Why Did the Hotel Put a Hold on My Card?
You've already paid for the room, but the hotel still asked for a card deposit at check-in. That deposit is usually a hold: money reserved for extras or possible damage that cuts what you can spend, even though nothing has been collected. Here's how it works, and what to ask before you check out.
Transcript
Why did the hotel put a hold on my card?
You've already paid for the hotel room, but at check-in, the hotel asked for a card deposit.
Why?
It may reserve money for extras like room service or possible damage.
That hold reduces what you can spend on the card, even though the hotel hasn't actually collected the deposit or completed the payment.
After checkout, any unused hold is released back to the card, but the bank may take time to update it.
Ask the hotel how much it reserved and when it should be released.
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About this episode
You booked the room and paid for it in advance. Then, at check-in, the hotel asks for your card and places a deposit on it anyway. It feels like paying twice, but in most cases nothing extra has actually been taken.
What the hotel has done is put a hold on your card. It reserves an amount to cover things that might come up during your stay — room service, minibar, or possible damage to the room. The money hasn't been collected and the payment isn't complete, but the hold still reduces what you can spend on that card while it's in place.
After you check out, any part of the hold you didn't use is released back to your card. The catch is timing: your bank may take a while to update it, so the money can look tied up for a few days after you've left. The simplest fix is to ask at the desk how much the hotel has reserved, and when it should be released.
Key takeaways
- A hotel card deposit at check-in is usually a hold, not a second payment for the room.
- The hold reserves money for extras like room service or for possible damage.
- It reduces what you can spend on the card, even though the hotel hasn't collected anything yet.
- Any unused hold is released after checkout, but your bank may take time to update your balance.
- Ask the hotel how much it has reserved and when it should be released.
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