Paying in cash at HOJO

[tlmcma]

Has anyone else ever tried to pay cash for your stay in full at check-in time? I do not want to have a hold placed on my debit or credit card - I emailed Lorealle to ask if I could pay for my stay in cash and provide a credit card for incidentals only. I was told that it is their policy to place a hold on your credit card for the full amount of your stay plus incidentals when you check in. I was told that I could then pay in cash when I check out and the hold on my card would be released. To me, that kind of defeats the purpose of paying in cash if the funds are going to be held on my credit card until I check out anyway! I told Lorealle that I was upset about that policy and again asked if I could pay in full with cash at check in and have a hold placed on my credit card for incidentals only. She said that normally you can pay by check at least 10 days in advance of your stay, but that for cash, their policy has always been to place a hold on your credit card for your stay and then release it when you check out. She was wonderful and did agree to put a "one-time" note on my reservation stating that I was going to pay in full with cash at check in and that a hold will only be placed on my credit card for incidentals. I just find it really odd that it is so difficult to pay in cash! If they will accept payment in advance by check so long as it is cleared 10 days in advance, you would think they would be happy to take cash! So now I'm really nervous about checking in and having something go wrong! I just really don't want a hold for over $500 on my credit card when I am going to pay cash! Did anyone else try to do what I'm attempting...did it work out OK?

 

[Littleprincess2010]

Im sorry to hear it was such a problem. Could you put the $500 cash on your credit card and just pay with your credit card at the end??

 

[jacky b]

I have never had an issue with the CC. My CC has never showed a hold for the amount. It may be company specific.

 

[tlmcma]

It is too late to put the money on a credit card in advance - I'm leaving tomorrow! I actually plan on using my visa debit card...that's why I don't want to mess up with holds on my checking account. I thought I had seen on previous threads here that they would let you pay in advance by cash and use a credit card for incidentals only. I really try not to use credit cards at all, so that was preferable to me. Lorealle was a big help and said I would be able to pay cash tomorrow, but I thought it was strange that apparently that normally isn't allowed and thought others should know too. I will make sure to bring a credit card with me just in case...

 

[Hojoanaheim]

Hi guys!

I did a search about paying in cash at the HoJo and found another thread that I posted this in today after our email conversation [Hi T! ] and just wanted to cross post it here, too!

Prepayment via check:
We can accept prepayment by check, as long as it arrives at least 10 business days in advance and you have spoken with someone from In-House Reservations who has totaled the cost of your stay for you and noted your account so that when the check arrives, we know where to post that payment. Additionally, we still require those individuals who have prepayed for their reservation via check, to provide a valid credit card in their name at their time of check-in to be authorized* for incidentals. We only recommend that you choose this option if you are 100% absolutely certain of your dates of stay.

Prepayment via credit card:
Unfortunately, we cannot accept prepayment via credit card at all. Our system is not set up to accept payment that way. The card has to physically be here with you at your time of check-in in order for us to be able to charge it. We cannot do fax, phone, email or written authorizations.

Other ways to prepay:
If you need to have your reservation prepaid, I would recommend booking online through websites like Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz or Priceline or by booking through a Travel Agent or Travel Company. These companies require credit card payment at the time of booking. However, at check in, you will still need to be able to provide a valid credit card in your name for us to authorize for incidentals.

Paying with cash:
If you have cash and are planning to pay for the length of your stay that way, rather than on your card, you will still need to provide a valid credit card at your time of check-in that can be authorized for the amount of your stay, including tax and incidentals. Once you pay at check-out, we release the authorization hold on your credit card immediately. It will usually take your bank/credit card company a few business days to process this release and show the funds as available to you once again. Unfortunately, there is nothing that we can do to speed along that process.

Paying with Traveler's Checks:
This works the same way as paying with cash. If you have Traveler's Checks and are planning to pay for the length of your stay that way, you'll still need to provide a valid credit card at your time of check-in that can be authorized for the amount of your stay, including tax and incidentals. Once you pay at check-out with your Traveler's Checks, we release the authorization hold on your credit card immediately. Registered guests of our hotel can also redeem Traveler's Checks for cash, up to $100 per day, per room.

*The authorization is not a charge, it just holds the funds for the amount of time that you are here at the hotel- and then releases that hold once you have checked out.

I know that this was a lot of information to take in, so if you have any questions or concerns about how to pay for your stay, you can always email us at stay@hojoanaheim.com or give us a call at 714-776-6120 and ask for In-House Reservations. We'd be happy to help talk over your options and help you figure out what will best suit your needs! That's what we're here for!

I hope this helps!
Lorealle

 

[tlmcma]

Thanks Lorealle for clearing everything up....I was just getting ready to email you a link to that other thread! That is what really confused me! I guess I will just put the cash back in my checking account and use my visa debit card when I check in....that should be easier! I think I'm making it too complicated..LOL!
Tracey

 

[Hojoanaheim]

Thanks Lorealle for clearing everything up....I was just getting ready to email you a link to that other thread! That is what really confused me! I guess I will just put the cash back in my checking account and use my visa debit card when I check in....that should be easier! I think I'm making it too complicated..LOL!
Tracey

Definitely feel free to email me the link to anythinganythinganything that you have questions about! [Well, anything to do with the Howard Johnson Anaheim or Disneyland- I don't know how good I'd be at answering questions about online science journals or celebrity gossip, LOL!]

If it's easier for you to pay with cash this time- your account is all noted so it will be fine this time! I'm so sorry about all this confusion! And I'm sorry that I didn't see that thread earlier!

Lorealle

 

[tlmcma]

OK - I'm glad I have the cash option...maybe I will do that! Thank you so much Lorealle for going above and beyond! See you all soon...I can't wait!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Paying with cash:
If you have cash and are planning to pay for the length of your stay that way, rather than on your card, you will still need to provide a valid credit card at your time of check-in that can be authorized for the amount of your stay, including tax and incidentals. Once you pay at check-out, we release the authorization hold on your credit card immediately. It will usually take your bank/credit card company a few business days to process this release and show the funds as available to you once again. Unfortunately, there is nothing that we can do to speed along that process.

What I'm confused on is this makes it seem like they are paying with cash at check out. If they pay cash at CHECK IN, there should be no reason to put a hold on the room amount since it's already paid for. Every other hotel I've stayed at, I have been able to pay cash at check in and the CC hold is only for incidentals. I agree with OP that this policy make no sense...

 

[melbarkwith]

What I'm confused on is this makes it seem like they are paying with cash at check out. If they pay cash at CHECK IN, there should be no reason to put a hold on the room amount since it's already paid for. Every other hotel I've stayed at, I have been able to pay cash at check in and the CC hold is only for incidentals. I agree with OP that this policy make no sense...

I'm confused a little here too. We paid cash/travellers cheques at check IN at Hojo's last October, and there was no hold placed on our card at all (and the card in question was a debit mastercard so I would definitely have known if it happened). If I recall correctly, we were accidentally overcharged about $1 at check-in which was refunded to us when we checked out.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

I'm confused a little here too. We paid cash/travellers cheques at check IN at Hojo's last October, and there was no hold placed on our card at all (and the card in question was a debit mastercard so I would definitely have known if it happened). If I recall correctly, we were accidentally overcharged about $1 at check-in which was refunded to us when we checked out.

I can totally understand how it could it feel redundant and unnecessary and I'm really sorry. Unfortunately, for reasons beyond our immediate control here at the hotel, that is the policy and we, as employees, have to abide by it.

The authorization charge that occurs will only truly be noticeable on Debit Cards, not on Credit Cards, because the authorization charge on Debit Cards actually freezes that amount.

Lorealle

 

[DDhunter]

It is odd, because not all hotels do this. I stayed at the Annabella, paid for room in advance and had a $100 "hold" placed on my debit card for incidentals. The hold was released immediately upon check out.

If one hotel can do it, they should all be able to do that.

 

[DangerMouse]

It is odd, because not all hotels do this. I stayed at the Annabella, paid for room in advance and had a $100 "hold" placed on my debit card for incidentals. The hold was released immediately upon check out.

If one hotel can do it, they should all be able to do that.

The Anabella isn't a chain hotel like Howard Johnson's. I'm sure this is a corporate matter, and goes way beyond Lorealle and the other managers there.

 

[DDhunter]

If you have paid for your room in full, why on earth should you have a hold on your card, which can stay there for several days, for something that has already been paid.

I don't care if it is a "corporate" hotel, that would bolster the idea that they in particular do not need to, essentially, double charge someone.

The only way things change is for customers to express their concerns. I understand that apparently you like Lorealle personally, that doesn't change the fact that this is a bad policy and frankly should be changed and will only be changed if people can feel free to state flat out it is a bad policy.

 

[disheadz]

I travel frequently and find HOJO's policy reasonable and consistent by industry standards. All hotels need to protect themselves against damages to a room. Achain is going to have chain-wide policies even if certain hotels are less likely to be damaged than others. For comparison, another Disney area hotel puts a hold on the whole amount for your stay PLUS $50 per day! Its just a reality that cash rarely brings the benefits it used to.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I travel frequently and find HOJO's policy reasonable and consistent by industry standards. All hotels need to protect themselves against damages to a room. Achain is going to have chain-wide policies even if certain hotels are less likely to be damaged than others. For comparison, another Disney area hotel puts a hold on the whole amount for your stay PLUS $50 per day! Its just a reality that cash rarely brings the benefits it used to.

I have stayed at other chain hotels (Super 8, La Quinta, etc) that don't have this policy. If you were paying with the credit card, it is equivalent to placing a hold on twice the room amount (holding $600 on a $300 hotel bill). I understand the need to have a CC on the room for say incidentals or heaven-forbid someone trashing the room. I understand it isn't something this particular Howard Johnson can fix, but that doesn't mean that the policy is right. In this economy, many people are without credit cards and they shouldn't be double charged because they wish to pay in cash. And that's what HOJOs is doing, double charging the consumer for the length of their stay at the hotel. They may release the hold at check out, but that doesn't make it okay. The consumer is now at the mercy of the bank to when it will be released back into their account, and I know when I banked with WaMu it could take a good week. If I had to pay in cash, not even the great ET rates would persuade me to stay at HOJOs.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

If you have paid for your room in full, why on earth should you have a hold on your card, which can stay there for several days, for something that has already been paid.

I don't care if it is a "corporate" hotel, that would bolster the idea that they in particular do not need to, essentially, double charge someone.

The only way things change is for customers to express their concerns. I understand that apparently you like Lorealle personally, that doesn't change the fact that this is a bad policy and frankly should be changed and will only be changed if people can feel free to state flat out it is a bad policy.

You raise some really great points here!

This policy really only affects those who are paying with cash. And I believe it's in place only to encourage guests to pay with a credit card rather than with cash.

Of course, we do realize that not everyone wants to pay with a credit card when they arrive, and that's why we do provide an option to pay the full amount of the stay, via check, before arrival. Any guest who wishes to pay for their reservation this way, can give us a call at 714-776-6120 to speak with In-House Reservations so that we can properly note the account and get an accurate total for them. As long as we receive the check at least 10 business days in advance, we are happy to do it that way!

Lorealle

 

[toby78]

With all this drama. thats why i only stay at Parkvue inn, they always let me pay cash(maybe because i'm such a regular), and when they ask for a cc for incidentals, i tell them i don't have one and they ask for a fifty dollar cash deposit. This is much better than me not being able to use the funds on my card because the money is being held until after check out....and they always refund the fifty dollars..

 

[NostalgicDad]

Its just a reality that cash rarely brings the benefits it used to.

This policy really only affects those who are paying with cash. And I believe it's in place only to encourage guests to pay with a credit card rather than with cash.

I don't usually chime in much since forum discussions can easily get out of control, but this subject is one that I have a bit of passion about. We don't use credit cards. It's either cash or check card for us.

Although I find it odd to put a hold for the entire stay, I have absolutely no problem with a business choosing to have various policies in place. It's their choice the same as it is my choice to stay with them or not.

We stayed at the HoJo last summer and actually went through the room hold fiasco with a check card (mastercard debit card). Since most banks have a daily limit on their debit cards, the stay total easily exceeded that amount. Unfortunately the person working the front desk only got a rejection message when he swiped the card. That made it look like our check card was no good which is very embarrassing. We ended up getting it worked out as they only put a hold for like 2 or 3 days that fell within that daily limit. I was told that we would have to give up the room if we didn't have it settled by then. Yes, I was definitely perturbed at that little scenario. But, that gave me the chance to call my bank and have the daily limit raised to cover the stay. They do this regularly but on this occasion, it was my fault for forgetting to set it up beforehand.

My whole point here being that some how, some way, there needs to be a shift away from relying on the all mighty credit card and fico(debt) score. Right now, those of us who chose to only use cash are faced with a little extra planning ahead when it comes to reservations and such. But again, it's our responsibility to pick and chose where we stay since it's our money, not someone elses. And, I'm not sure why we would "encourage" someone to use a credit card over cash any day.

 

[sasywtch]

With the way the economy is now, I no longer have credit cards and pay only cash. I guess no HOJOS for me. Too bad cash customers get such a hard time. Sorry times when you are required to have a credit card. I understand the trashed room however, they are more than welcome to come inspect my room before I leave.