To ask this hotel question

[EmmyBear75]

I’ve never booked a hotel in the 48 years of my life . Booking for a family wedding later this year . Does the card I book with have to have money or do they charge on the day ?

[KarateKitten]

Book via booking.com and choose one you can cancel right up to the day before. Should be fine. Do you mean you want to use a debit card with no money in the account?

[TobleroneBoo]

It varies by hotel

[blueskyinmarch]

I have booked many hotels on line using a credit card but the card has always had sufficient credit on it. I wouldn't think you would be able to use a card with insufficient credit on it to pay for anything.

[raglansleeve]

the card will have to have enough funds available to cover the booking.

[Butterymuffin]

With a lot of websites, they offer a price where you pay on arrival and a lower price if you pay at the time of booking. Premier Inn do this, as do lots on Booking.com. If you're booking a room at the hotel which is the wedding venue, or which has been recommended by the couple, though, it's easiest to ring and do it and say you're guests at the A&B wedding. Then you usually pay on arrival. Sometimes a special rate is available for guests.

[Butterymuffin]

Sorry, should have said that lower rate is usually non-refundable if your plans change. You pay more for flexibility and the option to cancel.

[BrioAmio]

The hotel ‘ring fences’ the amount they need so you need to have the money in the account at the time of booking but it’s not actually deducted until checkout.

[Pretenditsaplan]

If your booking direct with the hotel and its pay on arrivalor check out they may do a £1 charge and send it straight back just to confirm the card is active but if you dont have it then last time i was told no worriea just pay on checkout

[Trafalgarxxx]

IT DEPENDS!!

Eg if I book a room at Premier Inn with the value price, I have to pay upfront for the whole cost.
If I donthe same booking but with the standard price (where you can cancel etc...) the. The payment is in the day of arrival.

So you need to ask if payment is taken immediately or not.

[EmmyBear75]

Thank you . I want to use a card that has money in it but not enough to cover the full cost

[notacooldad]

I used booking.com to book a room for October. The money came out of my current account immediately. That wasn't a problem, however when I checked in at the hotel they took the money out again. It was only when I checked my on line bank statement next morning I noticed. I did get a refund easily enough but you do need to keep a look out.

[mindutopia]

Yes, it depends. Usually if you are doing a pre-paid rate (these are usually the cheaper ones, they'll give you a discount for paying upfront), it will charge it right away. In other cases, it just holds the booking on the card and you can charge to a different card on the day. Your best bet is to call reception and ask and just book over the phone if you absolutely need to know for sure. That said, how have you never booked a hotel room?! I think I first stayed on my own in a hotel room and managed my own booking when I was 15 (going to visit universities, nothing very exciting!).

[Cheesecake53]

On booking.com I often book without having enough money on the card.

I usuall choose the option to pay more, but on the day the stay commences and with the right to cancel until about a week before - I always get either charged on the day if I pay with the same credit card or I use another one at the hotel - never at the time of booking.

[EmmyBear75]

Thank you , wanted to use a card that has money but not enough to cover the costs