Sending deposit to Gite from the US or Canada

Try PayPal. You can make payments denominated in Euros, and all you need is their email info (not bank info etc).

Kitsambler said:

Try PayPal. You can make payments denominated in Euros, and all you need is their email info (not bank info etc).

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That has to be their PayPal email address, i.e., one that they've set up on an account in PayPal, no?

billmclaughlin said:

That has to be their PayPal email address, i.e., one that they've set up on an account in PayPal, no?

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I don't believe so. Just use the email you've been using to reach them. Then the ball is in their court.

Kitsambler said:

I don't believe so. Just use the email you've been using to reach them. Then the ball is in their court.

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According to PayPal:
"Send money to just about anyone using their PayPal email address or mobile number and the money will go to their PayPal account. If they don't have a PayPal account, they can create one instantly for free."

That last sentence counts a lot. If the albergue isn't set up to receive payment using the email address you enter then "the ball is in their court" means you don't have a reservation.

You don't just send money to any email address. It has to be an email address the payee has registered with PayPal. Before trying to pay an albergue via PayPal you'll want to ask what email address to use. It may not be the one they use for normal email communication. Or they may say they don't accept payments via PayPal at all. We've all encountered businesses that prefer to work on a cash basis.

PayPal charges fees for commercial transactions, too, so the payee may quote a slightly different amount once you suggest that mode of payment.

MM Ahlskog said:

i came across a few gites that require a deposit to hold our reservations. Any suggestions on how I can send the deposit (Euro) economically from the US or Canada?

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Wait till you are there .
Get the site owner you are staying with a few days or even a week prior to ring with your card number.

MM Ahlskog said:

i came across a few gites that require a deposit to hold our reservations. Any suggestions on how I can send the deposit (Euro) economically from the US or Canada?

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I booked our first week of accommodation in 2014 and just explained that it would be difficult to make a deposit since we were in Canada. They all accepted that, so no deposit was made, but some of them asked that we reconfirm by phone or email two days before arrival.