Online reservations for hotels require you to enter a credit card number in order to reserve a room. Doing so ensures that the hotel can hold onto your card info and verify your identity before you show up to check into the hotel. You can also use a debit card to make a reservation. But…
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…
Most hotels require a credit card to book a room. Usually, with a credit card, the reservation is charged as a preauthorized payment – or temporary hold – that is removed after a set number of days. But what happens if you don’t have a credit card? Fortunately, at some hotels, you can book a…
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,…
It’s common for guests to celebrate their birthdays in hotels, and most hotels will arrange something nice to help people celebrate their special days. To plan a birthday surprise at a hotel, head to the front desk and inform the staff. They will tell you about the hotel’s birthday perks and may even arrange for…
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…
Hotels almost always require a credit card to make a reservation and may require one to stay on the premises, even if you are staying there using cash or rewards points. This charge is a deposit on the room and the card is kept on file for incidentals or room charges. So how can you…
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…
It’s always the best option, to be honest with hotels about your name and how many people are staying in a room. You can have guests over to visit for whatever reason, but there are safety concerns with too many people being in one room. But how would a hotel know if you had an…
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…