Paying for hotel in Portugal

Doubleshotdamo

Hi. I've booked flights to Portugal on my credit card. The hotel I'm booking would like me to pay 25% deposit by bank transfer, and the balance on check in.
I'd prefer to pay by credit card so I'm covered by section 75 should anything happen. I asked about this and was told hotel reopens on the 4th March, when someone will be able to take my card payment.
But, availability may change by then.
Do I "risk" it by paying by bank transfer, or "risk" it by waiting until the 4th March to pay by card? 
Also, what fees and charges would there be for both methods of payment? 

TadleyBaggie

Paying by card wouldn't cover "should anything happen", it only covers you if hotel reneges etc. If you can't travel due to the airline cancelling or some other reason not related to the hotel, s75 isn't going to help.

sheramber

Can you not find a hotel that is open/can take  card payment.

If you pay by bank transfer what happens of the hotel doesn't open  for some reason.

Doubleshotdamo

sheramber said:

Can you not find a hotel that is open/can take  card payment.

If you pay by bank transfer what happens of the hotel doesn't open  for some reason.

No. We've chosen the one we want to go to. 

Doubleshotdamo

TadleyBaggie said:

Paying by card wouldn't cover "should anything happen", it only covers you if hotel reneges etc. If you can't travel due to the airline cancelling or some other reason not related to the hotel, s75 isn't going to help.

Going bust is what I meant. 

emmajones1976

Paying it in that way is bonkers. I would run a mile if that condition was placed on me.

comeandgo

You ask about fees.  This will depend on your bank or credit card company.  One of ours charges 2.5 % but if you can get Halifax or Virgin credit cards they don’t have fees for foreign charges.  Is your hotel in booking.com or other agency platforms and you could book through them? 

 I have had to use bank transfers while holidaying in Tanzania but made absolutely sure the company was legit and had plenty of others who had booked and had no problems.   I used Trip Adviser and asked questions on the travel forum.  

Upsidedownandaround

If you are struggling to make the decision whether to risk it with the knowledge of how much the hotel costs and how much the 25% bank transfer is how on earth do you think anyone else will be able to give you a better answer without this knowledge?

There’s quite a bit of difference between one night in a £60 a night hotel and two weeks at £2000 a week in terms of risk and whether S75 applies.

Doubleshotdamo

Upsidedownandaround said:

If you are struggling to make the decision whether to risk it with the knowledge of how much the hotel costs and how much the 25% bank transfer is how on earth do you think anyone else will be able to give you a better answer without this knowledge?

There’s quite a bit of difference between one night in a £60 a night hotel and two weeks at £2000 a week in terms of risk and whether S75 applies.

You only have to ask. 
£3300.
The hotel has excellent reviews. 
Can't book through Booking.com ir an agent as I have specifically asked for interconnecting rooms, which can only be guaranteed when booking directly.

400ixl

In most cases you can book through an agent making the request, and then follow up directly with the hotel. Just as likely to get the same rooms doing it that way. Even better if you can do it with flights to make it a package with ATOL protection.

Upsidedownandaround

Doubleshotdamo said:

Upsidedownandaround said:

If you are struggling to make the decision whether to risk it with the knowledge of how much the hotel costs and how much the 25% bank transfer is how on earth do you think anyone else will be able to give you a better answer without this knowledge?

There’s quite a bit of difference between one night in a £60 a night hotel and two weeks at £2000 a week in terms of risk and whether S75 applies.

You only have to ask. 
£3300.
The hotel has excellent reviews. 
Can't book through Booking.com ir an agent as I have specifically asked for interconnecting rooms, which can only be guaranteed when booking directly.

Nothing is guaranteed and you seem to be aware of that as per your opening post.

Booking.com Is a direct distribution platform. If it’s not possible to ‘guarantee’ interconnecting rooms by booking on it then that is the hotel that is saying that. So there is no reason they can’t book these rooms other than they don’t want to pay booking.com commission. 

Which is fair enough but equally you wouldn’t expect them to ask you to do a bank transfer for the privilege of booking direct with them.

I wouldn’t book via a bank transfer method for that price. Too risky. Book via booking.com on a refundable rate and ask for interconnecting rooms if they say they can’t or are unsure you should try a different hotel.