Hello All, I've been looking for an affordable room in Luzerne for a couple days and see it's expensive and not easy to find. I found a guest house on VRBO that's new and hasn't been rated yet. The pics look nice, it's right outside Luzerne minutes away, and is within our price range. However, the owner is asking (along with a signed contract) payment in full in advance into her bank account. My radar is up, would never do this in the US but know European business owners sometimes ask for payment this way. I just don't like it... Does anyone think we should just go there and take our chances looking for a place? I know it's a busy time there. Our trip is coming up in the next couple weeks. Thank you!
Sarah
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32219 posts
sarah, Switzerland is expensive most of the time, so there's no way to avoid that (especially in peak travel season in August). As you waited so late to book, you may have to take what you can find. I never rent apartments as I travel solo most of the time, but the signed contract and full payment in advance would be an annoyance for me, so I'd never accept something like that. You might find that a hotel closer to town is a better choice, as it will be easier to enjoy activities in the evenings. Have a look at Hotel Stern to see if that might work for you. Good luck and happy travels!
Posted by
Beverly Hills, MI
800 posts
You have to appreciate three things. 1) Small B&B operators depend on the income and they really don't want to get burned by people who make reservations and don't show up. If I had to trust a B&B operator with my money I would pick a Swiss first. 2) Switzerland is expensive any time of the year and you have picked prime time in Luzerne. 3) You are about six months late making an affordable reservation. Try a service like Booking.com and see what they have. I wish you the best of luck.
Posted by
Mahone Bay, Canada
328 posts
Sarah, We have booked quite a few apartments in Europe, including Switzerland. It is a very normal practice to be asked to pay for the apartment before you arrive. On only two occasions have I been offered to wait and pay when we arrived but those were for off-season reservations. As another poster said, small B&Bs and apartment rentals do this to because they lose the opportunity to sell their room if someone makes a reservation and then doesn't show up. Larger hotels can afford to take the risk of just holding a room for you without payment because during busy periods they will oversell their hotel and gamble on one or two people not showing up. I hope this helps put your mind at ease about paying for an apartment in advance. We have always had great success with it.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
"However, the owner is asking (along with a signed contract) payment in full in advance into her bank account." That's a fairly standard method of payment for rental properties in Europe. Many large transactions like that are usually accomplished by direct bank transfer, not by credit card.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Well sarah put your radar down, lol ,, even places that don't require full payment up front when booking 6 or more months in advance will usuually require full payment for last minute bookings ( you ) or by this date in reservation.. an deposit at first (months ago) and full payment a month in advance. I also suggest you look at a booking agency if nervous about apartment or b@b bookings, they are different then hotels ..
Posted by
OP
Temecula, CA, USA
4 posts
Thank you for the responses and advice. Luzerne (and Switzerland) definitely are expensive to stay, seem to be among the most costly in Europe. As to this VRBO room, I responded that I'd rather not deposit the entire amount and the owner agreed, so we got a place for a little over $100 a night. Very glad this worked out and looking forward to seeing Switzerland.
S