I
remember when fax machines arrived, and suddenly communication with European hotels didn’t need to wait for roundtrip intercontinental letters. I think the day has finally come when fax machines are heading the way of the postage stamp. I’d love to delete all mention of fax numbers in all my guidebooks, but I haven’t done that yet because some travelers prefer sending credit card info via fax. You can always get a fax number from a website if you need it. Does anyone object to me deleting all mention of fax numbers? Of what value are fax machines to travelers in 2012?
Comments
Last trip to Europe: six years ago. All reservations were made via email except for a few phone reservations while in Europe. Hotel confirmations were also handled via email. dale skornia
I would delete all references to fax machines. I have traveled all over Europe in the last 5 years and never had a reason to use one and even if a I did I bet I could get by with scanning and emailing whatever was needed. Just my two cents :-)
Sending a fax is a pain, even now I have a does-everything printer, and would be worse on the road. I usually split my CC info between two emails. Save the space for something interesting.
I’d go for deleting the fax information but would like some good suggestions how to provide credit card information, since e-mail is not secure. Thanks
Agreed—delete it!
I have never used a fax machine to book rooms with one exception. Beginning in 2006, I have booked all of my accommodations for my annual 4-week trips to Europe by email (or online where booking is available) prior to departure, using my credit card to secure the reservation. All of the reservations have succeeded flawlessly. The only time I used a fax machine was for a booking this past summer for a B&B in Bayeaux where the proprieter required prepayment for the first night and that it be sent by fax. She provided the fax number to me in her email accepting my request for a reservation. I doubt if fax numbers need to be included in your guide books.
How much ink does it take to list a fax number? Not much. And some hotels ask for communications that way. You can easily compensate by deleting a humorous sentence.
Keep the humor, lose the fax!
No fax machines for me, thank you. Email is quick, cheap, and easy.
Email or phone are the only methods I use. I vote to remove the fax numbers.
I am someone who has been victim of identify theft in the past, and have also recently had my email hacked. I’m not the only victim I’m sure, I know two others with recent email hacks, despite anti virus and spyware software. I am not about to put any credit card information even in two emails. I do book all rooms by email.
I only fax my credit card information. I do think faxes have their purpose, and there are some businesses that require faxed information, not by email. So, I will keep my old fax machine.
That aside, I think you can delete the fax numbers. I usually obtain them from the hotel or B&B website, or call and give the credit number over the phone if the hotel doesn’t have a web site. Please save the space for more important information.
What’s a fax machine?!
Agree that FAX numbers are not of any use in you book…makes you look somewhat dated. You might consider using the space to show which mobile users prefer text/SMS messages.
However irrelevant FAX numbers might seem in the today’s world, my suggestion would be to leave them in the book, at least for now. There’s little (if any) cost involved, and communicating by FAX may be useful for some people.
For example:
> There are likely still a few older travellers that haven’t yet adopted E-mail for one reason or another. I still encounter a few from time-to-time. FAX could be useful for them.
> Most Hotels still provide FAX capability, so this must be useful for at least some of their guests.
> FAX may be useful on occasion for sending documents that aren’t in the computer. While they could be scanned, not everyone owns a Scanner.
I still send information by FAX occasionally, and it’s nice to have it available if needed.
Why fax when you can just call? Overseas calls are getting very inexpensive (or free), if you use the right calling plan. I think you get better responses by interacting personally with small hotels.
The big advantages for email are they’re free and you can send/receive them any time. It’s still an impersonal means of communication; Which is fine for flights, car rentals, but not so much for dealing with small businesses.
None for me thank you.
I agree with Sandy. In my opinion, if one does not wish to make a phone call, it is still more secure to fax a credit card # to a hotel than to send two separate emails each containing half of the number. Sandy’s story is a case in point. Of course, this is not to imply that faxes are foolproof – because you really don’t know who has access to the machine – but I have never heard of anyone complaining that their fax was ‘hacked’. With that said, it is probably a good idea to check a hotel’s website to confirm the current fax number (vs. just using one in a guidebook, since errors do occur occasionally or it could have changed), so there is probably little added value in publishing them anymore in RS guidebooks. However, including some mention of security issues with email vs. fax in the “booking hotel rooms” section of the RS guidebooks would still be prudent.
Delete fax #s UNLESS the provider does not have an email or website.
I second, “keep the humor, ditch the fax”
I agree to publish fax machines only if there is not an email address. I have used faxes to book rooms when there is a language barrier upon calling a small b&b, but that has been very infrequent.
It is probably more important to find out what the Hotel people think. If they like faxes then keep them in the books.
I would ditch the fax numbers unless it’s the only option. A lot of businesses (my employer included) have fax numbers, but don’t have fax machines to receive the fax. Instead we receive the fax in our email inbox.
I have not used a travel fax for at least 10 years. Delete away. The only time it might be an issue is if you need to send a picture of something like your passport and don’t have access to a scanner. You could briefly address where to find scanners.