Originally Posted by
pauq
I've read somewhere else that you can use the e-gift card to pay for a prepaid at the hotel -- meaning the hotel would charge your gift card and refund your original form of payment. Has anyone ever tried to do this?
Yes, I've done this. I normally e-mail the hotel in advance to ask the question, just so I have it in writing from them when I'm there, in case I get an agent who doesn't want to refund the deposit. I has always worked fine.
Just be aware that if you're travelling somewhere with a different currency than your credit card, you will lose a bit in exchange on the charge and subsequent refund of the deposit. However, that F/X loss should be less than the gift card discount.