Hotel booking sites where payment is later

[TopazQuartz]

Not one to book a lot of hotels. I've booked one for a friend to visit from scotland to me in surrey, but they've attempted payment already and the funds are not there. I know they can do this, I'm just wondering if anyone knows of a site where they take payment nearer the time, this is for end of nov. It's for a specific hotel, I was using booking.com but am going to have to cancel it. Thanks for any advice.

Premier Inn do flex bookings where you pay on arrival and can cancel any time before that day. It's usually a bit more expensive than if you pay in advance. But gives you extra time to finalise plans / get the money.

I have never had to pay in advance whether I book direct with the hotel or through Booking.com. I’m often asked to provide my credit card number and expiry date but that’s just to have the card on record, they don’t actually take any money until you check out. It’s usually fine to cancel up to 24 hours before. Sometimes hotels offer a lower price not to have this flexible option but it’s not usually that much difference.

It’s a bit disconcerting when they ask for credit card details but I always check that I’m not actually paying and that I have a flexible option before confirming. I’ve just booked four rooms at a hotel in Stratford on Avon and four in a hotel in Birmingham and gave my credit card details each time but no money will leave my account. In fact I’m not actually paying for two of the rooms, my sister will use her own credit card when checking out.

Thanks it's a specific hotel that is needed so was hoping for a site like booking.com that might allow for later payment. Thanks though

Some special deals you have to pay to get them. Others are booked by cc, take a deposit and pay on arrival. Check the site to see exactly which ones apply to your hotel.

It’s not the platform but the hotel I imagine. I rarely pay up front. You just have to search.

Thanks everyone. Expedia had an offer where you pay at property, that's apparently what it's called. It means I can pay later. Another job ticked off the list, off to bed now lol

It will be the hotel, not the platform you book on. Your best bet would simply be to ring the hotel and ask if they offer the option to pay upon check in.

Yes, do this.

Have they tried booking directly with the hotel? That might offer different options such as non cancellation but pay on arrival.

Although if it's a certain hotel on a fixed date, there's a low chance of plans changing and you trust them to pay you back, could you pay for it as it could be cheaper if paid for in advance compared with pay on arrival.

If you want to pay on arrival you are usually best booking direct. Booking.com and similar sites give the best price for “pay now, non-refundable” bookings, pay later rates are higher and they usually take the payment 5-10 days before arrival. I have found lastminute.com the only one that regularly has a “pay at property” option but there may be others.

The hotel may not offer this option. Not all do. If it doesn’t then no booking site will as they are just the middle man

All hotels offer this but generally it’s a higher cost, book directly with the hotel perhaps or read the small print on the booking. Remember booking sites are agents the money is taken by the hotel