Booking.com host asks to transfer money to his card. Should I comply?

5/14/2019 9:15:19 AM

This is common for Yalta, Crimea. The booking.com are aware of this. Their response to my request:

Thank you for sending us your request.Apartments on Xxxxxxxx
Yalta has been informed on your behalf.

Please note that your request is not guaranteed until the
accommodation has confirmed it.

Request: Hello! I was notified from host to pay beforehand despite
booking condition: “Prepayment: No prepayment is needed”. Also
prepayment is requested to be done outside of booking.com, so I have
no garantee that my payment reserves the room. Hope this situation to
be resolved soon. Thanks!

If you would like to verify your request before your arrival, please
contact the accommodation directly. Their contact details are: TEL.NNNNN

I have booked 3 hotels and at every place I was asked to transfer money directly to the host. So at the last one I finally did that (after telephone call to check host identity/terms of stay), payed for one day beforehand.

UPDATE:

My staying at Yalta was fine. The room was as expected, clean, new and with a great view of Yalta.

But I strongly recommend to give a telephone call to the host before transferring money (and check they know appartment they rent).

1/31/2017 4:37:04 PM

I have booked accommodations in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) using booking.com before. The trouble is that the hosts have their own version of agreement in their respective language. You have it in English. Those two versions differ. I suggest contacting booking.com as your conditions clearly states: “No prepayment is needed”. All such disputes were resolved to my satisfaction.

PS. On a different note, you are travelling to Yalta, Crimea. The fact that Crimea is a part of Russia is not universally recognized, and various enforcement agencies (e.g. Dept of State, FinCen) prohibit doing business (e.g. spending money) in Crimea. If you spent any in any traceable way (e.g. credit card), you may be in violation of your nation laws and/or subject to extortion later. I would advise to exercise extreme caution.

PPS. By your name and occupation you appear to be Russian National, so above may not apply to you personally.

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About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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