hotels that require credit cards for incidentals and won't take anything else
Recently booked a room at the Coast Gateway in SEA through Priceline, good price, paid with my debit card; I was satisifed. Noticed the fine print in the email verification that said a major credit card would be required at check in.
Contacted the hotel, and they verified that cash wouldn't be accepted, nor would a debit card. Their exact reply: "At this time the Coast Gateway Hotel in Seattle does require a credit card and valid photo identification at check in, they do not accept any substitutions. The temporary hold to the credit card will be $20.00USD for any incidentals." I dumped credit cards more than a decade ago, around when debit cards came on the scene. I've always been able to use either cash or a secondary debit card for reservations. Do you think they really would've turned me away over a $20 hold? Maybe the rep I got is wrong? Just to be safe I've already applied and been approved for a credit card, so it's academic now, but it's still a frustrating experience. |
I'd be surprised if they wouldn't take a debit card. Only problem is that locks/puts a hold on real cash. $20 though... thats usually a lot less than I see hotels want to use for a hold.
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This is SOP for probably 95% of the hotels these days. And yes, I've seen hotels turn away business because the client was going to only pay in cash.
As for the hold, no personal experience on that one. |
I tend to find the opposite. I find more and more hotels demanding cash deposits instead of credit cards for incidentals (even though the room is being paid with credit card). Some demand deposits as high as $1000 per night in cash, even on rooms priced at a fraction of that cost.
Of course, most of my travel is in West Africa where the volume of credit card chargebacks can touch 90% at times, so undoubtedly that may play a part in their thinking. |
I hate deposits for a pre-paid hotel room, either cash or CC. For me, excessive deposits are a reason not no stay there. Fortunately there are still hotels out there without any hold needed. Maybe a thread to collect names on those hotels? Just in the last months for me: Hampshite Beethoven in Amsterdam and Monterey hotel in Tokyo.
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I stood behind 6 people checking in at the LAX Marriott, they ALL had debit cards and they were all refused. They wanted credit cards only although they would take greenbacks, but not a debit card. Three of them pulled out credit cards and the other three I happened to be traveling with so we just used my card and then they cashed out on check out.
It is becoming more and more the norm to demand a credit card and I am seeing it at check in a lot more. |
You can get a prepaid card if you need it for deposits and things like that.
It is, for whatever reason, becoming more and more common in hotels to only want to put the hold (and the ability to charge more should you go over the $20) on a credit card. |
Originally Posted by janwillem
(Post 15508058)
I hate deposits for a pre-paid hotel room, either cash or CC. For me, excessive deposits are a reason not no stay there. Fortunately there are still hotels out there without any hold needed. Maybe a thread to collect names on those hotels? Just in the last months for me: Hampshite Beethoven in Amsterdam and Monterey hotel in Tokyo.
Only one I had any trouble with was the Carsana trying to charge me for mini bar usage that I did not use. |
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I suggest you stay at Motel 6. They take cash and do not require any kind of plastic or deposit. Also local calls are free and usually check out is at noon.
There have been a few times places here in the USA would not accept people who don't have credit card. So I've just stayed somewhere else. However in Canada places of lodging seem to be more prone to require at least a credit card number though I've never see any refuse cash. |
Originally Posted by ryanmm
(Post 15485222)
I dumped credit cards more than a decade ago, around when debit cards came on the scene.
I know the Fair Credit Billing Act covers credit card disputes. Is there a comparable law that covers debit card disputes and gives you the same rights? Ever had to dispute one of your transactions? |
Never heard of the hold before. No hotel I have been at has ever said they would hold a certain amount. Shouldn't they tell the customer they are doing that?
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Virtually evey hotel I've been in which have used my CC has put a hold on it. The odd few have told me but the vast majority don't bother.
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Originally Posted by Braindrain
(Post 15521222)
Virtually evey hotel I've been in which have used my CC has put a hold on it. The odd few have told me but the vast majority don't bother.
I wonder how hotels identify and refuse debit cards? My debit cards look like any other Visa and Mastercard with no particularly identifying artefacts. |
Originally Posted by ajnz
(Post 15522940)
I wonder how hotels identify and refuse debit cards? My debit cards look like any other Visa and Mastercard with no particularly identifying artefacts.
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