Sorry if this has been discussed before (searched but didn't find any post)
I'm pretty sure unlike many other hotel chains, Marriott typically doesn't charge credit card immediately upon reservation confirmation even if the reservation is on a prepaid nonrefundable rate.
Some (usually popular) properties do charge a few days prior to arrival (how many days exactly varies from case to case), most won't until check-out, so essentially Marriott's "prepaid" rate isn't prepaid.
I've contacted a few properties but upon request none of them agreed to charge me ahead of time.
The rate details state:
- Prepay rates will be charged the full cost of the reservation within 24 hours of making the reservation.
... but it's often not the case. If at all.
Sometimes I want to lock down credit card offers before they expire but other than that it isn't a big deal in most cases.
I'm just curious why Marriott doesn't want to make the "prepaid" reservation truly prepaid? Isn't it a good thing
for them to hold our money for longer? At least AFAIK that's what Hilton and IHG do.
I also wonder in this case what exactly happens if I cancel a non-refundable reservation beyond 1 day after booking but before the charge comes through. Rate details say "Cancellation will result in forfeiture of the prepayment" but there isn't anything to forfeit if nothing is paid upfront?