Using Whatsapp to book a bed

[ClareMcG]

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.

 

[trecile]

Very rarely has a place asked for pre-payment when I've booked with WhatsApp. The only time that I remember I used PayPal to pay.

 

[ClareMcG]

Thanks @trecile. That’s helpful and happy to use PayPal

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Are bank details secure on Whatsapp?

WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted. It will be as safe to use as your browser in https mode or your bank's app.

 

[feenzo]

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.

 

[Juspassinthru]

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.

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.

 

[J Willhaus]

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 one 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.

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.

 

[Juspassinthru]

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.

 

[asl]

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.

 

[trecile]

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.

Having someone write your information down on a piece of paper is probably less secure!

 

[wisepilgrim]

I have given extensive and passionate replies to this topic a number of times. Here is the short version:

Never send sensitive information via WhatsApp.

It is not about encryption, that only prevents it from being intercepted between you and receiver. The trouble is the receiver, and what they may do with it once they receive it.

Or think of it this way: anybody that asks you to send bank details via WhatsApp have, in their very asking, demonstrated that they do not have a secure way to store that information. If they did they would have asked you to use the secure method.

I have seen literal notebooks filled with hand scribbled cc details sitting open on registration desks. If somebody asks you to give the details over the phone, this is how they are writing it down.

PCI compliance, yadda yadda, just don’t do it.

 

[trecile]

@wisepilgrim - What secure methods do you recommend?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Look into services that offer virtual credit cards. There are various with different costs and services. One way they can help is giving you a number of virtual credit card numbers that work just like real ones but they expire immediately after first use.

Three year old example of one service:
YouTube video id: pJ-ZsfONByw

 

[wisepilgrim]

@wisepilgrim - What secure methods do you recommend?

Any secure booking portal, with https.
An encrypted payment link, which will also direct you to a webpage using https.

I am sympathetic to the needs of hotel owners needing to secure bookings, but when they ask for credit card details over WhatsApp/phone it is all a big farce. They know, and you should know too, that they cannot actually charge you. You have not signed any agreement, and if you fight the charge the owner will be out the money plus a hefty charge. So why ask in the first place? And why send it to support the farce?

There are MANY tools that even the most basic hotel operator can use to secure bookings. (stripe, square, paypal, etc). Many are very cheap or free. Or they can sign up for booking, which believe it or not has a pretty favorable position among hotel owners on the camino that find it worth the comission.

Instead they choose to continue with the charade of passing data. To that I am not sympathetic.

I can tell you that many of these same owners are not asking Spaniards for their credit card information, they are asking for payment up front via Bizum or something similar which is available to local bank account holders.

 

[thewalkingkat]

I have given extensive and passionate replies to this topic a number of times. Here is the short version:

Never send sensitive information via WhatsApp.

It is not about encryption, that only prevents it from being intercepted between you and receiver. The trouble is the receiver, and what they may do with it once they receive it.

Or think of it this way: anybody that asks you to send bank details via WhatsApp have, in their very asking, demonstrated that they do not have a secure way to store that information. If they did they would have asked you to use the secure method.

I have seen literal notebooks filled with hand scribbled cc details sitting open on registration desks. If somebody asks you to give the details over the phone, this is how they are writing it down.

PCI compliance, yadda yadda, just don’t do it.

Yes to all of this! There is no way to pay via WhatsApp, it's a messenger service, not a booking or payment site. I'm happy to pay in advance if someone sends me a Paypal link.

That said, I have never been asked to send any kind of payment/bank information on WhatsApp. Usually, albergues let you know they'll hold the bed until a certain time (2:00 PM seems to be the most common). Some albergues will also hold your space longer if you call during the day and let them know that you need some more time to get there.

When I want a guaranteed booking, I use an albergue with an online reservation system (booking.com or their own website) and pay in advance, if required.

 

[TravellingMan22]

I have certainly sat in a few hotel foyers and overhead staff take and repeat back people’s credit card and debit card numbers. Say I didn’t have a pen and paper with me!

Our local taxi company sends us a link upon booking, to pay, so I guess that is an option (with all the usual caveats!) for small businesses?

 

[Stephan the Painter]

about booking beds via Whatsapp. What is the protocol?

Just don't forget to also message and cancel the booking if you're not going to make it. Someone else might need that bed. Buen Camino.

 

[Jesnat]

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.

Using Whatsapp is a very common way to contact Alberques and reserve a bed for the night. Gronze.com is my go to source for Alberque info and for reference, phone numbers that start with 6 indicate a mobile number and most likely to be using Whatsapp. I have never been asked for credit card or payment details and would go somewhere else if asked. Good luck and Buen Camino.

 

[JustJack]

The beauty of fraudulent charges on your credit card is the ease in which they can be disputed and not paid. People probably worry more about their credit card than they need to.

 

[TravellingMan22]

The beauty of fraudulent charges on your credit card is the ease in which they can be disputed and not paid. People probably worry more about their credit card than they need to.

I’ve no idea because I don’t have a credit card, but understand that you owe the credit card company the money rather than the vendor so that makes sense to me. However many folks only use debit cards (I know credit cards are huge in Canada/USA with the average being 3 per person but maybe less in other parts of world) where your money is immediately debited by the supplier so that is a different story! That said when someone successfully used my debit card fraudently (when I was asleep is Sopain and sometime bought some houseware in Carson City on my tab) my UK bank credited the money back very quickly otherwise the funds (my money) would not have been available to me.

 

[trecile]

The beauty of fraudulent charges on your credit card is the ease in which they can be disputed and not paid. People probably worry more about their credit card than they need to.

Though if it happens while you are on the Camino it can be a nuisance since your bank will cancel that number and send you a new card.

However, with the newer cards and a wallet app on your phone your new number may be issued almost immediately. That happened to me recently when I had a fraudulent charge for pizza delivery on my card. I thought that I would have to change the primary card on my Google Wallet app, but when I checked the app a new number had already been assigned so I was able to continue using that card to pay with my phone.

 

[J Willhaus]

In the US, we are more protected from theft if we use a credit card. I only use my debit card to withdraw cash overseas and I use only a special checking account for travel purposes now. We've had credit cards cards hacked in both Spain and Canada the past few years and it is a real pain when your card is cancelled out of country without an address. We are going to try the "lock" and "unlock" method this year everytime after we use the cards. Also try the phone tap instead of card tap. I am also looking at the "virtual" card thing, too, mentioned here.

I prefer just to use cash on the Camino and we've had that conversation before on the forum. Many of the places we stay don't accept a card anyway.

 

[alexwalker]

I only use my debit card to withdraw cash overseas

Me too. I use my DC to get cash from ATMs and normally only pay by cash.

I never submit card info on non-secure platforms like telephone, WhatsApp etc. Booking.com is acceptable, but I rarely use it bc. they deduct a healthy fee from the albergue owners.

Better to pay direct and let them keep as much money as possible. Hence, I prebook by phone directly (My Spanish is sufficient), or I wing it, depending on the traffic situation.

When I don't have more cash than I need for a train to Santiago, I get more cash so I have sufficient. In Santiago I know I will get help. (Pilgrim House/Ivar/ others (Spanish) I know).

I prefer just to use cash on the Camino and we've had that conversation before on the forum. Many of the places we stay don't accept a card anyway.

Indeed.

I carry 2 different DC cards on the Caminos, stored in 2 different places.

I carry one CC card for larger amounts like air flights (I travel without a return ticket), and it is disabled when I don't use it.

I also have written notes about names and phone numbers to friends living on the CF Camino/Santiago that I trust for extreme emergency assistance.

I have the Spanish AlertCops app installed on my phone for emergency alerts if needed.
Travel insurance app and phone number is on my phone.
I have memorized my better half's phone number just in case all else goes wrong, so she will be with me within 24 hours time with sufficient funds for a safe return home.

I NEVER leave my vital belongings unattended. They are with me on my body, in the shower, in the sleeping bag, etc.

I do not trust others to look after my belongings in cafes, albergues, etc. Camino friends/families are great, but never tempt them. I walk into a bar with my backpack on, and return to the table with a beer (and my backpack).