Planning a trip and considering a stay at a Marriott property? Fantastic choice! Marriott offers a vast array of brands and experiences, from luxurious resorts to comfortable extended-stay options. However, one common question that often arises is: how much does Marriott charge for a deposit?
Let's dive deep into this topic, providing you with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to understanding Marriott's deposit policies. Get ready to become a pro at navigating hotel holds!
Step 1: Engage and Understand the "Why" Behind Deposits
Have you ever wondered why hotels, including Marriott, require a deposit or place a hold on your credit card? It's a common practice, and understanding the reasoning behind it can help alleviate any concerns.
Think of it this way: when you check into a hotel, you're not just paying for the room itself. You might use room service, grab a snack from the mini-bar, enjoy a spa treatment, or even accidentally damage something in your room. These are what hotels refer to as "incidentals."
Sub-heading: What are Hotel Incidentals? Hotel incidentals are essentially any charges you might incur beyond the basic room rate and taxes. This could include:
Room service orders
Mini-bar purchases
Pay-per-view movies or in-room entertainment
Laundry or dry-cleaning services
Spa treatments or salon services
Gift shop purchases charged to your room
Damage to the room or hotel property (e.g., stained linens, broken items)
Smoking fees if you smoke in a non-smoking room
Additional charges for occupants over the standard limit
The deposit, or more accurately, the authorization hold, serves as a security measure for the hotel to cover these potential additional costs. It ensures they have a valid payment method on file to settle any charges you might accumulate during your stay.
Step 2: Distinguishing Between an "Authorization Hold" and a "Deposit"
This is a crucial distinction, as the terms are often used interchangeably, but they operate differently. Marriott, like most major hotel chains, primarily uses an authorization hold rather than a true "deposit" in the traditional sense for incidentals.
Sub-heading: What is an Authorization Hold? An authorization hold (also known as a pre-authorization or pre-auth) is a temporary block on a specific amount of funds on your credit or debit card. When the hotel places an authorization hold, the money isn't actually charged to your account. Instead, that amount is simply reserved and becomes unavailable for other transactions until the hold is released.
For Credit Cards: The held amount reduces your available credit limit.
For Debit Cards: The held amount directly impacts your available balance, meaning those funds are inaccessible. This is why using a credit card is often recommended for hotel stays, as a hold on a debit card can tie up your actual cash.
Sub-heading: How is this different from a true "Deposit"? A true deposit would involve the money actually being debited from your account and then refunded later. While some hotels might require a traditional deposit for specific situations (e.g., long-term stays, certain group bookings, or if you're paying with cash and they need a security deposit), the standard practice for incidental coverage is an authorization hold.
Step 3: Factors Influencing the Amount of the Authorization Hold
There isn't a single, fixed amount that Marriott charges for a deposit across all its properties. The amount of the authorization hold can vary significantly based on several factors:
Sub-heading: Marriott Brand and Property Type
Luxury Brands (e.g., The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, Edition): These properties typically have higher incidental holds due to the wider range of services, amenities, and higher potential costs for damages. Expect these to be on the higher end, possibly $100-$300+ per night.
Full-Service Brands (e.g., Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin): These will also have substantial holds, reflecting their diverse offerings like restaurants, bars, and meeting facilities.
Select Service/Mid-Tier Brands (e.g., Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites): While still requiring a hold, these tend to be lower as their incidental offerings are typically less extensive.
Extended Stay Brands (e.g., Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites): These might have different hold structures, sometimes a larger upfront hold for the entire stay rather than a per-night amount, to cover potential long-term incidental use.
Sub-heading: Length of Your Stay The longer your stay, the higher the total authorization hold will likely be, as the per-night incidental amount is multiplied by the number of nights. For example, if the per-night hold is $50, a 5-night stay would result in a $250 hold.
Sub-heading: Hotel-Specific Policies Each individual Marriott property has the discretion to set its own incidental hold amount, within the framework of Marriott's general policies. This is why you might find variations even within the same brand in different locations.
Sub-heading: Your Reservation Type (Prepaid vs. Flexible)
If you booked a prepaid rate, the room and tax portion of your stay has already been charged. The authorization hold will solely be for incidentals.
If you booked a flexible rate where payment is due at check-in, the initial authorization hold might include both the estimated room and tax plus an amount for incidentals.
Step 4: How and When Marriott Charges the Deposit (or Places the Hold)
Understanding the timing of this process is key to avoiding surprises.
Sub-heading: At the Time of Booking (Sometimes, but not typically for incidental holds)
For prepaid rates or advance purchase rates, the full room and tax amount will be charged to your card at the time of booking. This is a direct charge, not an authorization hold for incidentals.
Generally, Marriott does not place an incidental hold at the time of booking. This typically happens at check-in.
Sub-heading: At Check-in (The Most Common Scenario) This is when the primary authorization hold for incidentals will occur. When you check in, you will be asked to present a credit or debit card. The hotel front desk agent will then process the authorization hold. They should inform you of the amount being held.
Sub-heading: During Your Stay (If Incidental Spending Exceeds Hold) If your incidental spending during your stay approaches or exceeds the initial authorization hold, the hotel may place an additional hold on your card. This is rare for short stays with typical incidental spending, but it can happen if you consistently use services like room service or a high-end mini-bar.
Step 5: Understanding the Release of the Authorization Hold
This is often where guests experience confusion or frustration, as the release process isn't always instantaneous.
Sub-heading: When the Hold is Released by the Hotel Upon your checkout, the hotel will finalize your bill. Any actual charges for room and tax (if not prepaid) and incidentals will be processed as a final charge to your card. The original authorization hold for the incidentals will then be released by the hotel's system.
Sub-heading: When the Funds Become Available in Your Account (Crucial Distinction) This is the part that can take time. While the hotel releases the hold almost immediately upon checkout, it can take anywhere from 3 to 10 business days for the funds to become available in your account.
Credit Cards: The hold is removed from your available credit much faster, often within 1-3 business days.
Debit Cards: This is where it can be slower. Your bank needs to process the release, and it can take up to 14 business days or even longer for the funds to reappear in your available balance, as debit card holds are treated more like actual transactions by banks.
Sub-heading: Factors Affecting Release Time
Your Bank: Different banks have different processing times for releasing authorization holds. Larger banks might be quicker than smaller, local banks.
Weekends and Holidays: If you check out on a Friday, the processing might not begin until the next business day, delaying the release.
Amount of the Hold: Very large holds might sometimes take slightly longer to clear.
Step 6: Tips for Managing Marriott Deposits/Holds
To ensure a smooth experience and avoid any financial inconvenience, consider these tips:
Sub-heading: Use a Credit Card, Not a Debit Card Whenever possible, use a credit card for your hotel authorization hold. This ties up your credit limit, not your actual cash, making it far less impactful if the hold takes a few days to release.
Sub-heading: Inquire About the Hold Amount at Check-in Don't be afraid to politely ask the front desk agent about the exact amount of the authorization hold when you check in. This gives you clarity and helps you manage your finances.
Sub-heading: Understand Your Bank's Policies If you must use a debit card, contact your bank beforehand to understand their specific policies and typical timelines for releasing authorization holds.
Sub-heading: Monitor Your Account After Checkout Keep an eye on your credit card statement or bank account after you check out to ensure the hold is released in a timely manner.
Sub-heading: Contact the Hotel if There's a Delay If the hold hasn't been released after the expected timeframe (e.g., 5-7 business days for credit cards, 10-14 for debit cards), contact the specific Marriott property directly. They can verify the release and provide transaction details.
Sub-heading: Be Aware of Prepaid vs. Pay-at-Hotel Rates If you prefer not to have a significant hold, consider booking a prepaid rate for the room and tax portion. The hold would then only apply to incidentals. However, remember prepaid rates are often non-refundable or have stricter cancellation policies.
Related FAQ Questions (How to...)
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about Marriott deposits and authorization holds, with quick answers:
How to find out the specific deposit amount for a Marriott hotel before booking? It's best to call the specific Marriott hotel directly after you've identified the one you're interested in. While general policies exist, the exact incidental hold can vary by property. You can also sometimes find this information in the "Hotel Policies" or "Terms and Conditions" section of the hotel's booking page on Marriott.com.
How to avoid a deposit at Marriott? Generally, you cannot entirely avoid the authorization hold for incidentals at Marriott properties, as it's a standard security practice. Some hotels might offer to waive the incidental hold if you explicitly state you will not be using any incidental services, but this is rare and at the hotel's discretion.
How to pay a Marriott deposit with cash? Some Marriott properties may allow a cash deposit for incidentals, especially if you don't have a credit card. However, this is less common and often requires a significantly larger cash amount than a credit card hold. The refund process for cash deposits can also be slower. It's crucial to confirm this with the specific hotel in advance.
How to ensure a quick refund of my Marriott deposit? The "deposit" (authorization hold) is released by the hotel upon checkout. To ensure the funds become available quickly in your account, use a credit card instead of a debit card, as credit card holds typically clear faster.
How to check if my Marriott deposit has been released? Monitor your credit card or bank statement online. For credit cards, look for the available credit limit to increase. For debit cards, check your available balance. The original "pending" transaction should disappear or be replaced by the final charge.
How to dispute an incorrect Marriott deposit charge or hold? First, contact the specific Marriott property directly to discuss the discrepancy. Provide them with your reservation details and the dates of your stay. If you cannot resolve it with the hotel, contact your credit card company or bank to dispute the charge.
How to know if my Marriott rate requires a prepayment or deposit at booking? When you are selecting your rate on Marriott.com, the specific rate rules will clearly state if prepayment is required at the time of booking. Look for terms like "Prepaid," "Advance Purchase," or "Non-refundable."
How to budget for the Marriott incidental hold? Assume a per-night incidental hold of at least $50-$100 for mid-range properties, and potentially $100-$300+ for luxury properties. Multiply this by your number of nights to estimate the total hold. Always have a sufficient available balance/credit limit to cover this amount.
How to find Marriott hotels that don't require a deposit (or have very low ones)? It's highly unlikely to find any Marriott property that doesn't require some form of authorization hold for incidentals. The lowest holds will generally be at the more budget-friendly or extended-stay brands like Fairfield Inn & Suites or TownePlace Suites, but even these will have an incidental policy.
How to differentiate between the room charge and the incidental hold on my statement? On your final credit card statement after checkout, you will see the actual charge for your room and any incidentals as a single, combined transaction from the hotel. The initial authorization hold for incidentals will likely disappear from your pending transactions once the final charge is posted, as it was never a true "charge" to begin with, but rather a temporary reservation of funds.
