Hotel reservation without credit card??!!!

[Vraptor]

Does anyone know if the hotels will let me check in without a credit card. I do not have one and cannot get one due to a brain trauma. I pay by cash for everything. My ex will let me use his credit card to secure an online reservation- but what about checking in if I don't have the credit card on me-or IF he will let me take it and it is in his name. I wanted to use priceline and it says have to have a credit card on check in- then it got me thinking about getting any hotel or rental car without one. What do I do?????

 

[kylara]

I can't answer for paying with cash through priceline since I thought you pay priceline directly.

But you can pay for a hotel with cash. You will need to pay when you check in and if you want incidentals (i.e. use of phone, roomservice), they will request you leave extra at the desk.

But as I said, not sure how cash and priceline work together. maybe someone who uses priceline could answer that. You might want to post this on the budget board also since there seems to be a lot of people on that board who are well versed in using priceline.

 

[cinamin27]

how about a visa or master card check card, the money comes out of your bank account, this is used like an ATM card but since it has the visa/mastercard logo you can make priceline bids & hotel reservations with it & it is still like using cash. most banks offer them with no charge as your ATM card. can you call your bank & see if they offer one?

 

[JessicaR]

Can you get a debit card branded with mastercard or visa logo through your bank? I do not think you can rent a car w/o a CC but check here. http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=16

This is off Pricelines website:

What do I need to bring to check-in?


Checking in is easy. All you need is a government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license) and your hotel confirmation number - located on your itinerary. To print your itinerary just go to the "Check Your Request" section of our website and select "Hotels."

If you do not have a credit card you may leave a cash deposit for incidentals. If you plan to leave a cash deposit, please call the hotel that accepted your request to determine the amount required.


So it seems you can use Priceline using your Ex's CC and prepay it that way. I believe he would make the reservation and initial it that it is for someone else.

 

[NUHuskies#1]

Hi there,
I am a cash-only girl by choice! If I can't pay for it today, I can't afford it. The credit card companies with their high interest rates are ridiculous. I use my Visa check card for everything. Hotel ressies, car ressies, you name it. The account is tied to me and hubby's checking account and is accepted by the agencies.

Good luck!

 

[Vraptor]

Thanks everyone. I am caling mybank tomorrow and asking about a check/debit card. I dont have one because of my memory problems but may see if I can get one and use it just for this trip. I think I may still use priceline with my ex's card and leave a cash deposit if the hotel needs it if I don't get a card from my bank in time. Thanks again.I can't wait for this trip- we are both so excited!

 

[dg39]

I always pay cash at check in. I never charge any part of my vacation or much of anything else for that matter. I rather pay for it in the beginning & be rid of the bill. I hold the ressies using my cc, but pay cash when I get there. You can hold the ressie using your ex's cc, but put your name on the room, & then just pay the cash.

 

[disneysteve]

It is also possible to get a stored-value credit card like VISA BUXX card (I think that's what its called). It works like a credit card but you "load" it upfront with money. People use these to give their teens a credit card with a set spending limit.

Steve

 

[Vraptor]

I am going to get a buxx card. I never heard of this type of card. This will work well for me. I can use cash and actually have a card in case someone requires one. Thank you so much for the info!!! I am on the buxx website now.

 

[HockeyDadof2]

The only thing I would add regarding check cards or the BUXX card, unless you have plenty of money in the associated account make sure and check out how much the company is going to hold and plan accordingly. When I was assistant manager at a bank I had a customer who's hotel charged them for their room then "held" $250 for incidentals. They didn't count on that and when they tried to use their check card towards the end of their trip the charge was declined because of the hold. This was a number of years ago so I don't know if it still works that way. I did have a fair number of customers complain about that being an issue, but that was the only time I had a customer who planned things so closely that it could have ruined their trip.

 

[NUHuskies#1]

I have had that happen to me before by a car rental agency. I think it depends on the bank. It was an authorization and dropped off within two days but it was kind of annoying. For the record I know Alamo rents in Orlando without a credit card so it might be worth checking out.

 

[moinab]

FYI, bank debit cards are also subject to holds on funds. I used to be the floor manager of a pub. We would get angry calls on a regular basis from people who used their debit card to start a tab. Unfortuately, the bank would often put a hold on their funds (usually $50) for up to a week. Also, just because a bank card has a VISA logo, doesn't automatically make it useable for reservations, etc. My debit card is a VISA check card, but will function only in debit-type transactions, such as at the grocery store or Target. I can't use it online or to make reservations because it always comes back as "invalid number." I've been thinking about getting a Buxx type card and would like to hear from someone who has used one.

 

[HockeyDadof2]

That's strange, I know some companies won't accept them to rent cars but I never heard of not being able to use them as a Visa in online transactions. I know when I use mine at the grocery store or Target it does function as a debit card, but I use mine all the time at the mall, as well as internet purchases and have never had a single problem. For those that don't know if you enter your PIN on a keypad it's functioning as a debit card if you are signing something it's functioning as a credit card.

 

[cinamin27]

moinab,
I'd call your bank, your Visa check card is supposed to be able used ANYWHERE Visa is accepted. even the commercials about check cards state it. I have used Visa check cards from several different banks, for maybe 8 years & have never had a problem with priceline or any hotel I've reserved over the net or phone.

 

[moinab]

Thank you for the suggestions. I have talked repeatedly to just about every single employee at my bank, but they have not been able to help me. They keep telling me that it SHOULD work, that everything on their computer system tells them it SHOULD work, that everything is in order, blah, blah, blah. Unfortunately, it DOESN'T work for credit card-type transactions. I even had them replace the card with a new one, but it still won't work for credit card-type transactions. I've asked them if I could contact VISA myself, but they just keep telling me it SHOULD work. I got tired of beating my head against the wall. I have spoken to other people who have had similar problems and to merchants who have also encountered this with customers. I guess it depends on the bank. It's not enough of a problem for me to open an account at a different bank. I just wanted to let people know that this can happen