it was quite nice and relaxing. Cash in U.S. dollars? I've been asked for cash up front before but not in U.S. dollars. Plus, wait until you see what it costs to wire the money. Fees at each end. I don't like this one.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1003 posts
Agree with Nigel. Find someone else, that area is chock full of tour guides going into Chianti. Try some of Rick's suggestions from his book, I'm sure none of his recommended people would pull junk like that. I've had to wire money to Italy before, but they've wanted it in Euros. I did it twice for a trip last year - a B&B and a solo-operated tour guide in Puglia. I was a bit nervous because I'd never done it, but both establishments got such good reviews that I felt OK, and it worked out just fine. I just did the math based on the exchange rate at that time and did it through Ally (which luckily did not cost that much, half of what my regular bank Chase wanted to charge) in USD. The recipients' banks converted it to Euros.
Posted by
OP
St Louis
411 posts
I appreciate the input. It is a company in the RS guide. This will be trip six to Italy and I've never had a requirement like that before. I sent an email to the company requesting clarification but haven't heard back from them.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
You should send a report on this to ETBD and e-mail the tour company that you are doing so. They value their listings in the Rick Steves books.
Posted by
Salt Lake City, UT, United States
304 posts
A note on sending wires. I work in the wire department of a bank and have seen issues with wiring funds to Italy in Euros. Not a lot but enough that I've noticed. Usually to small hotels and tour companies. Make sure you have correct instructions. You will need an 8 or 11 digit swift code (also called BIC) and a 27 digit IBAN (International Bank Account Number). The IBAN will start with the country code IT followed by 2 numbers then a letter and the rest will be numbers. Also be aware that there will likely be at least three banks involved, your bank, the final bank in Italy and at least one correspondent bank in the middle, all of which could charge fees.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
What is the company?
Posted by
OP
St Louis
411 posts
I finally got an email back from the company and they've explained that the exchange rate is to cover their costs of currency conversion, and have offered to simply allow us to pay in cash on the day of the tour. Thanks for the assist, after five trips to Italy I thought I was a pretty "seasoned" traveller but this was a new one for me.