Hotel deposit holds: what they are and when you get the money back

You paid for the room when you booked. Then at check-in the hotel asks for a card, and a few days later you see a pending amount on your account. In most cases this is a deposit hold, not a second charge for the room. It is normal, but it can catch you out, especially on a debit card.

What a deposit hold is

A hold, also called a pre-authorization, reserves an amount on your card without taking it. Hotels use it to cover costs they cannot know in advance: minibar, room service, restaurant bills charged to the room, and damage. When you check out, the hotel charges anything you owe and releases the rest.

The hold is separate from the price of your room. When you book on myhoteloffers.com, you pay for the room online by card at the time of booking. The hold at check-in is the property's own arrangement with you, and the property sets its rules.

If your booking includes an amount marked "Pay at the property", such as a local tourist tax, the hotel collects that at check-in too. That is a real charge, not a hold, and it is already part of the total we showed you. Our guide to hotel taxes and fees explains how those amounts work.

How much hotels hold

There is no standard amount. A small city hotel may hold a modest fixed sum for the whole stay. Resorts and upmarket hotels often hold an amount per night, so a long stay can add up to a large total.

The property information sometimes states the deposit. If it does not, ask before you travel: "How much do you hold for incidentals, per night or per stay, and do you accept a debit card for it?"

Credit card or debit card

With a credit card, a hold lowers your available credit limit. Your money stays where it is.

With a debit card, the held amount is taken out of your available balance. You cannot spend it until the hold is released, which matters if you have bills due or are traveling near the end of the month. Some hotels also set different rules for debit cards, or do not accept them for the deposit.

If you only have a debit card, keep a buffer in the account for the hold, and ask the property in advance whether it accepts debit cards or a cash deposit.

When the money comes back

The hotel releases the hold when you check out, but your bank decides when the money shows as available again. A few business days is common for credit cards. Debit cards and cards issued in another country can take longer.

At check-out, ask for your final bill and check it against any charge on your card. Keep a copy.

If the hold is still showing a week or so later, ask the hotel to confirm when it released the hold, then contact your bank with that confirmation. Your bank can see whether the release has reached your account.

Holds in another currency

If your card is in a different currency from the hotel's, the hold and its release may be converted at different exchange rates. The amounts on your statement may not match exactly. Your bank sets the conversion, not the hotel.

When you book for someone else

If you book a room for someone else, the guest will usually need their own card for the deposit at check-in, even though you paid for the room. Our guide to booking a hotel for someone else explains how to handle it.

A short checklist

• Check the property information for the deposit amount, or ask the property.
• Travel with a credit card if you have one.
• With a debit card, keep extra money in the account.
• At check-out, ask for the final bill and confirm the hold is being released.
• Give your bank a few business days before you chase it.