This is the safest way and i have been doing this for yrs all over europe and asia not small hotels, the biggest of the biggest hotels. dont do it online, get ur Amex ready, call the hotel reservation, ask for the room rate, bla bla bla, when u finish ask for the contact of whom u just spoke to and take the email address, send an email with ur previous discussion concerning the room, ask for a credit card authorization form from the hotel for a third party payment which means a sponsor is paying for the stay, send payment in advance with the authorization form plus the front and back copy of the amex card, and ask hotel to charge for the cost then add an additional amount like lets say 1k to cover for any miscelleanious charges, like food and other things. ask the hotel to charge and send u a confirmation email. when the hotel charges and the charge is authorized they will let u know by email or fax. then the booking is safe for 3 reasons.
1. the hotel already has the amount secured with them till u checkout which u can without even going to the front desk during checkout.
2. the card u use must come from another country and must be amex not visa or master and make the time of the month is safe.
3. u are just a beneficiary of the transaction between the hotel and ur sponsor.
U will be fine. it works everytime, i've done it over 40 times not 1 time i got a prob. Peace.