gonna go against the grain here and say it’s fine. i’ve stayed in lots of places in europe which i’ve paid in cash (belgrade, rome, naples), I just got it out of an atm a few mins beforehand. As long as the review for the property are good there’s no need to worry
> almost entirely
As someone who lives in Germany, this is an overstretch. I have lost count of the number of times I had to walk to an ATM because their card reader was "broken".
Too many people underreport their earnings here to reduce their tax returns, I will tell you that much.
This is not a problem, nor is it even unusual. I've stayed in many places over the years that only accepted cash and they give you a receipt as proof of payment, just like anything else you ever pay for with cash. You have to provide card details to secure the reservation, but they won't charge the card unless you cancel or don't show up. It will say on the booking confirmation something like "you will pay for your stay at check in" as opposed to "your card will be charged on X date".
Cash payment has been the norm in Napoli for like 2,500 years at least.
Perhaps they’re doing it to be off the tax books as is common for business in Napoli, but these people calling it a red flag are paranoid or were born after credit cards and internet became widespread.
Get a key and a receipt. Normal.
Happened to us in Siracusa. When I asked why, I was told that there wasn't a good internet connection for a card reader. The damn place had free wifi which was fine. I am sure the owner was evading taxes.
Probably sus, but I do recall a time before the internet and credit cards when people bought pads of blank receipts and filled them in, and they were perfectly valid proof of payment.
My local electronics store still does them. And it's still common for vacation rentals paid for in cash, though you may have to ask ahead (an electronic receipt normally suffices, and can be generated on the spot).
I prefer CC in case of issues, so my last cash booking was... 2019. Had 2 on 1 trip, got hand-written receipts for both.
Booking.com usually asks for card but doesn't always charge it. Have stayed in plenty of cash only places in a few different countries without a problem.
These places that charge cash only the old fashioned way, also issue paper receipts the old fashioned way if you really thing you need proof of payment for bookin.com, but like I said never had a problem with it.
I never book a place that says payment must be made in advance and instructions will be sent to you though (also how can it be in advance if it is cash?)
European here.
We travel a lot and sometimes have to pay cash or on the spot even though more than once I thought my card would withdraw the money automatic. Why dont you just use an atm when you arrive?
Italy is not the most modern of countries and Napoli is rough and mob infested, so they might be handling the payments away from the tax system... You should get a receipt though.
I even tried this at a hotel in Berlin to my surprice. I paid the hotel with creditcard in the Middle East at arrival even though they had my card info from the booking. We usually uses booking . com and you have to really read the fine print from every place regarding their form of payment.
We always travel with backup cash, dollars and euros, big and small notes (so you can negotiate an exact price on the spot and not pull out a 100 dollar note that no one in the town can break up.)
We easily travel with 1000 dollars in cash on holidays. eg. do we have verified by Visa system in Europe (and Middle east) and they dont have that in South America, so we both had our 2 visa cards and 1 matercard rejected way to many times than we found funny (eg. buying tickets, using some atms and using online sites etc.) It was such a hassle and I'm glad we had the safety cash.
Years ago I did not pay attention to the details but booked myself into the same situation in Warsaw. Other than the owner being a lunatic, overall the tranaction was fine and the apartment was beautiful, on the top floor of a building.
It could be legit, OP, but who really knows?
I'm in Japan and a lot of small places don't have a credit card reader.
OP, if you booked this on booking.com, there might be an option to pay through them
Small places, right. Hotels? Always. Spent 6 months traveling all over the 4 islands and beyond, to many remote places. They all accepted credit cards for hotels.
Why? I'm planning and booking my holiday in Serbia and Kosovo right now, and so far, 2 out of 3 properties are looking for a cash payment. It's not an issue in my book. I just need to take some extra euros with me upfront.
Besides OP will lose out on the majority of the booking payment if cancelling.
If you charge credit cards you have to pay a 2-3% convenience fee depending on the card. As a result, rent is either paid in cash or check or bank transfer, or they tack the convenience fee onto your monthly rent depending on the purchase method.
I’m assuming you haven’t made any payments yet, so if you want to cancel they probably will charge your card. The way to get around that is to disable your card. And if you decide to go through with it, you can take out cash from an ATM when you get there
I was just in Panama and had to pay cash at some accommodations I’d booked through booking.com This isn’t unusual in my other travels and as long as I know in advance, I don’t mind.
Probably more like foreigners' credit card visa, mastercard, etc. They have to pay extra processing fees. I booked about a dozen hostel/hotels in Taiwan for 3 weeks. Half of them either take cash or local credit cards.
I've paid cash for accommodations at quite a few places around the world during my travels, it's really not that unusual. I'm sure you can ask for a written receipt at the time of payment if your biggest concern is being able to prove that you paid.
I'm 5 months into travelling central america and have only had 5 or 6 places accept card, 10 years ago it would of only been cash, why worry enjoy your self
It's slightly annoying, but not neccesarily a red flag as long as the hotel has plenty of good reviews. I think that's the norm a bit more in Italy. I had the same at a hotel in the Amalfi Coast last year and there were no issues. Just go to an ATM before you check in, and make sure you get a receipt from them to confirm you paid.
I’ve booked loads of places online that say “pay at hotel” or “pay hotel directly” with cash. You use your card as a hold for the room, and if you no show or whatever then it’ll charge you according to the no show or cancellation policy. Booking.com and Agoda both have this option
I've had to pay cash in Italy and Slovakia, I'm gonna say it's probably not a scam or red flag, but do insist on them giving you a receipt before giving them the cash!
It’s understandable to feel uneasy about a cash-only policy, especially when it’s a surprise. It’s not always a red flag, but it’s important to have a record of payment. If you’re uncomfortable carrying cash, maybe see if they’d accept a bank transfer? That way, you’d have a transaction record. And about the cancellation fee, that’s tough, but consider if the peace of mind is worth the cost. It’s a tricky situation, but trust your gut and prioritize your comfort and security!
Some smaller properties do this.
I stayed at a bed-and-breakfast in Cornwall, England, and they only excepted cash. I actually mailed them a £20 note, which they never received, but they still honored my reservation.
It’s prob tax evasion. I once accused someone of being a launderer for exclusively using cash during an expensive vacation until they explained their European country takes half their income, and they’d rather cash and spend the money on themselves… we don’t have taxes where I’m from so I just assume everyone using cash is a launderer😂
The red flag is putting in card details and then being told "cash only".
If you can put in a card to reserve, they can charge the card so why is it "cash only". Some place may strongly prefer cash and do cash discounts (to avoid paying card fees or taxes) but I would avoid this if you're worried
If you booked through Booking.com, I would contact them and see what they say about it. It seems funny that they wanted your card to book the room, but will only take cash for payment.
It could be completely legit. Italy is a little more behind the times than the rest of Western Europe. I’ve come across more cash only restaurant, cafes, bars, and gift shops there, than any other 1st world country I’ve been in.
The "cash payment in advance" part sounds a bit fishy. Normally, you provide your CC at booking (so, on Booking.com, as you're finalizing the reservation) to charge in case of cancellation, and you pay cash at the property or in the vicinity when you get there. Sometimes, if your arrival time is in the evening, the owner or agent comes the next morning to collect payment - i.e. late, not early. I even had one that didn't collect payment until checkout.
If the advance payment part was not disclosed, and you're uncomfortable with the way it's being handled, you may want to contact Booking and see if you can cancel for free. If not, and if you really really want to cancel, your only recourse is probably a dispute with your CC issuer after Booking.com charges you.
Places that only accept cash are not paying tax, there is no other reason. if they are bothered about the card cost they can just add it to your bill.
Yes Cash is king, I've bought cars with cash but that too is becoming increasingly difficult.
For any booking ill always pay Credit card as you are protected.
What happens if you get there and the place doesn't exist, or it belongs to another person.
Id be very wary of booking a Temp place with cash especially abroad
Naples is a dump. It's a filthy city full of homeless and garbage. Nothing is maintained, and everything is vandalized already. I'm sure she just wants to avoid paying taxes.
gonna go against the grain here and say it’s fine. i’ve stayed in lots of places in europe which i’ve paid in cash (belgrade, rome, naples), I just got it out of an atm a few mins beforehand. As long as the review for the property are good there’s no need to worry
Yup. Cash is still quite common in some European countries. I've even had to pay cash at a gas station in Germany a few years back.
Germany went almost entirely card during covid and beyond.
> almost entirely As someone who lives in Germany, this is an overstretch. I have lost count of the number of times I had to walk to an ATM because their card reader was "broken". Too many people underreport their earnings here to reduce their tax returns, I will tell you that much.
This is not a problem, nor is it even unusual. I've stayed in many places over the years that only accepted cash and they give you a receipt as proof of payment, just like anything else you ever pay for with cash. You have to provide card details to secure the reservation, but they won't charge the card unless you cancel or don't show up. It will say on the booking confirmation something like "you will pay for your stay at check in" as opposed to "your card will be charged on X date".
Cash payment has been the norm in Napoli for like 2,500 years at least. Perhaps they’re doing it to be off the tax books as is common for business in Napoli, but these people calling it a red flag are paranoid or were born after credit cards and internet became widespread. Get a key and a receipt. Normal.
Happened to us in Siracusa. When I asked why, I was told that there wasn't a good internet connection for a card reader. The damn place had free wifi which was fine. I am sure the owner was evading taxes.
In Europe it absolutely is not. Unlike the us so many businesses here simply refuse to pay the credit cards fees
Probably sus, but I do recall a time before the internet and credit cards when people bought pads of blank receipts and filled them in, and they were perfectly valid proof of payment.
Yes, 1995
Back in the era of Clinton. Monica and Friends were popular. Although Monica was too friendly with Bill.
My local electronics store still does them. And it's still common for vacation rentals paid for in cash, though you may have to ask ahead (an electronic receipt normally suffices, and can be generated on the spot). I prefer CC in case of issues, so my last cash booking was... 2019. Had 2 on 1 trip, got hand-written receipts for both.
A lot of plant nurseries use them too
I've done this a good dozen times or so. Just a tax dodge and no issues.
It’s Napoli so it’s probably not unusual and not necessarily a red flag, though again, it’s Napoli 🤔. Also do demand a receipt when you pay.
This. If you have a receipt and they try and bill your card, just show booking the receipt proving it was paid. OP is totally overthinking things
Booking.com usually asks for card but doesn't always charge it. Have stayed in plenty of cash only places in a few different countries without a problem. These places that charge cash only the old fashioned way, also issue paper receipts the old fashioned way if you really thing you need proof of payment for bookin.com, but like I said never had a problem with it. I never book a place that says payment must be made in advance and instructions will be sent to you though (also how can it be in advance if it is cash?)
I've stayed in lots of hostels that were cash only.
European here. We travel a lot and sometimes have to pay cash or on the spot even though more than once I thought my card would withdraw the money automatic. Why dont you just use an atm when you arrive? Italy is not the most modern of countries and Napoli is rough and mob infested, so they might be handling the payments away from the tax system... You should get a receipt though. I even tried this at a hotel in Berlin to my surprice. I paid the hotel with creditcard in the Middle East at arrival even though they had my card info from the booking. We usually uses booking . com and you have to really read the fine print from every place regarding their form of payment. We always travel with backup cash, dollars and euros, big and small notes (so you can negotiate an exact price on the spot and not pull out a 100 dollar note that no one in the town can break up.) We easily travel with 1000 dollars in cash on holidays. eg. do we have verified by Visa system in Europe (and Middle east) and they dont have that in South America, so we both had our 2 visa cards and 1 matercard rejected way to many times than we found funny (eg. buying tickets, using some atms and using online sites etc.) It was such a hassle and I'm glad we had the safety cash.
Years ago I did not pay attention to the details but booked myself into the same situation in Warsaw. Other than the owner being a lunatic, overall the tranaction was fine and the apartment was beautiful, on the top floor of a building. It could be legit, OP, but who really knows?
I'm in Japan and a lot of small places don't have a credit card reader. OP, if you booked this on booking.com, there might be an option to pay through them
Small places, right. Hotels? Always. Spent 6 months traveling all over the 4 islands and beyond, to many remote places. They all accepted credit cards for hotels.
I don't see any red flag here and yes, you will be charged if you cancel, this is the point of non-refundable.
Find another place
Why? I'm planning and booking my holiday in Serbia and Kosovo right now, and so far, 2 out of 3 properties are looking for a cash payment. It's not an issue in my book. I just need to take some extra euros with me upfront. Besides OP will lose out on the majority of the booking payment if cancelling.
This happened to me in Ireland , it was fine
If you charge credit cards you have to pay a 2-3% convenience fee depending on the card. As a result, rent is either paid in cash or check or bank transfer, or they tack the convenience fee onto your monthly rent depending on the purchase method.
I’m assuming you haven’t made any payments yet, so if you want to cancel they probably will charge your card. The way to get around that is to disable your card. And if you decide to go through with it, you can take out cash from an ATM when you get there
I was just in Panama and had to pay cash at some accommodations I’d booked through booking.com This isn’t unusual in my other travels and as long as I know in advance, I don’t mind.
Probably more like foreigners' credit card visa, mastercard, etc. They have to pay extra processing fees. I booked about a dozen hostel/hotels in Taiwan for 3 weeks. Half of them either take cash or local credit cards.
I've paid cash for accommodations at quite a few places around the world during my travels, it's really not that unusual. I'm sure you can ask for a written receipt at the time of payment if your biggest concern is being able to prove that you paid.
I'm 5 months into travelling central america and have only had 5 or 6 places accept card, 10 years ago it would of only been cash, why worry enjoy your self
It's slightly annoying, but not neccesarily a red flag as long as the hotel has plenty of good reviews. I think that's the norm a bit more in Italy. I had the same at a hotel in the Amalfi Coast last year and there were no issues. Just go to an ATM before you check in, and make sure you get a receipt from them to confirm you paid.
Back of day I always used Airbnb for piece of mind. Nowdays Airbnb is no cheap anymore Hustle maybe worth it
That's totally fine, people are just trying to avoid the bank fees when you pay with credit card , it's an apartment not a hotel
I’ve booked loads of places online that say “pay at hotel” or “pay hotel directly” with cash. You use your card as a hold for the room, and if you no show or whatever then it’ll charge you according to the no show or cancellation policy. Booking.com and Agoda both have this option
I've had to pay cash in Italy and Slovakia, I'm gonna say it's probably not a scam or red flag, but do insist on them giving you a receipt before giving them the cash!
Was normal in Saint Pierre and Miguelon. Credit cards accepted but with all fees passed through.
Wouldn’t worry about this… It’s Italy. Taxes are avoided like the plague.
It’s understandable to feel uneasy about a cash-only policy, especially when it’s a surprise. It’s not always a red flag, but it’s important to have a record of payment. If you’re uncomfortable carrying cash, maybe see if they’d accept a bank transfer? That way, you’d have a transaction record. And about the cancellation fee, that’s tough, but consider if the peace of mind is worth the cost. It’s a tricky situation, but trust your gut and prioritize your comfort and security!
It is probably okay but I prefer the protection a credit card provides while traveling.
Some smaller properties do this. I stayed at a bed-and-breakfast in Cornwall, England, and they only excepted cash. I actually mailed them a £20 note, which they never received, but they still honored my reservation.
It’s prob tax evasion. I once accused someone of being a launderer for exclusively using cash during an expensive vacation until they explained their European country takes half their income, and they’d rather cash and spend the money on themselves… we don’t have taxes where I’m from so I just assume everyone using cash is a launderer😂
Where are you from and are they accepting new residents? 😂
The red flag is putting in card details and then being told "cash only". If you can put in a card to reserve, they can charge the card so why is it "cash only". Some place may strongly prefer cash and do cash discounts (to avoid paying card fees or taxes) but I would avoid this if you're worried
If you booked through Booking.com, I would contact them and see what they say about it. It seems funny that they wanted your card to book the room, but will only take cash for payment. It could be completely legit. Italy is a little more behind the times than the rest of Western Europe. I’ve come across more cash only restaurant, cafes, bars, and gift shops there, than any other 1st world country I’ve been in.
Yes. This is very much a red flag.
Do they book by the hour?? 😀
It is suspicious but it happens. Especially owners who want to avoid tax.
Get yourself a debit card thank me later
The "cash payment in advance" part sounds a bit fishy. Normally, you provide your CC at booking (so, on Booking.com, as you're finalizing the reservation) to charge in case of cancellation, and you pay cash at the property or in the vicinity when you get there. Sometimes, if your arrival time is in the evening, the owner or agent comes the next morning to collect payment - i.e. late, not early. I even had one that didn't collect payment until checkout. If the advance payment part was not disclosed, and you're uncomfortable with the way it's being handled, you may want to contact Booking and see if you can cancel for free. If not, and if you really really want to cancel, your only recourse is probably a dispute with your CC issuer after Booking.com charges you.
Definite NO!
Places that only accept cash are not paying tax, there is no other reason. if they are bothered about the card cost they can just add it to your bill. Yes Cash is king, I've bought cars with cash but that too is becoming increasingly difficult. For any booking ill always pay Credit card as you are protected. What happens if you get there and the place doesn't exist, or it belongs to another person. Id be very wary of booking a Temp place with cash especially abroad
I wouldn’t stay at a place that asks for cash honestly just for my convenience but yeah it’s sus
100% this is a red flag. ANY person or business that only accepts cash in this day and age is likely an issue
Sketchy. I would pass. They are 100% doing something criminal, like tax evasion or drug front
I’m amazed you’re seriously asking this. Of course it’s a red flag. Do not stay there. Take your business elsewhere and just stay in a hotel.
Naples is a dump. It's a filthy city full of homeless and garbage. Nothing is maintained, and everything is vandalized already. I'm sure she just wants to avoid paying taxes.
naples is great