A Bum Trip

I am a faithful reader of the Travel Section and have enjoyed Jerry Hulse’s columns over the years, which I invariably find informative. After reading his article on “A Bum Trip” I have so many questions that I am impelled to write.

I am frankly puzzled at why collecting in advance for a room from a traveler without a credit card seems perfectly reasonable but collecting for a meal does not. My guess is that it is so unusual for bona fide hotel guests not to have credit cards that hotels are understandably cautious about extending credit to cash customers. Even if you wish to travel incognito for some reason, surely a corporate credit card is not out of the question.

FRANKLIN R. GARFIELD

Los Angeles