YES, you will get stay and points and any VIP tier bonuses and any allowable upgrades. I have plenty of those NET rates and have always gotten everything Gold was to get. If you're nervous about it, the AAA rate is usually about the same.

And rates changing across a stay is not unusual.

Net Direct Rates - Can I still pay in cash?
 

Anyone have any experience paying the CC up-front Net Direct rates in cash?? I know Holiday Inn and Sheraton has been okay with me booking Internet Rates downpayment via a CC, arrive on time, and at checkout I can still pay in cash with no charges to my card. Only an itchy trigger finger at a 4PTS in SYD caused a charge with all this cash in my pocket, but does Hilton charge at web-booking, or can I pay at checkout in cash?? Thanks!

The net direct rate charges your card at the time you make the reservation, not when you get to the hotel. I don't believe you can pay it in cash, you are charged immediatly.

bumping. Anyone else? I charge to card immediately, like Sheraton's Internet Rates and Holiday Inn's Internet Rates, but they still let me pay in cash at checkout time.

Can I with Hilton as well?

I emailed them to see what they say. And I plan to do it that way, nevertheless, if these low rates are rip-off style bookings. Cash has to be accepted in the end.

I don't get why they have to accept cash, they have already been paid for the room. To accept cash they have to reverse the charge and then take the cash. I wouldn't count on it being a given they have to accept cash, as they have already been paid and don't care what's easier for you.

I just pay with my VISA (or in the case of Hyatt, my MasterCard) Check Card that pulls it out of my bank account.

No muss. No fuss. And no interest charges. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

In fact when you reserve those rates, your card is not charged....only authorised to accept a charge. So no matter what Hilton and other hotels want to write as if it is to appear you are being charged, you are not until after the stay. Hense no reverse and the acceptance of cash.

For those who do pay Interest on CCs, I'm not one of them, these rates are specific for banks to get interest rates and make a profit on it....no doubt passed to Hilton execs under the table.

I have one of these booked at Hilton NRT, and I *bet* with the Japanese cash economy, they will take cash and I won't get a charge. Now, will the US Hiltons do the same.

They will care as I am the customer. Those who don't care either had terrible customers or even worse soon to be Walmart employees.

It's not worth arguing any further, but I have been charged, IE money taken out of my account, when making the reservation, not just a hold on the account which rolls off in ten days. My experience has been with the prepaid rates, that you actually pay them when you make the reservation, they just don't check to see if there is money in your account to pay it later.

Yours may be different, but I've prepaid every time I've made a prepaid reservation, not just been authorized to pay it later.

In nov-2003 I had several stays at Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn (in the SFO bay area) all so-called pre-paid rates.

While pretty sure the rates would have been charged to my credit card as a no-show-up - I (my VISA credit card) have not been charged before departure, and than did include all 'side-costs'.

And in fact, at the Hampton Inn SFO airport North I then paid cash and had no problem to do so.

It was different with a 5-night stay at the (Renaissance) Standford Court, where the rate for the first night was charged immediately after booking.

No arguing, just interesting...and looking for facts. I guess it depends on one's CC protection as my card was not charged with other brands, including Hilton so far. A Debit Card would certainly be charged (not saying anyone is using that) as in ready cash to take from an account.

Well, we shall see my upcoming Hilton stay using this rate. As for US Hiltons, with the current weather situation, it will be a last minute consideration to book it. I'll push for cash! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

My situation with "pre-paids" so far with other chains are very similar to the poster directly above me with his Hampton and other hotel experiences. And, ironically, I've been able to get them cancelled.

i have certainly had the money debited to my credit card immediately i made the booking, not 'authorised to do so'..months before the stays, in fact...and on several occations.

My CC (NOT Debit) has been charged 1 or 2 days after the pre-paid res went through. I'm not sure why you think it's anything else. It is called pre-paid.

Yes. I "prepay" them and repay cash so no CC charge.

When these types of rates first started to appear a few yeard ago, I too found inconsistency in whether my credit card was actually charged before my arrival at the property.

But within the last year or so, there has been 100% consistency - the room and tax amount is ALWAYS charged to the credit card a few days after the reservation is made.

As an example, I just went back and checked my records for my last prepaid stay, for a hotel in Detroit:

Reservation made: August 4 2003

Credit Card charged: August 6 2003

Stay: August 20, 2003 (checked out on August 21)

Meal/Incidental amount charged to credit card: August 23, 2003

[This message has been edited by Non-NonRev (edited Jan 11, 2004).]