Hotel Credit Card Hold Policies (2024)

FAQs

Hotel Credit Card Hold Policies? ›

Generally, most hotels will put a temporary hold on your credit card when you check in. This hold usually lasts for a few days after you check out, when it will usually disappear. If you see a hotel credit card hold on your statement longer than that, contact your credit card issuer to see if they can remove the hold.

Generally speaking, a hold will be released within 24 hours of checking out. But sometimes, it can take up to a week for the charge to disappear. Why does this happen? You might be tempted to blame the hotel, but it actually comes down to the card issuer.

Many hotels put a hold on your credit card as a liability for themselves. While the majority of guests see this hold charge disappear a few days after their stay, it's important to know why these fees exist and why you may see this charge on your credit card.

Authorization hold

Authorization holds—also called pre-authorizations—happen when a merchant places a hold on a credit card for a certain amount of money. Authorization holds are used to verify that the card works and has enough funds to cover a future transaction.

Incidentals might be laundry services, the beverages and food pre-stocked in room mini-bars or even high-speed internet. To cover these potential costs, hotels hold a refundable amount (usually called either an “incidentals deposit” or “security deposit”) at check-in.

The hotel will then put a hold on your card to account for any incidentals or other charges during your stay, such as room service or perhaps Wi-Fi fees (yes, some places still charge for that). You are not responsible for paying the amount of the hold until and unless it becomes an actual posted charge.

A preauthorization charge on a credit or debit card typically lasts for about five to seven days, but this duration can vary depending on the card issuer's policies and the type of transaction. Some banks may keep the hold for up to 14 days.

Only the credit card issuer can remove an authorization hold. They typically do so when the authorization request expires, the transaction is completed or the transaction is reversed by the business. You can ask the merchant to remove an authorization hold if there's an issue, such as duplicate authorizations.

The card will be authorized at time of check-in for room + tax plus incidentals (an estimated amount of $50). The amount is only a hold unless the room has not been paid for, in which the balance would deduct from the held amount and the rest will fall off your card after checkout.

For any hotel that collected a deposit before your stay, the refund is issued by that hotel. As the timing of the refund can vary by hotel, it is best to contact the hotel for specific information about your refund.

How much does Hilton hold on a credit card? ›

At check-in, a bank-issued credit or debit card is required to place an incidentals hold of $100 per stay. This is to cover any incidental and possible damages during the stay. Cash and Bit-Coin cards (Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, etc.)

This ensures that the hotel will get paid for the stay after checkout. In addition to the cost of the room (along with any taxes and fees), hotels also freeze a refundable incidentals deposit to cover the cost of any charges made to the room during the guest's stay.

Many hotels require your credit card on file to keep you on the hook for theft or damage.

A hold is common practice in the hotel industry to guarantee payment for your stay (your room and associated fees), as well as potential incidentals (such as room service or damages) that may occur during your stay. The authorized funds are not immediately deducted but are effectively reserved for the hotel.

Courtesy Block Definition: A courtesy block is defined as a block of rooms held for your group with a cut-off date (usually 30 days prior to check-in).

Incidental expenses are gratuities and other minor costs that are incurred while conducting business. They are incurred in addition to major expenses such as hotel fees and ticket prices. Incidental expenses ancillary to the costs of transportation, meals, and lodging are common when an employee travels for business.

The majority of hotels hold deposits for 3-7 days after check-out, while a few of them release holds immediately, and only about 10% hold them for over a week. However, these timeframes can vary significantly based on the factors mentioned above.

How long do pending transactions take to clear? Many pending charges disappear in around 5 days or less. Though some institutions may have a longer period. It ultimately depends on the type of transaction, the processor settings for the credit card program, and what's stated in your agreement.

A credit card hold is typically removed once the transaction is approved. Most credit card authorizations expire within a few minutes or up to seven days.