Everyone has seen extra pending charges on their card when they check into a hotel and then wonder if that deposit gets refunded once they check out. While different hotels have different policies regarding forms of payment, how long it takes to get your money back, and what charges get taken out of that amount,…
Choosing where to stay on vacation can take a lot of time and effort. Once you book a hotel, you want to believe you’ve chosen the best place possible. But what happens when you arrive after a long day of travel and open the door to discover your hotel room is filthy? If your hotel…
When reserving a hotel room, you may be wondering about the best way to pay for it. Every hotel is different, and knowing which payment options are available before you book is useful. You can pay for a hotel with cash, but you may need a credit card to make the reservation. Most hotels require…
The heat and humidity during the dog days of summer can be dreadful, and there’s no better way to cool off than spending time in a refreshing pool. For people who don’t have a pool at home, hotel pools can look extremely inviting. But can you use a hotel’s pool if you’re not staying in…
Some people are shocked when they check their accounts and find additional charges after checking into a hotel. The hold placed on their credit card is called an “incidental charge” made by the hotel. So what are these incidental charges, and why do we have to pay them? Incidental charges are payments for anything that…
With the Southwest Airlines Rapids Rewards program, you earn points with every flight you book. Once you get enough points, you can use them to book other flights, save money on airline extras, and for travel arrangements like car rentals or hotels. You can use Southwest points to book a hotel. To access your points,…
Many hotels offer valet parking, where attendants park your car and bring it back when you’re ready to leave. Valet service may be complimentary or available for a small fee, and it’s customary to tip your valet. You can tip the hotel valet when you hand them your keys or when they bring your car…
Smoking isn’t as common as it used to be and most hotels offer only non-smoking rooms. This doesn’t stop people from trying to get around the rules and smoke in their hotel room or on the balcony though. So how does a hotel know if you smoke in your room or on the balcony? Hotels…
When making a hotel reservation, you usually have to provide a credit card number to guarantee your booking. Hotels require this to protect themselves from no-shows, and the type of card they accept can vary. Many hotels will not take prepaid cards to hold a reservation or pay a deposit and prefer standard credit or…
Anyone who’s traveled a lot will advise you to keep your valuables in a safe place when visiting a hotel. Unfortunately, many guests learn the hard way. If you misplace an item and suspect housekeeping stole it, report the matter to hotel security. If the hotel uses key cards, they will track who came in…