Are you planning a stay at a Marriott hotel and wondering about those mysterious credit card holds? You're not alone! It's a common practice in the hospitality industry, and understanding how much Marriott hotels hold on your credit card can save you from unexpected surprises and help you manage your finances more effectively. Let's dive in and demystify the process, step by step!
Demystifying Marriott Credit Card Holds: Your Comprehensive Guide
When you check into a hotel, even if you've prepaid or are using points for a free night, you'll almost always be asked for a credit card. This isn't usually an immediate charge for your room, but rather a "hold" or "pre-authorization" on your card. Marriott, like other hotel chains, uses these holds for various reasons, primarily to cover potential incidentals and guarantee payment.
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| How Much Do Marriott Hotels Hold On Credit Card |
Step 1: Let's start by understanding why hotels even do this. Have you ever wondered what exactly that swipe at check-in is for, if not the direct payment?
Most people assume that when they hand over their card at check-in, they're simply confirming their booking. While that's partially true, a crucial behind-the-scenes action takes place: a pre-authorization. This is a temporary block on a certain amount of funds on your credit card. It's not a charge, meaning the money isn't actually taken out of your account, but it does reduce your available credit limit.
Understanding the "Why" Behind the Hold:
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To Cover Incidentals: This is the primary reason. Think room service, mini-bar consumption, pay-per-view movies, telephone calls, spa services, or even potential damages to the room. Marriott wants to ensure there are sufficient funds to cover any extra charges you might incur during your stay.
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To Guarantee Payment: Even if your room is prepaid, the hold acts as a security deposit, ensuring that the hotel can collect funds for any outstanding balance or services rendered.
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To Verify Card Validity: The pre-authorization confirms that your credit card is active and has enough available credit to cover the potential costs of your stay.
Step 2: The Amount Marriott Hotels Typically Hold
Now for the crucial question: how much will Marriott hold on your credit card? There's no single, fixed answer, as it can vary. However, we can break down the factors that influence this amount.
Tip: Don’t just scroll — pause and absorb.
Factors Influencing the Hold Amount:
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Room & Tax Charges: The hotel will typically hold the full amount of your room rate plus applicable taxes for your entire stay.
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Incidental Charges (Per Day): This is where the variability comes in. Marriott hotels will usually add a daily amount for incidentals. This can range anywhere from $20 to $200 per night, sometimes even more for luxury properties or longer stays. This amount is designed to cover potential extra spending.
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Property Type and Location: A high-end Marriott Marquis in a major city will likely have a higher incidental hold than a Fairfield Inn in a smaller town. Luxury properties often anticipate higher spending on amenities and services.
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Length of Stay: The longer your stay, the higher the total hold will be, as the per-day incidental amount accumulates.
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Booking Channel: If you book directly with Marriott, the pre-authorization process is usually straightforward. If you book through a third-party site, the initial payment might be handled differently, but the hotel will still likely place an incidental hold at check-in.
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Special Events or Packages: During peak seasons, major events, or when booking certain packages, a higher deposit or pre-payment might be required.
Example: Let's say you're staying at a Marriott for 3 nights at $150 per night (plus 15% tax) and the incidental hold is $50 per night.
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Room & Tax: $150 * 3 nights = $450
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Tax: $450 * 0.15 = $67.50
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Total Room & Tax: $450 + $67.50 = $517.50
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Incidental Hold: $50 * 3 nights = $150
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Total Pre-Authorization Hold: $517.50 + $150 = $667.50
It's important to remember that this is an authorization, not a charge.
Step 3: The Difference Between a Hold and a Charge
This is a point of common confusion. Many guests see the "pending" transaction on their bank statement or credit card app and assume they've been charged.
Pre-Authorization (Hold) vs. Final Charge:
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Pre-Authorization: This is a temporary reservation of funds. Your bank essentially "earmarks" this amount, reducing your available credit, but the money isn't actually transferred to the hotel's account yet. It acts as a guarantee.
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Final Charge: This occurs when you check out. At this point, the hotel calculates your final bill, including room, taxes, and any incidentals you incurred. This actual amount is then charged to your card. The original pre-authorization hold is then released.
Step 4: How Long Does the Hold Last?
The duration of a credit card hold is another frequently asked question, and it can be a source of frustration for travelers.
Tip: Don’t skim — absorb.
Factors Affecting Hold Release Time:
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Hotel's Processing Time: Marriott hotels generally release the hold promptly after you check out and the final bill is settled. This usually happens within 24 hours of your departure.
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Your Bank's Processing Time: This is often the biggest variable. While the hotel releases the hold, it's up to your credit card issuing bank to process that release and make the funds available again. This can take anywhere from 3 to 10 business days, and sometimes even longer (up to 30 days in rare cases, especially with debit cards or international transactions). Weekends and holidays can also prolong the process.
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Debit Cards vs. Credit Cards: This is a crucial distinction.
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Credit Cards: With a credit card, the hold simply reduces your available credit. You're not "out" the money from your checking account. Once released, your available credit is restored.
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Debit Cards: Using a debit card for the hold means the funds are actually inaccessible from your bank account. This can be problematic if it causes an overdraft or limits your access to funds for other expenses. It's generally highly recommended to use a credit card for hotel holds to avoid these potential issues.
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Step 5: What to Do if the Hold Lingers
If you find that a hold from your Marriott stay is taking an unusually long time to clear, don't panic. There are steps you can take.
Troubleshooting a Lingering Hold:
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Check Your Bank/Credit Card Statement: First, confirm that it's still a "pending" or "authorized" transaction and hasn't actually been charged.
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Contact the Hotel Directly: Call the specific Marriott property you stayed at. Explain the situation and provide your reservation details. Ask them to confirm they have released the hold. They might be able to provide you with an authorization code or a timestamp of the release.
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Contact Your Card Issuer (Bank): If the hotel confirms they've released the hold and it's still pending after several business days, contact your credit card company or bank. Provide them with the details from the hotel. They can often see the status of the authorization and can sometimes expedite the release, though this is not always guaranteed.
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Be Patient: As frustrating as it can be, sometimes it just takes time for the banking systems to communicate and process the release. Give it the full expected timeframe (e.g., 5-7 business days) before escalating too much.
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Keep Records: Always keep your reservation confirmation, check-out receipts, and any communication with the hotel or your bank regarding the hold.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about Marriott credit card holds, with quick answers:
How to know the exact amount Marriott will hold on my credit card?
The exact amount is typically room and tax for your stay plus an incidental amount per night. It's best to ask the front desk at check-in or call the specific hotel beforehand, as incidental amounts vary by property.
Tip: The middle often holds the main point.
How to avoid a credit card hold at Marriott hotels?
Generally, you cannot avoid a hold, as it's standard hotel policy to cover incidentals and guarantee payment. The only way to avoid tying up credit is to pay entirely with cash (if accepted for incidentals, which is rare) or use a credit card with a high limit.
How to use a debit card for a Marriott hotel hold without issues?
While not recommended, if you must use a debit card, ensure you have ample funds in your account to cover the hold amount. Be aware that the funds will be inaccessible until the hold is released, which can take longer than with a credit card.
How to find out if a Marriott hotel has released my credit card hold?
You can usually see the hold as a "pending" transaction on your online banking or credit card statement. Once released, it will disappear or change to a final charge if you incurred incidentals. Contacting the hotel directly after checkout is the quickest way to confirm release.
How to deal with a Marriott credit card hold that is too high?
If you believe the hold is excessive, speak to the front desk manager at check-in. They might be able to adjust the incidental portion if you assure them you won't use certain services. However, a base hold for room and tax is standard.
QuickTip: Don’t rush through examples.
How to prevent a Marriott credit card hold from affecting my available credit?
Use a credit card with a sufficiently high credit limit so that the hold does not significantly impact your available credit for other purchases. This is another reason credit cards are preferred over debit cards for hotel stays.
How to get a Marriott credit card hold released faster?
Unfortunately, the release time largely depends on your issuing bank's processing times. While the hotel releases the hold immediately upon checkout, your bank takes time to update your available balance. Following up with your bank might sometimes help, but there's no guarantee of an expedited release.
How to pay for incidentals at Marriott without using the card on hold?
You can typically settle any incidental charges with a different payment method (cash or another card) at checkout. The original hold would then be released in full.
How to understand the difference between a pre-authorization and a final charge at Marriott?
A pre-authorization is a temporary block on funds, not an actual charge. It reduces your available credit. A final charge is the actual amount billed to your card at checkout, reflecting your stay and any incidentals incurred.
How to check Marriott's specific hold policy before booking?
The most reliable way is to contact the specific Marriott hotel directly before your stay. While general policies exist, individual properties may have slight variations in their incidental hold amounts.
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