Here's What Happens When You Use a Debit Card at a Hotel
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People want checking into a hotel to feel simple. Hand over your card, get your room keys, wander to the elevator.
But the system behind that front desk is built for credit cards, not debit cards. When you use your debit card, the process changes in ways that can surprise you.
Your bank locks up more than your room rate
Hotels place a temporary hold on your card to cover incidentals and potential charges. With a credit card, that hold is just a blocked chunk of your available credit. With a debit card, it's your actual money.
Most hotels place holds anywhere from $50 to $300 a night. That money isn't gone, but it's not spendable. You can't use it for groceries, bills, or anything else until the hotel releases the hold.
If you're going to travel, you might as well earn thousands of points instead of letting your cash get tied up. Here are the cards that do it best.
Your account balance can look lower than it really is
Debit card holds shift from "pending" to "settled" slowly. If you're not watching closely, it can look like your balance suddenly dropped by hundreds of dollars.
For people budgeting tightly or timing bills around payday, that can accidentally trigger overdrafts or declined transactions. Nothing is actually wrong with the account. The system is just slower when real money is involved.
The hold doesn't clear immediately when you check out
When you check out and settle your bill, the hotel removes the hold. But the bank still has to process that release.
It can take anywhere from two to seven business days for the hold to fall off your debit card. Some banks take even longer. If you're checking out on a Friday, the weekend delay alone can tie up hundreds of dollars until the following week.
Before your next hotel stay, check out top travel cards that avoid debit holds and come with better protections.
Unexpected charges can take longer to fix
If there's a billing error, the dispute process is faster and easier with a credit card. With a debit card, the money actually leaves your account. You're waiting for the hotel and your bank to investigate and return it. That can take days. Sometimes weeks.
For people who like clear, predictable balances, that uncertainty can feel frustrating.
Why most travelers use a credit card instead
Nothing prevents you from using a debit card at a hotel. But the experience can be clunky and cash-tight. A credit card shields your checking account, handles holds cleanly, and gives you stronger fraud protection.
Even a simple no-annual-fee card can make travel smoother.
If you're looking for options that work well for travel, you can see some of the best travel credit cards here.
Our Research Expert
Jake FitzGerald is a full-time Editorial Strategist and Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, leading content production and distribution while also writing about credit cards, bank accounts, and other financial products. He has more than a decade of experience editing and shaping financial content to give readers clear, trustworthy money advice. His work focuses on delivering practical insights that empower people to make smarter financial decisions. Off the clock, he’s a fan of college football tailgates and still loyal to his favorite putter -- despite what his short game suggests.