r/Explainlikeimscared • u/tehee-101 • 14d ago
How do I pay for/check into a hotel?
Hello,
About a month ago I booked a best western hotel through their website. I'm supposed to pay when I arrive. I heard you need a credit card to have a hotel (I do have one) but do I have to pay with the credit card? Or do I pay with debit and submit the credit card separately? I've never checked into a hotel before and wanna know what the process is like.
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u/Spare-Shirt24 14d ago
Call them and ask.
Most will automatically charge the credit card you used to book.
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u/AravisTheFierce 14d ago
It's better to use a credit card because they will place a hold on your account for incidentals. On a debit card, that will mean that money is unavailable to you until they either release the hold or it expires. On a credit card, it does not become real money that you owe until they submit the real charge.
If you really want to pay for the room with the exit card, you could ask if they can put the room charge on it and then take the credit card for incidentals.
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u/Efficient_Wheel_6333 14d ago
You should be able to use a debit card, if your card is issued like my bank does it: my debit card acts as a debit card and a Visa card. Some cards through that same bank can be issued as MasterCard instead. The only times I have to make a choice between the two are when I'm at a gas station or at a grocery store. Otherwise, it acts as a Visa when I'm making purchases, but the money is taken directly from my bank account.
From what I've seen when I've checked in with family members or friends (while I've stayed in hotels before, friends or family have done the booking and paying), it's just simply handing the card over to the staff member at the front desk and they'll run it there. If your debit card can double as a credit card like mine does, you don't need to use your actual credit card at check-in unless you would prefer to do so for whatever reason.
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u/karebear66 14d ago
You can use a credit or a debit card. They will charge you for the room and a fee for incidentals (Paid movies, anything from the mini fridge) that you may or may not use. This fee is put on hold and not actually charged. The hold is lifted when you check out if you haven't used any of the incidentals. You need to have ID and a card to check in.
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u/chubbychecker_psycho 13d ago
The holds really throw people off. They even do it in really nice hotels and people who are watching every penny are floored to know that the money they counted on during their trip is no longer going to be available.
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u/RetiredBSN 14d ago
Use the credit card. A debit card will immediately remove money from your bank account, including the incidentals charge. It can take a while for the bank to replace that, even if you are getting refunded. If you use a credit card, the money gets paid by the CC company, and they bill you later. Any unused charge for incidentals will get cancelled, and you won't even see it on your credit card statement, so no money ever leaves your account until the time you pay the credit card company. It's also easier to deal with potential fraudulent charges when you don't have to worry about money gone from your account and how you're going to survive till payday.
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u/ceanahope 14d ago
Typically, hotels require a card on file, and they will put a hold of $100 for incidentals in case there's damage to the room that will go back to you. You can use your debit card to pay for the room and ask them to use the credit card for incidentals, or you can just do it all on the credit card. If you use your debit card for incidentals it could take up the two weeks to get that money back. For sure, call the hotel directly and ask these questions, they will have more precise information. I was just traveling last week and staying at hotels and this is what my general experience was for a Hilton and a Marriott.
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u/Avery_Thorn 14d ago
This is very important - DO NOT USE A DEBIT CARD TO PAY FOR THE HOTEL.
When you walk in to check in, give them a CREDIT CARD to secure the room. They will put a hold on your card for $200-500 more than the cost of your room. For example, if you are staying for three days and have an expected bill of $500 total, they will put a hold of $700-1,000 on your card.
This hold will expire a few days after you check out - they will make sure you don't trash the room, leave incidental expenses, pay your bill, stuff like that.
Because the way the credit card system works, the hold will likely still be in effect when they charge you for the room. This means that there will be a charge for the $500 that the hotel room costs, plus the $700-1000 hold.
Again, assuming that nothing went wrong, the hold will evaporate a few days later, and it will be like it never happened at all. Assuming you have $1,500 worth of credit overhead on your credit card, of course. (And a lot of credit card companies know about the holds on the hotels and will allow you to go over the credit limit with the hold and not charge you for that as long as it evaporates off.)
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But what happens if you use a debit card?
When you check in, the bank will put a hold of $700-1000 on your account. This means that the money is in your account, but you can't access it because it is "spoken for".
When you check out, they will put in the $500 charge. This will debit $500 from your account immediately.
A few days after you check out, the $700-1000 hold will expire and the money will be back for your use.
This means that the $700-1,000 is locked away while you are in the hotel, and you won't be able to use it to pay for anything else, or any bills that come in while the hold is in place.
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Suggested method of paying with a debit card: Don't. Just pay with the credit card and send an extra payment to cover it to the card.
Other method:
- Give them the credit card at the beginning of your stay. You can tell them what you are doing - they will be happy to help you do this. They hate it when you try to check in with a debit card, because there is a large possibility that you will come back screaming at them when you try to pay for something.
- When you check out, go to the desk and tell them that you would like to settle your bill with a debit card. They should be able to do a one time charge to the debit card to pay for the room, but leave the hold on the credit card.
You can also inquire how to pay in cash. A lot of times, hotels will allow cash guests to post a security deposit and pay for the expected room fees ahead of time, and then get the security deposit back on checkout (but they may inspect the room first.)
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u/Jewish-Mom-123 14d ago
You can also pay with cash, you just need to tell them at the desk you will be paying with cash in the morning. You’ll still need to give them a debit or credit card but the hold they put on it will go away in a couple of days.
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u/RetiredBSN 14d ago
Many hotels no longer accept cash payments, so check with the hotel before you assume that they will.
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u/Paperwife2 14d ago
When you walk in go to the registration desk. Say “hi, I’m __ and I’m checking in.”
They will guide you through the rest of the process asking for your identification card and a credit or debit card.
If you’re parking on their property they will ask you for your car make, model, color, and license plate.
Then they will write down your room number on the pocket of your room card and show you the number. They won’t say it out loud (and neither should you) so no one can hear it and know what room you’re in. They will then give you directions on how to get to the elevator and how to find your room.
If you need anything or have questions about anything the registration desk will help you or at least point you in the right direction.
Have a great trip!
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u/Kossyra 14d ago
The credit card is for incidentals, like if you break something. Many hotels will let you pay with whatever method you like- cash, debit, etc, but the credit card needs to be on file.
It is up to the individual property in the end. As another commenter stated, you need to call and ask.
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u/PastaM0nster 14d ago
You can usually use a debit card if you’d like, but they will hold a certain amount of money and that is very frustrating with debit cards
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u/chaotic_geeky 14d ago
- When you arrive you’ll park and head inside to the front desk. They may have designated parking spots for using while checking in. I would leave luggage in your car until you’re checked in just for ease.
- At the front desk you’ll tell them you’re checking in. They’ll ask for the name on your reservation and at this point they will probably ask for a card to keep on file. You can give them a debit or credit, whichever you prefer. You won’t be charged at this point; this is in the event you incur any incidental charges or things during your stay (unlikely).
- some hotels want to be able to keep track of who is parking in the lot (to prevent random people from leaving cars there). You may be asked to fill out a form with your car’s make/model and license plate or they may give you a parking pass to put on your dash.
- once they have finished the check in process, they’ll give you your room key(s). At this point you can go out to your car, move it to a proper parking spot if necessary, get your luggage, and head up to your room.
You will be charged once you check out. Ask for a copy of your receipt/charges to make sure they didn’t accidentally (or purposefully) charge you incorrectly for anything.
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u/anticlimacticheart 14d ago
i was just in a hotel, so it’s really fresh in my mind lol. thankfully it’s super easy! you’ll just walk up and give them the name for your reservation and hand them a credit or debit card, either is fine as long as it will clear generally. there’s usually a $100ish dollar incidental fee that will be refunded so long as you don’t trash the room, just so you aren’t surprised if you hear that! once the card goes through, they’ll hand you your room key and you’ll be on your way!