Book Now, Pay Later Hotels Listed (+ When Each Hotel Charges)

William Lipovsky headshot William Lipovsky
Verified & Updated Apr 23, 2020

Most major hotel chains allow you to book in advance without charging your card at the time of booking, which is helpful if you need to book a trip but you’re currently low on funds. A few companies do charge deposit fees, but they will clearly disclose this before booking your hotel room.

Most hotels charge for the reservation either at check-in or check-out. Also, keep in mind that if you want to pay for your hotel room with cash, you’ll still need a card to book the room (some hotels do accept debit cards for the hold, but will take a deposit upon reserving the room), and you’ll almost always have to pay the full amount in cash at check-in. Below, we list the hotels that charge at check-in, those that charge at check-out, and those that vary when they charge depending on the individual hotel location or the payment method.

You can use the table below for a quick comparison of when each hotel chain requires payment, then click any hotel or scroll for more details about accepted payment methods.

Hotel Chain When You Pay
Drury Hotels Check-in
Extended Stay America Check-in
Motel 6 and Studio 6 Check-in
Radisson Hotels Checkout
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Checkout
Hyatt Hotels Corporation Checkout
InterContinental Hotels Group Checkout
Shilo Inns Checkout
AmericInn Varies; some require pre-payment
Best Western Hotels Varies; some require a deposit or pre-payment
Choice Hotels Varies; some require pre-payment
Hilton Worldwide Varies; some require a deposit
La Quinta Inns & Suites Varies by location
Marriott International Varies; some require pre-payment
Omni Hotels & Resorts Varies; debit cards are charged at booking
Wyndham Worldwide Varies by location

Hotels That Charge at Check-In

Below, we list the hotels that charge when you check in. Note that if you plan to book in advance online, you’ll still need a credit card to hold or guarantee the reservation, but it won’t be charged until you arrive. Upon arrival, you can also change your method of payment at many of these hotels.

Drury Hotels

  • Hotels under management: Drury Plaza Hotel, Drury Suites, Drury Inn, Drury Inn and Suites, Pear Tree Inn
  • Accepted forms of payment: American Express, Diners, Discover/Novus, Mastercard, Visa, debit cards, Drury Hotels gift certificates, and cash with credit card verification. Does not accept checks, credit-card issued prepaid gift cards, and cards without the guest’s name printed on them
  • How to pay: When using cash, a photo ID and valid credit card are still required to guarantee the room. When using a debit card, the funds for the entire stay are removed from your bank account at check-in.
  • Book online

Extended Stay America

  • Hotels under management: Extended Stay America
  • Accepted forms of payment: Credit cards and cash
  • How to pay: If using cash, you are required to provide an additional $100 cash deposit per room. Guests paying weekly or monthly rates will be charged for the first week of their stay at check-in.
  • Book online

Motel 6 and Studio 6

  • Hotels under management: Motel 6, Studio 6
  • Accepted forms of payment: Credit card, debit card, and cash. You will need a credit card to make the reservation. If you wish to change your form of payment, notify the hotel when you check in.
  • How to pay: All reservations require a credit card guarantee to book, but you can pay with a different method upon arrival.
  • Book online

Hotels That Charge at Checkout

The hotels listed below confirmed that they charge when you check out. If you plan to book in advance online, you’ll still need a credit card to hold or guarantee the reservation, but it won’t be charged until later. Upon arrival, you can also change your method of payment at many of these hotels. Be aware that if you wish to pay with cash, you may be required to put down a deposit or pay the full amount at check-in rather than check-out. You can call your specific location to confirm its policies.

Radisson Hotels

  • Hotels under management: Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Plaza, Radisson Red, Park Inn, Country Inns & Suites
  • Accepted forms of payment: Credit and debit cards for payment; most properties also accept cash
  • How to pay: You must reserve with a credit card. If you are paying with cash, you will have to pay in advance, and the hotel will also require an incidental hold on your card or a cash deposit for any charges to the room or damages.
  • To make a reservation:

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

  • Hotels under management: Four Seasons Hotels
  • Accepted forms of payment: Credit cards. If the package does not require a full deposit, then you may just provide a credit card at the time of booking and arrange for alternative payment at checkout. This varies by location and you should call the specific location you are interested in booking to confirm.
  • How to pay: All reservations will require a major credit card at the time of booking to secure the room. In other cases, a full non-refundable payment will be due at the time of booking.
  • Book online

Hyatt Hotels Corporation

  • Hotels under management: Hyatt Park, Grand Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Hotels, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House Hotels
  • Accepted forms of payment: Hyatt Visa Card, American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover Card, Japan Credit Bureau, Mastercard, Visa. You can contact Hyatt if you wish to use an alternative credit card to make your reservation. Only a few properties accept cash
  • How to pay: A credit card is required for all reservations made online. In some cases, a deposit will be charged to your card immediately upon making the reservation. You can see the guarantee policy for each hotel when you make your reservation when the cancellation and deposit information appears during the booking process.
  • Book online

InterContinental Hotels Group

  • Hotels under management: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Select, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites
  • Accepted forms of payment: Almost all IHG hotels accept Visa, Mastercard, and AmericanExpress. If you prefer to use a different payment option, you can contact the location you plan to stay at directly and the hotel may be able to make other payment arrangements with you.
  • How to pay: IHG systems require a credit card to be used to guarantee a room reservation. Some bookings require a deposit, in which case your card is charged immediately (this will be noted during your booking process). For bookings not requiring a deposit, your card will be charged upon checkout.
  • Book online

Shilo Inns

  • Hotels under management: Shilo Inns
  • Accepted forms of payment: Credit card, debit card or cash
  • How to pay: Credit cards are necessary to make online reservations, though you do not actually have to pay with them once at the hotel.
  • Book online

Hotels With Charge Times That Vary by Location or Payment Method

The policies at the following hotels vary by location, as the hotels are franchised. To be sure when you will be charged, you can contact your intended location.

AmericInn

  • Hotels under management: AmericInn
  • Accepted forms of payment: Reservations can be made on the website using a credit card, but you will need to contact the AmericInn you intend to stay at to confirm if you can change the form of payment once you arrive, what forms of payment they accept, and whether they require payment upfront or when you check out.
  • How to pay: Your credit card is used to hold your reservation and will not be charged at the time of reservation except where the property requires an advance deposit. Prepayment is required for Advance Purchase rates. Certain Specials and Packages may also require prepayment.
  • Book online

Best Western Hotels

  • Hotels under management: Best Western Premier, Vib Best Western, Best Western Premier, Executive Residency by Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western, Glo Best Western
  • Accepted forms of payment: Varies by location
  • How to pay: Best Western requires a credit card for all online hotel reservations to guarantee the room. Your credit card will not be charged until you arrive at the hotel unless the hotel requires prepayment or a deposit prior. Prepayment, deposit and cancellation requirements will be displayed during the online confirmation process.
  • Book online

Choice Hotels

  • Hotels under management: Ascend Collection, Cambria Suites, Clarion Hotel, Comfort Suites, Clarion Inn, Mainstay Suites, Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel
  • Accepted forms of payment: Varies by location
  • How to pay: Your credit card is required to guarantee your room, and the room is held until you arrive. Your credit card is not charged for your stay prior to your arrival unless the hotel has a prepayment or deposit requirement. Prepayment and deposit requirements are displayed for hotels during the confirmation process, and a warning will display if the hotel requires a deposit or prepayment.
  • Book online

Hilton Worldwide

  • Hotels under management: Waldorf Astoria, Conrad Hotels, Hilton, DoubleTree, Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites, Tru by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton
  • Accepted forms of payment: Varies by location
  • How to pay: Varies by location. Online reservations require the use of a credit card to hold your reservation; however, unless a deposit is required (which would be stated before you confirm the booking), your card is not charged until you arrive at the hotel.
  • To make a reservation:

La Quinta Inns & Suites

  • Hotels under management: La Quinta Inns & Suites
  • Accepted forms of payment: Varies by location.
  • How to pay: A valid credit card is required for all online reservations.
  • Book online

Marriott International

  • Hotels under management: Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari Hotels, Edition Hotels, JW Marriott Hotels, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Marriott, Autograph Collection, Delta, Marriott Executive Apartment, Gaylord Hotels, W Hotels, Design Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Le Meridien, Sheraton, Tribute Portfolio, AC Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft Hotels, Element Hotels, MOXY Hotels, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Protea Hotels, TownePlace Suites
  • Accepted forms of payment: Varies by location
  • How to pay: Marriott.com requires all room reservations to be guaranteed by a valid credit card to hold the room. Your credit card will be charged only if pre-payment is required for a specific rate, or in the event that you do not cancel your reservation within the stated cancellation time period and do not check in.
  • Book online

Omni Hotels & Resorts

  • Hotels under management: Omni Hotels & Resorts
  • Accepted forms of payment: Varies by location
  • How to pay: Omni Hotels & Resorts normally asks for a credit card to confirm and/or guarantee a reservation. Debit cards will be processed and charged the day online check-in is completed. This authorization will hold funds from the account in the amount of the room charge and tax plus up to $100 per day throughout the duration of your stay.
  • Book online

Wyndham Worldwide

  • Hotels under management: Dolce, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham, Ramada Plaza, Wyndham Garden, Hawthorn Suites, Wingate by Wyndham, Ramada, Howard Johnson’s, Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn, Super 8, Travelodge, Knight Inn, Microtel Inn & Suite by Wyndham
  • Accepted forms of payment: Varies by location
  • How to pay: A credit card is required for all reservations made via the internet.
  • Book online

Book Now, Pay Later Hotel Aggregation Sites

Some hotel aggregation sites like Travelocity, Hotels.com, and Expedia advertise their reservations as “book now, pay later.” However, keep in mind that this is not always a possibility if the specific hotel does not allow it. You can certainly find some great deals on many of the hotels that don’t charge you until you arrive at the hotel, but be aware that not all hotels on aggregate sites allow you to pay later. Always read the reservation terms before submitting your credit card information, as it could be charged right away.

Additionally, some book now, pay later sites, such as Expedia, utilize a third-party finance company. When you reserve a hotel or flight, you may be able to apply for financing through a third-party website, such as Affirm. While this allows you to make payments over time instead of paying for your entire trip upfront, there are some things to be aware of. Some financing companies run a credit check as part of the approval process, which may hurt your credit. Many of these companies also often have high interest rates, which may end up costing you more than paying for the entire trip at the time of booking.

In Summary

There are many major hotels in the U.S. that allow you to book a room and pay for it later. Every hotel listed above requires you to provide a credit card to make a reservation and hold a room, but many hotels will not charge the card until check-in or checkout. Some companies (especially those that are franchised) have policies that vary by location, so you may want to contact your intended hotel to be sure of how you can pay and when you will be charged.

For more about booking hotels, we have the list of hotels that let you play in cash, and we explain how to book a hotel for someone else.

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