I think it varies depending on the hotel you book. We have booked Fantasy World Villas and also Comfort Suites Main Gate East, and both of those hotels charge your credit card immediately. You can get a refund, but it is not like most hotels where you leave a credit card number to hold it and then it gets charged when you check out. I would click on the hotel you are interested in and see what it says in the description. I think these hotels specified in the description that it would be charged immediately.