I had this happen a couple of years ago. I had made the hotel reservation 9 months in advance & at that time the card was valid. Later it was closed (think it was one of those breach things where they cancel your card & give you a new one) & while I updated the website w/ the new # for future ressies, it didn't occur to me to update the current ressies.

At check-in I provided the new card & of course the hold went through. However, at check-out it kept getting declined, which made no sense since I had available credit. I called back to the US (this was at 5am AMS time) & the credit card company kept saying they didn't even see an attempt at a charge, so they weren't declining. I had the FD talk to the CC company, and it was when the FD repeated the # verbally to the CC company I realized that, for whatever reason, the hotel was defaulting to the card on the ressie & not the card provided at check-in, and of course it was declined because the ressie card was closed. I was furious that they had defaulted to the old card & not the one provided at check-in, especially since it made me late getting to the airport & I got an additional charge by the cab company for the 20 minutes they had to wait while we sorted it out. I made the hotel credit my account for the extra cab amount.

At a dif time, similar situation but this was one of those where they charge or authorize in advance, and I received an email from the travel booking company saying it was declined & to call them w/ new #, which I did. Again, it was one of those book way in advance & at the time of booking the card # was valid.

Cheers.