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Using Whatsapp to book a bed

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ClareMcG

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
May 2025
Hi Friends
Maybe a dumb question...?
I am heading off on my first camino in late April (CF) and wondering about booking beds via Whatsapp. What is the protocol? Will the hostels require payment info with the booking? Are bank details secure on Whatsapp? I understand that Booking.com is secure - but not all hostels are connected to it.
Many thanks for your responses.
 
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Never had to Pay via whatsapp. In the am we'd decide where we wanted to finish and used the apps to locate a suitable Albergue. Quick call or whats app was usually enough to confirm. I appreciate in times of Bed rush this may be different.
 
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I used WhatsApp extensively last year to book ahead. I can’t recall being asked for payment in advance. Booking.com sometimes billed in advance but that’s not what your question was. Regards security, while WhatsApp is encrypted, someone on the other end writing it on a piece of paper is not. Personally, I’d be wary of providing my payment details to an unknown individual. But, that’s me, others may disagree.
 
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Last winter with a large group, I had to make an international call a few times to confirm the card. The university did not want their credit card floating around WhatsApp for our group. Again, someone just wrote it down on the other end so probably not very secure. I paid cash on arrival, but understandably the hospitalero did not want to reserve 12 beds without some kind of guarantee even in winter.
 
Groups are a different story and I can understand the reluctance on the hospitaleros part but, the risk is the same if that’s the OP’s concern. As an individual, I would not share CC information with an unknown 3rd party unless it was my last option.
 
I used WhatsApp for booking on the Norte this summer/fall, and yes, did have a couple requests for prepayment. It made me nervous even though it is end-to-end encrypted. Rather than text the information, I called the establishment directly, and was able to speak to someone who spoke English and took the information that was required.
 
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Having someone write your information down on a piece of paper is probably less secure!
 
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