Hotels want bank wire transfer

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calliejlong

Registered
Messages
39
Reaction score
4
Location
Maui
# of dives
100 - 199
Hi,
Just curious out of the two hotels that I have picked for diving, they both want deposits and then final payments via bank transfer. Is this the norm? Also, if anyone has experience with this - can you use Western Union to do it or do you have to do it from the bank. The reason that I ask is my bank wants a $45 for sending a deposit of only $115. Western unions website looks to me like it only charges $4 for this transaction. Thanks in advance for your help, I have never done wire transfers before to a hotel.
 
I agree , this is really annoying. We have found that the booking agencies, Agoda ,Booking.com often have the accommodation as well. With Agoda you just pay a week or two beforehand. ..and you can cancel your reservation between the time you book and the time you pay usually without penalty. Another alternative is PayPal which has lower charges....or none at all.
 
Hi,
Just curious out of the two hotels that I have picked for diving, they both want deposits and then final payments via bank transfer. Is this the norm? Also, if anyone has experience with this - can you use Western Union to do it or do you have to do it from the bank. The reason that I ask is my bank wants a $45 for sending a deposit of only $115. Western unions website looks to me like it only charges $4 for this transaction. Thanks in advance for your help, I have never done wire transfers before to a hotel.

There's no way I'm sending anybody a wire transfer. If they won't/can't take a credit card, I don't need to be staying there.

flots.
 
I am with Flots on this one. I will not business with anyone that requires a wire transfer. There are just way too many other options.
 
It's common procedure at some places and in some parts of the world, so while you certainly want to check things out it's not necessarily "shady." Many of us never do things that way and aren't used to it, but it probably seems perfectly normal to people in some areas. The inconvenience and getting hit with a disproportionate fee does suck. While I don't usually use travel agencies, this is a situation where I'd be looking to book through one that would deal with this, that I could pay via credit card.
 
I am with Flots on this one. I will not business with anyone that requires a wire transfer. There are just way too many other options.

Such as? I am trying to deal with a couple of operators in the Philippines, and they are talking wire transfer as well. What other options are there?
 
I've done something similar for a place on Roatan.. I went to a local bank and made a deposit into an account. Lots of places in this world don't use credit cards.

Just do your homework and make sure the place is legit. www.tripadvisor.com is a good place to check..
 
Such as? I am trying to deal with a couple of operators in the Philippines, and they are talking wire transfer as well. What other options are there?
Paypal for instance, which is very simple to use, I regularly pay my diveguide/hotel arragements in Aniilao with paypal.
Anyway my bank has already failed a bank transfer to Asia because it wasn't IBAN bank account format, since then it's just NO WAY with wire transfers. I can guarantee Hotels fully understand the no wire or walk threat...
 
Pretty common on the Philippines and really pretty safe. We've done it multiple times. But you're right, your bank's charge is excessive.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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