Travel Tips by Theresa: protecting credit information

When you make a reservation for overseas lodging, it is often done via email to avoid paying international calling rates. Short-term apartment rental companies and small B&Bs generally require a credit card hold.

image courtesy Wikimedia

Send your information over several emails to dodge the information farmers who lurk online. Split your card number into two sections and expiration into another.

e.g.
Email 1:
This is Theresa, who made reservations for your apartment Lotus Blossom  in Rome for the dates April 1-5, 2012. I will be sending you my card information in emails following.

Email 2:
1234 4321

Email 3:
4578 8765

Email 4:
November 2020

It is wise to spell out the month name in any date references to avoid confusion. European countries use the day/month/year format as opposed to our month/day/year format here in the States.

I also avoid contractions and colloquialisms in my correspondence, in case the recipient does not read English well.