Frequently Asked Questions

Isn’t it wild how hotel clerks can say “standard policy” with a straight face? If you’ve ever handed over your debit card and watched your bank app implode, you know the drill. And those refund timelines? Sometimes lightning fast, sometimes so slow you forget you even had a deposit.

What happens if my debit card gets charged a deposit at a hotel?

Nobody tells you the hold will nuke your checking account balance for days. I had a Hyatt in Tampa hit my debit for $150 “incidentals” and suddenly my lunch budget was toast. Hotels use debit cards for holds just like credit card authorizations, except there’s no safety net.

It’s not a “real” charge, just money frozen in limbo. But if you try to buy allergy meds before the hold clears, well, guess you’re not getting those. Sometimes the bank even lets the pending charge post, which is just insult to injury. Has anyone ever read an entire hotel policy? I haven’t.

How soon after check-out can I expect a refund of my hotel deposit?

Tick, tick, tick—never seen a deposit come back in less than three days. Debit cards take even longer, sometimes as much as 10 business days. Sometimes the money just vanishes into “processing” and nobody at customer service knows where it went.

Saw a Reddit thread where a guy said two weeks, but the hotel website claimed “3-7 days.” So, which is it? My personal record: LAX hotel held $200 until payday. Lost my gas money. Maybe my deposit’s still out there, wandering the earth.

Is the deposit for a hotel room immediately taken from my account?

It’s not supposed to be instant, but I’ve had hotels drain my available balance faster than I could tap my card at Target. They’ll usually put a hold on your debit at check-in, but it’s not always a “charge”—your bank just locks it up. Suddenly, “actual” and “available” balances are two different universes.

It’s a hold, not a charge—at least, that’s what they say. My cousin once mixed them up and spent a week fighting his bank. Didn’t even get a free breakfast for his trouble.

What’s the usual amount hotels hold as a security deposit?

I gave up guessing after the third time a minibar started a $250 standoff. Deposits can be $50, or as much as the whole night’s rate. Hotels charging over $100 a night love $100+ holds, “for security.” Sure.

Desk staff never look you in the eye when they say the number. Miami once wanted $300 “just in case,” and the room was only $125. Budgeting for snacks? Forget it.

Under what circumstances might my hotel deposit not be refunded?

Just when you think you’re safe, a surprise charge pops up—like the time a towel stain ate my deposit. Check out late? Break a lamp? Touch the minibar? They’ll keep all or part of your deposit, no apologies. Sometimes they’ll claim “damage” that was already there. Once, I had to fight with the hotel and my bank just to get anything back. Nobody admitted fault, naturally.

A manager once said “the room smelled weird” was reason enough to keep my deposit. What does “weird” mean? They never say. It’s wild how small stuff can turn into a $100 argument.

Can hotels place a hold on a credit card that’s already reached its limit?

So, here’s a scenario: you roll up to the front desk, hand over your card (which, let’s be real, is already maxed out), and then…what? Does the hotel just wave a magic wand and squeeze more money out of your limit? Uh, no. Usually, the system just spits out a rejection—sometimes instantly, sometimes after a weird pause where everyone’s pretending not to notice. Or maybe the clerk just shrugs and says nothing until checkout, which, honestly, is a nightmare when you’re juggling bags and everyone behind you is sighing audibly.

I’ve actually done this—yeah, not my finest hour. The front desk lady gave me that “do you have another card?” look, and suddenly I was public enemy number one in the lobby. Pre-authorization doesn’t just erase your limit; it’s not like the hotel can just sweet-talk the credit card company into letting you buy more stuff. Why can’t they just take loyalty points and call it a day? Wouldn’t that be easier?