I reluctantly used a travel agent to book my upcoming trip to Paris (first time to Paris and first time using a travel agent). While I am happy with everything so far, I have received my mastercard bill and have already been charged for the hotel and I haven't even left the states! I leave in 2 weeks. I am afraid to pay the bill before the hotel stay is over. Is this normal practice? Should I complain? You all are very wise travelers, so please help!

I wouldn't say it's normal practice, though I've heard of hotels that require payment upfront - usually small family-run places or B&Bs, though, not a bona fide hotel. I'd certainly ask the travel agent what's going on!

Well a lot of hotels demand payment to make a firm reservation, so many your agent had to pay. You may still have the right to cancel, etc. Just ask your agent if you're worried but i think it's probably standard practice. You can always complain later if need be as your travel agent has done the screening supposedly and should be liable for its choice.

In USA it's a normal practice for travel agents to charge you upfront.

I think you should ask your travel agent these questions, and I don't think much of a travel agent who did not inform you of this. I don't agree that it is normal or common for a hotel to charge your card for the entire stay in advance to confirm a reservation. I've never had a hotel in Paris (or anywhere in Europe) charge me anything in advance for a reservation, not even a single day. Now I have heard of some hotels charging a day in advance when you make the reservation, although I've never stayed at one, but charging the entire stay is not usual.

It may be a travel agent thing and a way for them to get their commission. But they should have warned you. The agent must have said something when asking for your credit card number?

As mentioned by several others, I think this is a question for your travel agent. Both "is this normal" and also why you weren't notified in advance. I have never paid anything in advance when making my own reservations directly with hotels in Europe.

I agree, I have never paid for a hotel in advance in Italy. But have never used a travel agent. In US I give my credit card info for first nights stay to reserve room. I would sure contact your travel agent.

OK, to put this quite bluntly here is the information from YOU that is missing in your post:

How MUCh wa s charged "for the hotel"?/ The amount for the entire stay, one night's deposit, or what?

Did the TA say anything about this possibility that you have perhaps forgotten?

A travel agent is not likely to just make you a reservation... they will usually arrange a hotel stay as prepaid and provide you with a voucher for the accomodations. So yes, it's all very normal!

I STRONGLY disagree with Spottiew about a TA only making you a reservation..they do this all the time and that's how they ultimately get their commission.

Again, we need to hear from you or otherwise the conslusion is this is a troll post at best.

Thanks so much for everyone's replies. I promise I'm not a troll. I did call the travel agent and I have only been charged for just one night so that's OK even though I have never had it happen when I have made my own hotel reservations. I guess when I looked at the bill it just seemed really high because of the euro. My mistake. I appreciate everyone's help.

Expedia charges upfront.

I'm really curious as to the amount of that charge, since you thought it was whole thing.
I have never been charged up front even one night. I use a credit card to guarantee the room via the hotel's website. I can expect to be charged at least the first night, especially if I fail to notify them of a change in plans and/or I am a no-show.

BTW, I no longer use travel agents, not even for booking plane tickets. I'm opening up a can of worms here, but I find travel agents to be redundant and even a hindrance in the age of the internet. OTOH, my trips are pretty simple and involve booking rooms at no more than 2 hotels in different cities.