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Credit Cards

Quick answers to the most common questions from our guests

• Can I make a reservation without a credit card?
  A valid credit card is needed to guarantee your reservation with most hotels. We do offer a small but growing number of hotels, however, that will guarantee your reservation without a credit card. You can also make a booking using someone else’s card provided you have their permission. In this case please confirm the card holder’s name and that you have permission to use their card, in the ‘Special Requests’ box when making your booking.

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• The property has charged my credit card, what should I do?
  The charge you see could be any one of the following:

  • Pre-authorisation: A pre-authorisation is just a validity check that temporarily blocks on your credit card an amount roughly equivalent to the cost of your reservation. The amount will be unblocked after a certain time period. How long this takes will depend on the property and your credit card provider.
  • Deposit or Prepayment: Some properties require a deposit or prepayment at the time of reservation. This policy is clearly highlighted during the reservation process, and you can see it in your confirmation email as well. If you are eligible for free cancellation, this amount is returned to you if you choose to cancel your reservation.
  • If you feel you have been charged in error, our Customer Service team is happy to find the best possible solution for you. Please https://secure.booking.com/content/cs.htmlcontact us with your reservation number and details of the charge made, and we will follow up on your behalf.

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• Can I use a debit card to complete my reservation?
  Generally hotels cannot accept a debit card to guarantee a booking. However, there are some exceptions. If your chosen hotel can accept a debit card, you will see this option when making your booking.

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• What is a pre-authorisation?
  When you make a reservation, there may be instances where the hotel will contact your credit (or debit) card company to confirm that the card you are using is valid and hasn’t been reported lost or stolen. At this time, they may also check to see if the card has enough money to cover the transaction. This is communicated in the form of a pre-authorisation of the full amount of your reservation.

  • The hotel, however, will not proceed with the charge. The time at which your card will be charged will depend on the terms and conditions linked to your booking.

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• What’s the difference between a pre-authorisation and an actual charge to my credit card?
  Pre-authorisations are common but are often confused with actual charges. While in-store purchases are immediately charged and deducted from your available balance, pre-authorisations are temporary holds. The length of the hold will vary, and your credit card company can advise how they handle this.

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• How will I know if my card has been pre-authorised?
  Your available balance will be reduced temporarily by the full amount of your reservation. You may also see “pending transactions” on your credit card account summary. If you’re not sure if your card had been pre-authorised, both the hotel and your credit card company can verify this.

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• How long will the pre-authorisation hold affect my available balance?
  Your card provider can better explain this, along with the general terms and conditions associated with their pre-authorisation procedures. These terms vary across the board, so it’s best to contact them for specific details.

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• Will the hold always equal the exact amount of my reservation?
  In most cases, the hotel will pre-authorise your card for the full amount of your reservation. On occasion, you may see an amount slightly higher than the rate shown on Booking.com. If this does happen, the hotel can explain why this has occurred.

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• Will this happen with all bookings made through Booking.com?
  Hotels reserve the right to pre-authorise your card, but this doesn't mean it will occur with every booking. Don’t worry, if your card is pre-authorised, both the hotel and your credit card company is there to help. They may also be able to assist you with removing these holds sooner.

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• Can I make a reservation for myself using someone else’s credit card?
  Yes, you can but only if you have permission from the card holder. Please state this in the "Remarks" box when making your reservation. The hotel may require authorisation from the card holder. Please also note that in the case of a No Show, late cancellation any penalties will be charged to the card provided.

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• Why do I need to give my credit card details?
  In most cases, Booking.com requests credit card details to confirm your reservation with the hotel, on your behalf. Your credit card may be checked (pre-authorised) to ensure that it is valid and/or that sufficient funds are available. After the check, the full amount will be available to you again. In some cases, your credit card details will be used to process the payment for the reservation at the time of booking. Your credit card will only be charged if you have requested a pre-paid room or if the cancellation policy, found under ‘Hotel Policies’ and room ‘conditions’ has not been followed.

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• Which credit cards can I use to complete my booking?
  To make a reservation via Booking.com all hotels accept:

  • MasterCard
  • Visa

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• Are my credit card details safe?
  Booking.com uses a secure connection for your booking:

  • Your personal data and credit card details are encrypted.
  • Our secure server uses ‘Secure Socket Layer’ (SSL) technology, the online industry’s standard.
  • Our SSL certificate has been issued by Thawte.

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• The credit card that I used to make a booking is no longer valid. What should I do?
  Please contact the hotel directly. You can find their contact information, in your confirmation email or online via My Booking.com. For security reasons, never provide your credit card details by email.

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