When and how you pay for a hotel affects how you plan your budget. This guide explains flexible payment options for hotel bookings, their pros and what to watch out for.
Common Payment Options
- Pay now: the amount is charged at booking; usual for non-refundable, lower-priced rates.
- Pay at the hotel: your card only secures the booking and you pay during your stay.
- Pre-authorisation: the amount is held on your card but only taken once the booking is confirmed.
- Instalments: some credit cards let you spread travel spending; this depends on your bank’s terms.
How Payment Works on Londonos
On Londonos your card details are taken securely when you book; your card is not charged now; the amount is taken once your booking is confirmed. So you never pay for a booking that is not confirmed. You see the total and the cancellation terms before the payment step.
The Benefits
- You manage your cash flow more easily until the trip.
- Combined with flexible rates, you take less risk if plans change.
- You can make the most of your credit card’s points or miles scheme.
What to Watch For
- Check when you will be charged and in which currency.
- Remember that a held amount reduces your available card limit.
- Read the cancellation terms separately from the payment option; a fee can still apply even if you pay later.
How a Card Hold Works
A pre-authorisation, or hold, sets the amount aside on your card temporarily. It reduces your available credit but, because it has not been taken, it may not appear as a transaction on your statement. If the booking is not confirmed the hold is released, and how long that takes depends on your bank.
Currency and Exchange Rates
When paying for a hotel abroad, check which currency you will be charged in and whether your card adds a foreign transaction fee. If the payment screen offers to convert the amount into another currency, compare its rate with your card’s rate.
Card Security
Only enter card details on HTTPS pages that clearly say who processes the payment, never share the verification code your bank sends you, and check your card activity after booking.
Where to Start
Enter your dates on hotels in Istanbul for a business trip, hotels in Antalya for a holiday or hotels in London for the UK. We explain why flexibility matters in this article.