Agoda online booking - Beware!

I used Agoda online booking for several reservations in Yangon and Kyiakhtiyo. I did not use my card for anything else. I was notified by VISA in the US that my card had over seven suspect charges. Since I had notified VISA of my travels in SE Asia, and the charges were being made in the US, they blocked my card. I suspect that Agoda's credit card transaction is not secure. I was thus unable to use the card. Luckily I had other resources. The recommended online booking is booking.com. You do not have to give them a cc number.

Actually, in most cases you do have to give booking.com a credit card number to guarantee the booking. Some hotels booked in this way will take the payment via the website, others will not and will take the payment at their own counters.

Did you make your online bookings in public internet cafes in Myanmar, or by using non-secure wifi?

As above..depends on the hotel,not the booking site.Many of the places on booking.com also require a credit/debit card number.Some do not.

I've used both sites plenty of times..I think they are secure.Far more likely that it is your end which is not secure (eg wifi or internet cafe).

Since the bogus charges were being made in the US, I would suspect your credit card number may have been acquired in some way other than your hotel booking. While we should all be very careful to use secure internet connections when using credit cards, the most frequent ways that credit card numbers are stolen is still in-person coping of a credit card or on a receipt.

I used non -secure Wifi fŕom my newly acquired Sammy J7. I didn't go far enough with AVG, only virus protection. I went ahead and installed the Wifi VPN. Anyone with recommendations on secure Wifi apps? Thanks for all of your responses. Online booking from one's mobile is a tremendous help, but it seems fraught with pitfalls.

I use Witopia, a personal VPN program on my laptop. I don't know if they make a version for phones.

Good luck!

Its true most booking.com bookings need a credit card to secure the booking in case you don't show. You don't pay with card at time of booking but when you arrive at Hotel, often cash, some take credit/debit cards but watch out for charges, some banks charge for overseas transactions. Agoda I have found better as you pay at time of booking so no hassle when you arrive. I have just started using Hotels.com we will see how that goes, payment is by card at time of booking.

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