When you check into a Marriott hotel, one of the most common questions that comes to mind, especially if you're managing your travel budget closely, is: "How much will Marriott hold on my credit card for incidentals?" It's a valid and important question, as these temporary holds can impact your available credit. Let's delve deep into the world of Marriott's incidental holds, providing you with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to understanding this common hotel practice.
Are you ready to unravel the mystery of hotel incidental holds and ensure a smooth check-in experience? Let's get started!
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| How Much Does Marriott Hold On Credit Card For Incidentals |
Understanding Marriott's Incidental Holds: A Comprehensive Guide
A hotel incidental hold is a standard practice across the hospitality industry, and Marriott is no exception. It's essentially a pre-authorization on your credit or debit card, a temporary "freeze" of funds that the hotel can access to cover any charges beyond the room rate itself. These charges are what we call "incidentals."
Step 1: Why Do Hotels Place Incidental Holds?
It's a fair question! You've already paid for your room, or perhaps you're using points. So why the extra hold?
Sub-heading: The Purpose of the Pre-Authorization
Hotels implement incidental holds for several key reasons, all geared towards protecting their business and ensuring a seamless experience for guests who utilize various hotel services. Think of it as a safety net for the hotel.
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Covering Additional Services: This is the primary reason. Hotels offer a wide array of services that aren't included in your room rate. This could be anything from:
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Room service
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Minibar purchases
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Restaurant or bar charges within the hotel
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Spa treatments
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Paid Wi-Fi
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Parking fees
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Business center services
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In-room movies
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Damage Protection: While rare, accidental damage to the room or its contents can occur. The incidental hold provides the hotel with a way to cover the costs of repairs or replacements if necessary.
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No-Show or Late Cancellation Fees: Although usually covered by the initial booking terms, in some instances, if a guest extends their stay without proper notification or incurs last-minute charges, the incidental hold can serve as a backup.
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Streamlined Check-Out: By having a pre-authorization, the hotel can finalize your bill quickly at check-out, deducting any incidentals without needing to run a new, separate transaction for each small charge.
Step 2: How Much Does Marriott Typically Hold?
This is where it gets a bit less precise, as the amount can vary. However, we can provide you with a general range and the factors that influence it.
Sub-heading: The Range of Incidental Holds
Tip: Read once for flow, once for detail.
While there's no universally fixed amount, most sources indicate that Marriott's incidental holds generally range from $50 to $100 per night. However, it's crucial to understand that this is an average, and the actual amount can fluctuate.
Sub-heading: Factors Influencing the Hold Amount
Several variables play a role in determining the exact incidental hold at a Marriott property:
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Hotel Brand and Tier:
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Luxury brands (e.g., The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott) will often have higher incidental holds due to the wider array of premium services and amenities available. Expect holds of $150, $200, or even more per night at these properties.
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Mid-range and budget-friendly brands (e.g., Courtyard, Fairfield Inn) will typically have lower holds, closer to the $50-$75 per night range.
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Location of the Hotel:
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Hotels in major metropolitan areas or popular tourist destinations might have higher incidental holds due to higher operating costs and a greater likelihood of guests utilizing paid services.
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Properties in smaller towns or less touristy areas might have slightly lower holds.
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Duration of Your Stay: While some hotels might place a per-night hold, others might put a flat hold amount for the entire stay, especially for shorter visits. For longer stays, the per-night hold might cap at a certain total. For example, a hotel might hold $75 per night but cap the total hold at $300 for a five-night stay.
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Your Booking Type (Prepaid vs. Pay at Hotel):
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If you've prepaid your room rate, the incidental hold will solely be for potential additional charges.
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If you're paying for the room at check-out, the hold might include the estimated room and tax charges plus the incidental amount.
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Hotel-Specific Policy: Ultimately, each individual Marriott property has the discretion to set its own incidental hold policy within corporate guidelines. This means the best way to know the exact amount is to ask.
Step 3: Credit Card vs. Debit Card Holds – A Crucial Distinction
This is perhaps the most important distinction to understand when dealing with hotel incidental holds.
Sub-heading: The Impact of Credit Card Holds
When a hold is placed on your credit card, it reduces your available credit limit by that amount. However, the money itself isn't actually removed from your account. It's simply reserved. This is generally the preferred method for hotel holds.
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Benefit: Your actual funds remain in your bank account, and the hold doesn't directly impact your cash flow.
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Consideration: If you have a credit card with a low limit or are close to maxing it out, a large incidental hold could temporarily restrict your spending ability.
Sub-heading: The Impact of Debit Card Holds
This is where you need to be extra cautious. When a hold is placed on your debit card, the funds are actually removed from your checking account. While they will be returned, they are inaccessible during the hold period.
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Risk: If the hold amount, combined with your existing balance, pushes your account into the negative, you could incur overdraft fees from your bank.
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Longer Release Times: Debit card holds often take longer to be released back into your account compared to credit card holds (we'll cover this in Step 5).
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Recommendation: It is generally advised to use a credit card for hotel incidental holds, even if you plan to pay your final bill with a debit card or cash. This protects your immediate cash flow.
Step 4: How the Hold is Processed at Check-in
The process is usually straightforward and quick.
QuickTip: Look for repeated words — they signal importance.
Sub-heading: The Front Desk Interaction
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When you arrive at the Marriott front desk for check-in:
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Providing Your Card: The front desk agent will ask for a credit or debit card to put on file for incidentals. Even if your room is prepaid or booked with points, this step is standard.
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Notification (Sometimes): Some hotels will explicitly tell you the amount of the incidental hold. However, don't assume they will. It's always a good practice to ask proactively: "What is the incidental hold amount for my stay?"
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Pre-Authorization: The agent will then process a pre-authorization on your card for the determined incidental amount (plus room and tax if not prepaid). This sends a request to your bank to reserve those funds.
Sub-heading: What to Do if You Disagree with the Hold
If the incidental hold amount seems unexpectedly high, or if you prefer a different arrangement:
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Politely Inquire: Ask the front desk agent if there are any alternative options or if the hold can be adjusted. Some properties might offer a lower hold if you assure them you won't be using many incidentals.
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Consider Cash Deposit: While less common at Marriott, some hotels might allow a cash deposit for incidentals, which is refunded at check-out. This is highly dependent on the individual hotel's policy and is often discouraged due to security and accounting complexities. It's crucial to confirm this possibility with the hotel directly before your stay.
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Use a Different Card: If the hold on your primary card is an issue, consider using a different credit card with more available credit, or one specifically for travel.
Step 5: How Long Does It Take for the Hold to Be Released?
This is often the most frustrating part for guests, especially with debit card holds. The release time is not instantaneous.
Sub-heading: The Standard Release Timeline
Once you check out of the Marriott hotel and your final bill is settled, the hotel sends a signal to the credit card processor to release the hold. However, the actual release of funds back to your available credit (or bank account for debit cards) depends on your bank's processing times.
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Credit Cards: For credit cards, incidental holds typically fall off your statement within 3 to 10 business days after check-out. Sometimes it can be as quick as 1-2 business days, but prepare for a longer timeframe.
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Debit Cards: Debit card holds tend to take longer, often ranging from 5 to 15 business days, and in some cases, even longer. This is why using a credit card is strongly recommended.
Sub-heading: What Affects Release Time?
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Your Bank's Policies: Each bank has its own processing speeds for pre-authorizations. Some are faster than others.
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Weekend and Holiday Delays: If you check out just before a weekend or public holiday, the processing time might be extended.
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Accuracy of Charges: If there were any discrepancies in your bill or additional charges were applied, it might take slightly longer for the final amount to clear and the hold to be fully released.
Sub-heading: What to Do if a Hold Lingers
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If the incidental hold remains on your account for an unusually long time (e.g., more than 10 business days for a credit card or 15+ for a debit card):
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Check Your Bank Statement: First, confirm that the hold is still "pending" and hasn't just been overlooked by you.
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Contact the Hotel Directly: Call the specific Marriott property where you stayed and politely inquire about the hold. Provide them with your reservation details and check-out date. They can often provide a reference number for the release.
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Contact Your Bank: If the hotel confirms the hold has been released on their end, your next step is to contact your credit card issuer or bank. Provide them with the information from the hotel, and they can investigate further.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions, starting with "How to," along with their quick answers, related to Marriott incidental holds:
How to Find Out the Exact Incidental Hold for My Marriott Stay?
The best way is to call the specific Marriott hotel directly you've booked and ask them about their incidental hold policy. They can provide the most accurate information for your reservation.
How to Minimize the Incidental Hold Amount at Marriott?
You can politely ask the front desk at check-in if they can reduce the hold, particularly if you confirm you won't be using services like room service or the minibar. Some hotels may accommodate, especially for elite members.
How to Avoid Incidental Holds Entirely at Marriott?
Generally, you cannot entirely avoid incidental holds at Marriott or most major hotel chains. It's a standard business practice. However, you can opt to pay for all incidentals with cash as you incur them (e.g., pay for dinner at the restaurant directly with cash) to minimize what needs to be charged to your room.
How to Pay for Incidentals with Cash at Marriott?
While you can pay for services like dining with cash directly at the point of sale (e.g., restaurant), having a credit card on file for a pre-authorization is almost always required at check-in. Some individual hotels might accept a larger cash deposit for incidentals, but this is not a universal policy and should be confirmed directly with the hotel in advance.
QuickTip: Focus on one paragraph at a time.
How to Ensure a Quick Release of a Marriott Incidental Hold?
Use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit card holds typically clear faster. Also, ensure you don't have any outstanding charges or discrepancies on your bill at check-out.
How to Check if an Incidental Hold Has Been Released by Marriott?
Monitor your online banking statement or credit card activity. The pending authorization for the incidental hold should disappear, and your available credit (or bank balance for debit cards) should reflect the full amount.
How to Dispute an Incorrect Incidental Charge from Marriott?
First, contact the hotel directly to discuss the discrepancy. Provide details of the charge you believe is incorrect. If unresolved, you can then dispute the charge with your credit card company or bank.
How to Plan for Incidental Holds in My Travel Budget?
Always factor in an extra buffer for incidental holds when planning your travel budget, especially if using a debit card. Assume at least $50-$100 per night, and potentially more for luxury properties, to avoid unexpected issues with your available funds.
How to Handle Marriott Incidental Holds if I Don't Have a Credit Card?
If you only have a debit card, be aware that the hold will directly impact your bank balance and may take longer to release. Ensure you have sufficient funds to cover the hold amount and your regular expenses to avoid overdrafts. As a last resort, some properties might accept a cash deposit, but this needs to be confirmed beforehand.
How to Know if My Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status Affects Incidental Holds?
While elite status offers many perks (like complimentary upgrades, late checkout, and bonus points), it generally does not waive or significantly reduce the incidental hold amount. Hotels still need to protect themselves, regardless of your loyalty tier. However, some individual hotels might be more flexible with Ambassador or Titanium Elite members in certain situations.
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