Hello. I've change my plans of my west tour. Anyway, i'll stay at the SAN JUAN INN Motel in MEXICAN HAT in sept.
They ask me my credit card number and its expiration date to keep the reservation of the room because we'll arrive after 4.00pm. I'm not a big fan doing that 4 months in advance. I would prefer them to have a secure payment website. Has anyone went there before ? Are they serious?
Thanks for your answers.
A french guy who love your country...

It is common for hotel to request a credit card number to hold a reservation, even if you are arriving before 4 PM. In my opinion they are serious, I have never heard of a secure payment website option. They will not charge your credit card until you arrive.

When you check in, you can choses another payment option for paying the hotel - another credit card, cash, whatever you want.

We have given our credit card number many times when we reserve our motel rooms ahead of time, and have never had any problems with doing it. We want to know that we have a room when we get there, and it will be a non-smoking room, and probably on the first floor. As the other poster stated...they do not charge you until you check in/out. Also this assures the Motel that the room will be paid for if YOU don't show up. You can always cancel up to a certain time if your plans change and not be charged.

Sorry, to glom (?) on to this post, but I have a related question. I was considering staying at an inn in Santa Fe recently, and the reservation company wanted to charge my credit card for the entire stay, today, rather than when I'm going in December. I called the inn directly, and they wouldn't back off. Is this practice becoming more frequent?

Yes, annielad, I think it is becoming a more common practice. The main point is to make sure that it isn't some special priced deal where you not only pay in full, but there is no possibility of any refund or change of dates. That happens too.
Too many people book dozens of hotels and cancel them. The hotels are tired of so many late cancellations or no shows and ending up with too many empty rooms.

To ask for credit info is advance is standard procedure.
I'll disagree with previous advice about hotels not charging until you get there. More and more facilities are charging the first night's cost in advance. This is refundable if you cancel within the time allowed by the facility's stated policy (i.e., x days or hours before arrival).

when checking into hotels for trip to NO many said that would be charged immediately for at least one night. This mostly was the private family owned businesses.
Just read the fine print on what your options are before giving your credit card #

I'm not aware of any hotel that will take a reservation not guaranteed by a credit card.

Some do bill you the first night in advance (esp if during a very busy period) - but most do not - and this is often negotiable. Or else - simply go somewhere else.

In response to one of nytraveler's comments, a lot (if not most) of the chains are now automatically charging the first night's lodging in advance.

In my experience the first night charge in advance is usually most common in smaller properties, or in areas of high tourism, like Cape Cod, Santa Fe, New Orleans, Miami in high season, etc. Then there are areas like Washington, DC, which sometimes charge for the whole stay in advance. Special Internet rates requiring NONREFUNDABLE prepayment are I think becoming more common, but usually represent a saving over the next lowest rate available.

If you are concerned about putting your CC info online, you can also fax or call them.

Friend of mine told me a story over lunch this week about a hotel in Austin, TX which -upon arrival- charged his CC $1,500 instead of the week's rate which was half that amount. This froze that particular card. Yes, she had other cards to use...

...for a sex change if you're reading closely. HE had other cards.

HowardR -

In the last couple of years I've only had one hotels charge the night in advance - some Hilton or Sheraton or something in Atlanta - can't think why they did this. And I was very aggravated since they had not asked permission - not was it some special non-cancellable rate.

Other than that I've not had any charge in advance - in perhaps 35./40 hotels around the country - almost all chain - usually Ritz, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Hyatt, JW Marriott etc,. Don;t know if it has to do with the specific chain - or the location or ???

Or perhaps because arrangements are being made by a corporate travel office - but not paid for - I still have to pay for it all myself on my own card and charge back.

Being an individual and not a corporate customere, I have had to give my CC # every time I made a hotel reservation.

I've never had a problem when giving my CC# to hold a reservation, as has been explained above. The only places I've found who wanted to charge me fully in advance were small B&B's. I don't stay in them because of that. I understand their reasoning, but I don't want to risk it.... the extra charm isn't worth having to pay for time NOT spent there if I get sick and can't make it.

There was an news piece this week that gas stations were putting a $75 hold on CC gas charges for a few hours up to three days.

RE: above http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journal...s/11551350.htm

In the USA and Canada, it is unusual to confirm a motel reservation without giving a credit card number.

A few disreputable places will immediately bill your card for the first night's stay without telling you they are going to do so.

Therefore, book rooms at national chains (Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, etc.) or at motels listed in AAA Guidebooks or other guidebooks, such as those published by Fodor's and Frommer.

San Juan Inn & Trading Post in Mexican Hat, Utah, is listed the AAA Guidebook for Colorado & Utah.

Then, when making a reservation, ask about the motel's cancellation policy and make a note of it. Most motels have a same-day or 24-hour policy, but some have a 48-hour or 72-hour policy.

If you are booking a room in an ocean-side town, at a resort (such as Palm Springs, CA), or if you are otherwise concerned, ask reservation clerks if they are going to charge your account for the first night's stay.

It is very unlikely you will have a problem, but, if you do, you have recourse by complaining to your credit card.