Paying a Hotel

[whitespider - RIP]

I have just posted similar in the hotels in BKK thread but thought this would be useful for any Newbies to Thailand hence the new thread here.

 

Firstly NEVER pay up front for a hotel - always when you leave. Many websites are asking for up-front payment now which you should avoid. If you pay up front you can have problems if you decide to move because you don't like the hotel or decide to change location completely.

 

Secondly - watch out for the 3% or sometimes even 5% they try to add on if you pay by credit card. It is illegal to add this surcharge in Thailand but of course they do have to pay the CC company so they use it to try to get you to pay cash. If you are asked for this just refuse to pay it. If necessary tell them you will call the tourist police - best avoided if you want to go back again. Just be firm - its a total scam and you do NOT have topay. If they "advertise" that they accept credit cards then they must accept your offer of payment WITHOUT adding the surcharge.

 

A little argument shouldn't spoil the holiday if you remember to pay when you LEAVE.

[sinkorswim]

Some hotels have also been found to be scanning and cloning cards then charging loads of goods to them.

 

My friend had his card cloned and charged to a company in Australia and within 1 week I had the same thing happen to me. I personally would recommend not using a card in LOS at all, if you can avoid it.

[valleyboy]

Well i have just booked a room at Sabai Inn and they wanted my credit card details in order to reserve the room for me.What else are you supposed to do if you want to stay at their hotel?

[sexy beast]

Well i have just booked a room at Sabai Inn and they wanted my credit card details in order to reserve the room for me.What else are you supposed to do if you want to stay at their hotel?

 

Good point, unlike the previous 2 posters who are lucky enough to live in Thailand, there is nothing you can do if you want to be guarantee a room!

 

But whitespiders point about the 3-5 % service charge is a good one, I've had it tried on me several times in Bangkok, Phuket but never Pattaya.

[valleyboy]

I have booked a few hotels with my CC. Never had any problems so far. I think it is better to book thru a good website that has recommendations. I used these a few times.

 

http://www.sawadee.com/

 

Be carefull of these also mind.In most(not all)cases you have to pay 100% upfront,and if the hotel is shit and you want to move or indeed have to cancel then there is a good chance you won't get your money back.

I am in credit with these people to the tune of 22.5k baht and they tried to get me to use it on some shitty hotel in Jomtien.I told them i don't want to stay there and they said they have to clear their records before the end of the year.So i said no problem,give me a refund.Having looked at their forum though there are a lot of people who have not had any money back of them.

[sexy beast]

Be carefull of these also mind.In most(not all)cases you have to pay 100% upfront,and if the hotel is shit and you want to move or indeed have to cancel then there is a good chance you won't get your money back.

I am in credit with these people to the tune of 22.5k baht and they tried to get me to use it on some shitty hotel in Jomtien.I told them i don't want to stay there and they said they have to clear their records before the end of the year.So i said no problem,give me a refund.Having looked at their forum though there are a lot of people who have not had any money back of them.

 

It would be a good idea to stay there :closedeyes: makes the rest of pattaya a little safer

[upena]

Personally - I would NEVER use a credit card in Thailand - period

 

I have been asked to provide them to book the room and just told them NO - if they want my business they will just have to take my reservation without a CC - or I will look elsewhere. Never had to look elsewhere.

 

but still...Credit card fraud is rampant in Thailand - even at the finest of hotels.

 

I only use cash and DEBIT card at ATM

 

my 2 Baht

[whitespider - RIP]

I feel I shoudl clarify something that seems to be misunderstood.

 

I am NOT saying dont give your CC details when making a booking - that is normal to stop you cancelling or doing a runner later from the hotel.

 

(Upenas point re using CC at all is valid but not my point).

 

I was merely saying dont pay for the entire booking in advance - some websites an hotels are trying to do this.

[valleyboy]

It would be a good idea to stay there :closedeyes: makes the rest of pattaya a little safer

Cheeky boy ,are you afraid i'm going to do your women before you get there Dale :

[glynbuk]

i booked with the sabai lodge over the net and gave them my credit card for the first two days costs which is a not too bad 4500 baht for a dolphin pool cottage.

 

will make my decision when i leave whether to use the credit card or cash for final payment.

[SA2LOSnewbie]

i was reluctant to pay using my card

did an internetr booking a month ago and no hassles

does anyone have experiences - good or bad - with shopping in [reputable] shops in malls in Patt

[SA2LOSnewbie]

and how easy is it to get travellers checks changed?

are there beaureus all over the place?

[badboy15001]

I have just posted similar in the Hotels in BKK thread but thought this would be useful for any Newbies to Thailand hence the new thread here.

 

Firstly NEVER pay up front for a hotel - always when you leave. Many websites are asking for up-front payment now which you should avoid. If you pay up front you can have problems if you decide to move because you don't like the hotel or decide to change location completely.

 

Secondly - watch out for the 3% or sometimes even 5% they try to add on if you pay by credit card. It is illegal to add this surcharge in Thailand but of course they do have to pay the CC company so they use it to try to get you to pay cash. If you are asked for this just refuse to pay it. If necessary tell them you will call the tourist police - best avoided if you want to go back again. Just be firm - its a total scam and you do NOT have topay. If they "advertise" that they accept credit cards then they must accept your offer of payment WITHOUT adding the surcharge.

 

A little argument shouldn't spoil the holiday if you remember to pay when you LEAVE.

 

I had that problem when i stayed at Secrets last month, the lady that checked me in said i need to give her a credit card for a deposit in case i run up the minibar and didnt tell me that i could have just given her 1000baht or that it would be a 3% charge for using the creditcard, i complained to the manager but that was a waste of time.. i dont consider my self cheap but dont like being taken advantage of either.. I didnt know it was illegal for them to do that

[armerr]

I have just posted similar in the Hotels in BKK thread but thought this would be useful for any Newbies to Thailand hence the new thread here.

 

Firstly NEVER pay up front for a hotel - always when you leave. Many websites are asking for up-front payment now which you should avoid. If you pay up front you can have problems if you decide to move because you don't like the hotel or decide to change location completely.

 

Secondly - watch out for the 3% or sometimes even 5% they try to add on if you pay by credit card. It is illegal to add this surcharge in Thailand but of course they do have to pay the CC company so they use it to try to get you to pay cash. If you are asked for this just refuse to pay it. If necessary tell them you will call the tourist police - best avoided if you want to go back again. Just be firm - its a total scam and you do NOT have topay. If they "advertise" that they accept credit cards then they must accept your offer of payment WITHOUT adding the surcharge.

 

A little argument shouldn't spoil the holiday if you remember to pay when you LEAVE.

Last year when I bought some jewelry in Mikes Mall I was told there was a surcharge for using a credit card. Was that a scam too?

[wackyjacky]

Whitespider: Thanks for the good info. I'll pay the 3% no more. However guys, not using your CC is crazy. You are protected from fraud legally with your CC. The same isn't necessarily true with an ATM. Your account can be drained without any legal options for you. Some banks will stand up for you, some won't. There was a big story on 60 Minutes a couple years ago about ATM nightmares and the differences in your legal standing in a fraud. Their point was that your CC is much much safer. wj

[irishlas]

and how easy is it to get travellers checks changed?

are there beaureus all over the place?

 

 

You can get Travellers Cheques changed anywhere, there are loads of bureau exchange places open till 9 or 10 pm at nite...

We wouldnt use anything else, you get a better exchange rate using them too

[chuckrivera]

Whitespider: Thanks for the good info. I'll pay the 3% no more. However guys, not using your CC is crazy. You are protected from fraud legally with your CC. The same isn't necessarily true with an ATM. Your account can be drained without any legal options for you. Some banks will stand up for you, some won't. There was a big story on 60 Minutes a couple years ago about ATM nightmares and the differences in your legal standing in a fraud. Their point was that your CC is much much safer. wj

 

The fraud protection does not necessarily extend overseas. For some banks, it applies to US merchants only.

[dudebrah]

Secondly - watch out for the 3% or sometimes even 5% they try to add on if you pay by credit card. It is illegal to add this surcharge in Thailand but of course they do have to pay the CC company so they use it to try to get you to pay cash. If you are asked for this just refuse to pay it. If necessary tell them you will call the tourist police - best avoided if you want to go back again. Just be firm - its a total scam and you do NOT have topay. If they "advertise" that they accept credit cards then they must accept your offer of payment WITHOUT adding the surcharge.

 

 

I did not know this , I thought it was standard practice , Both Residence Garden and Whitehouse condotel have charged me an extra 3% in the past

[gazman100]

Hi all,

Almost every hotel i've stayed in Thailand has asked for a swipe of my credit card as a deposit.

The Nana hotel BKK always does and I think the Areca in soi diana also does it.

The Dynsty in soi 13 did ask me for a deposit for a booking over xmas a couple of years ago which I paid directly into there account.

Lucky for me i've never had a problem however it's great to hear your experiences.

Cheers

[silverslug66]

What do you do if it's a monthly rental? Do you really have any choice BUT to pay up front in that case?

 

Thanks

[andyliveshere]

I have never had a problem with CC but I am also careful as to the usage. Never give in a dodgy restaurant, hotels have too much to loose to gain a couple of thousand baht from you. Book thru Sawadee.com or similiar, never any problems there. If you are unsure of hotel, book short term & test the waters, if OK, extend your booking. This can be a little risky, but are there no other rooms in Pattaya, hardly.

I think Areca, Soi Diana is the best value in Pattaya, close to action & girl friendly. My other choice a little less convienent is Sabai Inn, Soi 2. Really nice hotel but no breakfast, around THB1300, same as Areca.

Cheers guys, enjoy

[brewster]

I always stay at the Pattaya Bay Resort and they always ask for the whole payment up front. I always pay by credit card. No surcharge and never had a problem, including getting 3 nights refunded when I had to check out early.

 

Credit cards can and are cloned everywhere. I've lived in Bangkok for nearly 4 years and used my cards there and in Pattaya, Phuket and Udon.

[brewster]

I have never had a problem with CC but I am also careful as to the usage. Never give in a dodgy restaurant, hotels have too much to loose to gain a couple of thousand baht from you. Book thru Sawadee.com or similiar, never any problems there. If you are unsure of hotel, book short term & test the waters, if OK, extend your booking. This can be a little risky, but are there no other rooms in Pattaya, hardly.

I think Areca, Soi Diana is the best value in Pattaya, close to action & girl friendly. My other choice a little less convienent is Sabai Inn, Soi 2. Really nice hotel but no breakfast, around THB1300, same as Areca.

Cheers guys, enjoy

 

I don't think the Areca Lodge can be classed as girl friendly when they refuse to allow guests to bring back girls aged 18 or 19.

[Chadrick]

they always jsut want to copy my passport and cash is all they ask of me always remember to try to barter a bit

[blueboy0510]

The fraud protection does not necessarily extend overseas. For some banks, it applies to US merchants only.

 

Any Visa or mastercard issued card has global fraud cover, each bank has to agree to this before they get a licence to issue cards