There are many factors to determine when a hotel charges your credit card. These include, but are not limited to, what platform you used to book your room, whether you are traveling on points and the cancellation policy.
Almost always, however, upon check-in, you should expect to put a card down for incidentals. The incidental hold charge is a temporary hold on your credit card that will be released following check out, provided there are no damages or deep-cleaning required. Additionally, the card you put down for incidentals is the card that will be used for additional fees beyond the cost of your room. These charges may include dining, minibar usage, gratuities, spa or fitness services and internet fees, if applicable.
Beyond incidentals, it’s also possible to determine when your credit will be charged based on how you booked your stay.
At the Time of Booking
In order to book a hotel, you’re going to need a payment to confirm the reservation. Does this mean your card is charged as soon as you click submit? Well, that depends.
Sometimes, when using third-party booking sites such as Booking.com and Hotels.com, you have a “Pay Now” option, where your card is charged in full upon booking. Nonrefundable room rates are typically charged at the time of booking, as well.
Chase Travel℠, like all major credit card travel portals, charges your card upon booking, though there are some fees that might not be reflected in the price—such as resort fees. These specific fees will be collected upon check-in instead.
Additionally, if you’re redeeming points through your travel credit card, such as American Express Membership Rewards®, you must pay with points at the time of booking. Your purchase will be reflected in your point balance immediately, meaning you pay at the time of booking.
Prior to Check-In
Being charged prior to check-in is a gray area and proves the importance of reading the terms and conditions prior to booking. EVEN Hotels by IHG, for example, states that your credit card will be charged between the time of booking and time of arrival for the total amount of your stay. In this case, your card can be charged at any point after you’ve booked and until you arrive.
Many third-party sites waive the cancellation period in exchange for a lower nightly rate. Booking.com, for example, offers a nonrefundable rate or free cancellation until a certain date for a slightly higher price. In this case, you pay more for the added convenience of cancellation. Once the date for free cancellations has passed, your card may be charged. Hilton has a similar policy, where if a reservation is canceled after the nonrefundable period begins, you will be charged upon cancellation.
At Check-In
If you have not paid in full already, you may be charged once you check in. It’s standard for hotels to charge an incidental fee. It’s becoming more and more likely that you will be charged a daily property fee or resort fee—these cover the cost of property amenities. While there’s not one formula for what the incidental fee might be, it could be a daily charge or even a daily charge per person.
So, when you check in and hand over your card, make sure you understand exactly what is being charged. If it seems high, confirm what the incidental fee is. But it’s better to do your research before booking. Make sure you consider incidental fees like parking and property fees when evaluating your booking.
While putting a card down to book a hotel is required, it is possible to pay with a different card upon check-in if you have not yet been charged. For example, Hilton accepts debit and credit cards at check-in even if they are different from the one used to book, as long as the name matches the name on the reservation.
In rare cases, like Disney resorts, you may have an amount placed on hold to cover incidentals on day one and be charged the current balance on the room at some point during your stay for reservations longer than five days.
At Checkout
In many cases, the card you provide at check-in isn’t charged at that point. Think of it instead as starting a bar tab and keeping it open until it’s time to hit the road. Checking out is often when your card is finally charged. This delay in payment allows for people to acquire charges during their stay, whether it’s room-service, spa services or babysitting services. Those charges cannot be confirmed until it’s time to checkout.