When does a hotel charge your credit card? The hotel may charge your card immediately after you check out or a few days before your arrival. If your reservation includes payment details, look for them in your confirmation email. The hotel may charge your card for incidentals, such as in-room internet charges during your stay. A hotel should also give you the option to pre-authorize the charge. However, this is not always the case, so read the fine print.
In-room charges
If you’ve ever stayed in a hotel and have noticed a charge on your credit card, you might want to find out how to avoid paying the total amount. Most hotels place a hold on your card for $50 or $200. This amount is used to establish a credit line for you to use for incidental charges and room service. Depending on your card issuer, you may also be able to use this hold for hotel gift shop items and valet parking fees.
Some hotels charge their card for incidentals such as room service or items from the minibar. These charges can be easily removed if you haven’t used them. If your room is clean and the hotel has not been tampered with, you may want to pay in cash instead. Otherwise, you may not have any options to pay in cash. In-room charges are the most common when a hotel charges a card, so it’s essential to understand how to handle it before committing to it.
After check-out
Most hotels charge your credit card upon check-out. However, some hotels charge it before check-in or may require authorization before checking-in. In this case, you should not worry about getting charged immediately, as you will likely have several days to settle the account. Sometimes, you may be asked to provide a deposit to guarantee a reservation, which may not necessarily mean a problem. Also, you may have to give a credit card before checking in to take advantage of special rates.
Most hotels block your credit card while you are in their facility. This is to ensure that you have enough credit to cover your stay. If your card is blocked, you can contact the hotel to request a new one. If this does not solve the problem, you might have to pay the balance in full. A credit card hold is not necessarily a bad thing. It just means that something went wrong. Some hotels may place a hold on your card to verify its validity. Once the final charge is posted, the handle should be lifted.
Pre-authorization
Before you pay for your room, a hotel requires you to provide a credit card to guarantee the reservation. The hotel can’t verify that the card is valid until you check out, but pre-authorization ensures that the hotel will always have some money available. When guests fail to show up or clean their room, they’ll be charged for a portion of the cost on the card. This is important if you need to use your credit card for another purpose.
Visa and Mastercard require a pre-authorization hold on your card before you can use the card at a hotel. This temporary hold reduces your purchasing power and may limit your credit card’s use at another location. Although hotels are not the only merchants that use pre-authorization grips, they tend to hang around the longest. It is always a good idea to check your online banking activities to see if you’ve been affected.
Double charges
Do you see two separate charges on your hotel card? If you do, you’ve likely paid for a room that’s not available. In that case, it’s time to call the hotel and dispute the charges. The front desk manager might have seen the charges removed from the batch and only finalized one. If you can convince the hotel to fix the problem, they’ll probably let you reschedule without penalty. If not, contact your bank or e-banking provider to dispute the charge.
If you can, avoid using your hotel’s debit card for incidentals. This way, you’ll protect yourself from getting charged when you don’t use it. If you’ve chosen a debit card, you’ll have to ensure enough money in your account to cover the stay. Otherwise, the hotel might be able to charge you for the incidentals. Besides, it will protect the hotel by shifting responsibility to the guest.
High annual fees
Many of the best hotel charge cards indeed have high annual fees. If you don’t travel often, you may want to avoid these luxury travel credit cards. However, these cards can provide a wealth of travel perks and benefits if you do. High annual fees aren’t worth it for occasional travelers. Instead, consider a cheaper option if you often travel. Here are some of the best hotel charge cards:
Look for a credit card with perks and rewards. For example, an annual fee might be worth it if you travel often. Look for benefits like free checked bags, which can save you anywhere from $50 to $100 per year. Looking for extra help like free nights at popular hotel chains, would be best. Once you have chosen the right card, take advantage of its perks. There are many ways to save money, so make the most of it.
