I know people who did have a lot of issues and reading the above stories it feels like easy is not the word for it. But good it worked out for you of course.
Maybe make your own thread and not post a question in someones question:)? And when you do just also mention what kind of visa you are traveling with. There is no way of answering this.
they really state that it needs to be payed up front. I've got away with a rental contract with my name on it and the mention that I payed monthly. No problem there but also different in every country.