When booking a hotel with a credit card...?

Question

When reserving a room with the credit card, is it possible to show up to pay cash without having the credit card being charged?

Also, do they keep the credit card on file? Or once checked out, it's almost like there's no trace of it being used to reserve the room? (For lack of a better way to put it.) Would the credit card company know?

Also, how much does a cash deposit (the alternative to giving a credit card) usually runs about?

Thank you.

Oh, so one pays AFTER the stay? Not before?

Like:
Walk in, give credit card, stay, check out with cash, and credit card given back? And then charged if damages are found? (There wouldn't be any damages, but just for concept sake.) I've never booked before, obviously. Please correct me on the process, thank you.

When a pending shadow charge is made (and I intend to pay with cash), will it show up on my bill? Even if it's $0?

Answer 1

Contrary to what some of the previous respondents have said, you do NOT need a credit card to book a room at a hotel. You do, however, need one to "guarantee" a room, but that's not necessary if you can arrive before 6pm.

I mention this because the only way to ensure your card is NEVER charged is to simply never present it in the first place. The amount hotels charge for a cash deposit varies greatly from place to place, ranging anywhere from a flat fee of $50, all the way up to $100 or more per day. Some properties won't require any cash deposit at all, so long as they don't activate the phone in your room nor provide access to things like mini-bars.

Here's how things normally work with a credit card: If you make your reservation by phone and provide your card number to hold the room, the hotel will merely "authenticate" your card without charging it. This simply means they make sure the number you provided is valid, and no charges will appear on your card.

Upon check-in at the hotel, if you provide a credit card, the likelihood is almost certain that your card WILL be charged, even if you state your intention to pay in cash. The hotel's payment processing system will normally place a "hold" on your account to cover incidentals, and this is typically happens automatically: The desk clerk may not even know their system does this. A number of times I've paid cash at hotels, but my card was "charged" $100 per day for incidentals . . . but the charges later came off after I had checked out and paid my bill in full with cash.

So . . . if you must avoid all charges to your card, don't provide the card number. If the temporary "holds" don't phase you, then use the card but pay in cash.

Enjoy your trip!

Kango Traveler

Answer 2

Without disagreeing with the previous answers, just ask the hotel the question. It is your finances and you have a perfect right to know what is going to hit your account and they are required by law to obey certain rules with respect to credit card numbers. Most of the time, your card (or debit account) will be hit with a shadow charge that is considered "pending" by the account processor - coming but not there yet. Rental car companies do the same thing as to restaurants when they bring you the charge slip to sign before you have decided on the tip. Hotels keep it there during your stay, rentals while you have the car. At the end you can settle any way you want, including handing over cash, travelers checks if they will take them, personal checks (which they may protect with the credit card) and other credit card(s). As I understand the situation, under current rules, they must purge card numbers within 30 days.

Answer 3

When checking in, almost any hotel will require a valid credit card as a form of ID.

When checking out, any hotel will let you settle your bill with cash. Presumably, they will erase your credit card info from their computer system at that point.

Some hotels may let you put up a cash deposit (I'd guess an amount of money at least as large as your tab could possibly run + another grand or so against damage to the room) in lieu of a credit card, but probably not any large chain hotels in the US.

Answer 4

The hotel bit is like the car rental companies, you gotta have a credit card. But the thing to watch out for is if the hotel puts what is known as a "shadow" on the card. We stayed at a hotel in Vegas which was prepaid in a package deal. They required a credit card so I gave them one with a $400. limit, I was going to use it for meals etc. Unknowing they placed a $300.00 shadow on the card so I only had a $100.00 left to use. I wanted to put everything on this card to make it easier to keep track of the expenses. I had other cards to use so that was no problem but try keeping track of the expenses when they are spread over two or three cards.