Send money via Westernunion for hotel in BAQ or not? - URGENT !!!

goin_south says on Jan 26, 2008, 17:29:

naaaaawh... jus look for a guy hangin from a chandelier, when you get there...
I'm sure Modefoque will find you some place to lye your head.

Where do we go from here?

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sloopskipper says on Jan 26, 2008, 17:41:

Why not call the hotel to confirm? Maybe ask for manager?

I reread and seems you did not do this yet, yes?

I wouldn't do that unless someone here knows the hotel. I'd find one that will take plastic.

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Terry2 says on Jan 26, 2008, 17:44:

If you have been in contact with the hotel and this is their instructions then maybe get this Marta's Colombian ID number for verification that she did receive the money. It might give you some....maybe only a little recourse if you get stiffed. I stay at the Dann Carlton often in Barranquilla and use my mastercard with no problems. Hope all works out for you!

Terry

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Buongone says on Jan 26, 2008, 18:01:

Last we stayed in CTG my GF had to go get a bank wire to reserve the room. I believe it is a common practice with places that don't want to mess with credit cards.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 26, 2008, 18:03:

I use card at two hotels in Cartagena, Casa la Fe & Hotel da Pietro, and need advance nothing. Of course some don't want to do it.

You can't cancel a wire, and probably never get money back if you must cancel.

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podborski says on Jan 26, 2008, 19:01:

quite a few smaller hotels ask for an advance that way, they can't take credit cards online, I am having trouble setting that up too, so I understand why they do it.

That's not to say this person is legit or not, I have no idea, but it's a common practice in my experience.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 26, 2008, 19:58:

I don't feel comfortable with it. That is why I will probably again stay at hotel, instead of apartment in Cartagena. The apartments I thought that I would book want the same, via PayPal.

I paid cash in one small hotel in Arequipa but they did not ask for advance.

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toneloc24 says on Jan 27, 2008, 04:23:

A lot of hotels and apartments do this during Carnaval to protect their investment, your reservation. Lots of people pull out of their reservations, leaving the rooms previously reserved rooms unoccupied. I understand their POV, but I don't play their game. Plenty of other options during Carnaval than the 3x-normal priced places, esp. since 75% of your time during Carnaval will be spent in the streets. I'm actually staying at a fairly new aparthotel for 80 mil/nite, no advance.

I also don't do the pay-in-advance thing in Cartagena. I generally go when it's not high season. Plenty of options available.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

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Cerealkiller says on Jan 27, 2008, 06:29:

hell no, book with tripadvisor or something and pay with your credit card.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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zed2283 says on Jan 27, 2008, 07:03:

Toneloc, what is the info on the place you are staying? I'll have to check it out for next time.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 27, 2008, 07:06:

I used Expedia "speciai rates" for both hotels in Cartagena.

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CuriosJoe says on Jan 27, 2008, 09:32:

Hello thanks to everyone who responded. We haven't sent the money yet. No bigger hotels availability for the Carnival dates at all. The place that wants us to send the money is this one:
http://www.apartamentosalvarojesus.com/ It really doesn't come up anywhere when we google it other than on this site.

In general, if 4 of us just show up in the middle of the carnival with no reservations what are the chances we find something? thanks.

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Cerealkiller says on Jan 27, 2008, 09:54:

You can always book in CTG and drive to BAQ...it is an option.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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bill230 says on Jan 27, 2008, 10:03:

I am sure it will be fine to send the money. I have stayed there several times.

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CuriosJoe says on Jan 27, 2008, 10:30:

Thanks. Tried calling them today, they don't pick up the phone. Has anyone been able to get rooms without reservation on arrival?

Cartagena will probably be dead this week, all the action is in Baq !!

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