Originally Posted by
IAN-UK
When I'm happy with the rate and certain about my dates, and pretty sure the rate isn't going to sink lower, I often book advanced, no refund stays.
I note some hotels will immediately grab the payment from my card, others just wait for check-in. For the first time, a HGI has emailed me asking me to pay the for my (one night) stay in advance by way of a separate third-party transaction. They cite fraud concerns, but I thought it was up to the hotel to sort out payment channels to make the booking process near seamless.
Maybe this is an everyday procedure for some hotels, and I've been fortunate not running into it before. But it's cumbersome and rather defeats the object of using the Hilton website or app.
I had this situation from a couple of Spanish properties that after a prepaid booking emailed me asking to complete the payment via their bank portal. The email was coming from the hotel reception and the amount was minimal just one night each so I paid and had no issue. Once the online payment was completed I just replied to the email saying payment was done and the property acknowledge.
But it is unusual, nowhere else I had this request.