(updated Oct 28, 2023)
When you check in to a hotel, they usually ask you for a credit card to have on file for incidentals and as a security deposit.  When they do that, they pre-authorize the card for additional charges. The amount varies from hotel to hotel and is usually multiplied by the number of nights you are staying.
This has been standard practice for a long time, but I have heard multiple stories recently of people being caught off-guard by the pre-authorizations as well as not fully understanding what they are.  The pre-authorizations or “holds” are not charges. They simply reserve a certain dollar amount on your card so that it is available when you check out and pay your bill. It is similar to what gas stations do when you pay at the pump. The pre-authorization is not an actual charge, but it does reduce the amount of credit available on your card.  Continue reading Hotel Check In Credit Card Holds →