Hello guys,
I just reserved a Hotel in Argentina and I’m not really sure what to do. n [booking.com](https://booking.com/) this was stated at the check-out: “This price is converted to show you the approximate cost in $. You’ll pay in **ARS**. The exchange rate may change before you pay.”
However now I just received a message from the hotel asking me to pay them via PayPal in advance. This itself is not the problem for me, but them asking it to send the money in **USD**.
” **ARGENTINOS**
Dear XYZ XYZ Your reservation is 100% confirmed. The credit card received is only as a guarantee in case of a possible cancellation and no amount has been debited from it. The Booking rate in pesos varies every day since it is automatically calculated on the official dollar and even if you see it in pesos, the nominal value is usd at the exchange rate of the day of payment, not of reservation. Payment must be made in CASH at the official exchange rate of the day of arrival or payment. If you wish to pay now with your credit card you must ask us to debit it.
**FOREIGN PASSENGERS**
Dear XYZ XYZ The total amount of your reservation needs to be payed, with credit card during the following days and we require your email address to send you our link through Pay Pal payment validation system. You can pay with any credit card you want.THE VALUE TO PAY IS IN AMERICAN DOLLARS, which is the official currency of Booking (USD). ”
By not paying in **ARS** but in **USD** I would have to pay about 3x as much as was advertised. I cannot cancel the hotel room and would like to get an opinion on how to proceed. Because right now I don’t know if this is a normal procedure or if I’m getting scammed.
Thanks in advance
by MartinLautaru
3 Comments
No, always pay through [Booking.com](https://Booking.com), not directly. It’s a scam nobody, not even [Booking.com](https://Booking.com), has been able to fix.
This isn’t a booking scam (those are different, where a scammer takes control of the property’s messaging system), it’s an Argentine hotel scam trying to game the system (I’m Argentine and shady hotels try and screw foreign tourists who don’t know better via stuff like this all the time).
What’s the property? Please name and shame.
And when is your reservation for? There’s going to be a devaluation on Monday when the next president takes over.
If the hotel won’t let you cancel for free, tell them you need a Factura Consumidor Final, and you’ll be sending it to AFIP with their CUIT. It should fix their scammy behavior real fast
I HATE when companies and people try and fuck tourists here, it makes our country look bad, so feel free to DM me if you you need some help dealing with this
Scam. Absolutely a scam. And a good reason to among many to not use booking.com or any 3rd party ever