Booking a room and giving away your CCV number...

[rxpharm]

The difficulties you face may also arise from what another poster mentioned - your card is issued in a particular county, while your ISP address shows a different country. You may be able to get around this problem if you set up a "verified by visa" facility from your bank, when you are back in the country where your card was issued. This will allow you to verify on-line transactions without submitting your CCV number to the hotel or Agoda.

I worked in the Arabian Gulf for a number of years, but used a Canadian bank issued Visa card. I set up the "verified by Visa" facility when I visited Canada and have had no problems with online transactions.

I know you reside in Africa - thankfully not Nigeria, but this is probably the reason why you are having difficulties.

[Beto]

I find that while booking with the hotels directly I will get the same rated as with the agencies but i do not have to provide any credit card information and pay in advance unless I arrive late in the day (night). In that case I might get asked for the credit card info in order to secure the first night. If asked for the CCV I do not provide it over unsecure e-mail but call the hotel by phone and give the info that way. Seems to work for me.

[azza33]

If you are worried about such an issue may i advise

1) Get a low credit limit card - say $500 - $1000 limit to do your online transactions. That way the worst off you will ever be is limited and that's if your bank refuses to re-reimburse any fraud that has taken place.

2) Never transact online using a visa debit card - they access your own funds - if someone is going to perpetrate a fraud - make sure they use the banks money and not yours - that way you don't have to wait potentially months to get your own money back while the bank investigates the matter.

Hope this helps.

Areca is a pain anyhow

Wow that's a big call - not sure what happened to you there Snick - but I've only recently returned from LOS and stayed at Areca and everything was fantastic again.

[Snick]

My biggest problem with them is the internet policy,
EVERY other place in Pattaya offers free internet, and they charge you per day for internet access, and the WiFi isn't even in the room - just the pool and lobby area.

The guest policy (if I remember) was strange and is limited to one guest.

Other than that, I found the hotel very average.

Nova Platinum gives me free wifi, LCD TV and DVD player in the room, and an amazing pool which is rarely full (Areca's gets crowded) for the same price. The only downside is Nova Platinum's location which is a bit out of the way but not too bad....it's actually well suited for 4am staggering back to the room from EZY bar.

[azza33]

Fair enough .. the net is not big on my requirements so i don't mind

Guest policy is 1 for free, 2 guests is 300 baht fee and i didn't  take any more than 2 at a time so after that number i dont know

Other than that, I found the hotel very average

It's only a 3 star - good breakfast and couple of reasonable pools, average rooms but not bad.

[seamus]

(Snick @ Aug. 02 2009,04:22) it's actually well suited for 4am staggering back to the room from EZY bar.

I'm with you on that Big Man

Stayed there twice now & will stay there again. Great hotel & they were very friendly to Mary, especially when they found out She was Indonesian !

[EyeMahk]

I think the solution to this is to use virtual credit cards. Here is a description:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/4193...l-credit-cards

No, I would not fax a credit card and passport in order to secure a hotel booking, I would choose a different site that allows you to enter a cc number, and use a virtual one you generate that only has a limit just above what the hotel is charging. So no possibility of overcharge.

Finally, if you use booking.com, they only guarentee most reservations, not charge them (you pay cash at the hotel). Because they do not charge the credit card, you can actually submit a virtual cc number with a limit of $2.00. Then if you change your plans, they will not be able to charge your credit card for the one-night stay cancellation penalty.