Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

[bluknight]

I could swear I saw this discussed after DC19, but I'll be damned if I can find the thread on the forums. So, for those who might remember... What were the amounts of the holds (either in total or per night) that were placed on credit cards at the Rio last year?

[sintax_error]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

If I remember correctly, it was your call if you wanted a $100/night hold on the card, or a $200 cash deposit. The $200 route, gets you no options for tv charges, wifi charges, etc. And if i remember, it took them a good 2 or 3 weeks to refund it. My memory isn't what it used to be so anyone with more up to date or a clearer recollection please feel free to correct me.

[ButterSnatcher]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

If i remember correctly it was 200$ that had to be locked on my credit card. Not sure if it was specific to the length of stay but i had stayed from wednesday night through to monday. It took roughly a week to get the money release back onto the card. I personally told them to lock it and not allow charges to the room so they actually charged it and then refunded afterwards as apposed to putting a hold and with conversion between currencies i lost like 4 bucks or something like that which i guess is the price to pay to ensure you don't have porn purchased through your room

[kallahar]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

Last year we didn't get charged, but the people next to us in line did. I think it was on a per-clerk basis.

Kallahar

[wrøng!]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

One might argue that it's "guest profiling".

[ButterSnatcher]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

What may of set it off was i told them right off the bat was to set what ever the default was and prevent any other charges to my card. I guess this time around ill try not saying anything as see how that goes. I just dont want nor do i recommend anyone keeping the card open for charges.

[shrdlu]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

One might argue that it's "guest profiling".

I suspect that you are right in this, whether or not you were joking. I hadn't had the Rio do this, and the Riviera didn't do it before.

I never stayed at the Alexis Park, but they usually did a "deposit" when I made reservations to stay there (I made the reservations, and then gave the room to a friend).

[TheCotMan]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

What hotels often do when users check-in is run a pre-charge authorization, and specify an amount $XXX more than the total expected cost of the room with taxes. Then when the person checks-out, they can reference this pre-charge authorization, and claim how much they really charge.

The pre-charge authorization asks the credit card company if it is possible to charge $YYY dollars on the card right now(); , and then if so, "reserve," the amount of $YYY for a charge coming later.

You can observe this with your credit cards if you call support or visit you credit card service provider online, and see how your "available credit" is reduced by $XXX more than the expected room charges, and then shortly after checkout, your available credit increases as the actual charge ends up being less than the pre-charge authorization. The actual charge is sometimes delayed until after a maid services the room, depending on the hotel.

Rental car places will do this too, but have a history of not giving back the pre-charge authorization amount in a timely manner once the car is returned. This is probably because it takes them longer to inspect for damage, or look for tickets or fines, or it may just be because they are lazy or maybe clueless on how it is supposed to work.

I'd bet that everyone that uses a credit card at the Rio gets a pre-charge auth with an amount greater than the hotel room cost deducted from their available credit. You may not even know it happened unless your credit card would be near limit with what the hotel room charges would be. You could end up thinking, "Oh, I have $XXX credit still left on my card, so i can go use it to buy food," only to find it is declined due to "lack of funds."

[shrdlu]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

I'd bet that everyone that uses a credit card at the Rio gets a pre-charge auth with an amount greater than the hotel room cost deducted from their available credit. You may not even know it happened unless your credit card would be near limit with what the hotel room charges would be. You could end up thinking, "Oh, I have $XXX credit still left on my card, so i can go use it to buy food," only to find it is declined due to "lack of funds."

I'll be happy to bet against you. I only use AMEX when reserving rooms (or paying for them, later), and have been known to compulsively check credit card sites for any card I own. Enterprise certainly does a pre-auth balance to my card, but Hertz does not. On the other hand, I've had a Hertz gold card for thirty years, and that may have made a difference.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

I'll be happy to bet against you. I only use AMEX when reserving rooms (or paying for them, later), and have been known to compulsively check credit card sites for any card I own. Enterprise certainly does a pre-auth balance to my card, but Hertz does not. On the other hand, I've had a Hertz gold card for thirty years, and that may have made a difference.

May not be accurate or be applied equally, but:

URL1=http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g45963-c144966/Las-Vegas:Nevada:Incidental.Holds.At.Vegas.Hotels.html

Prepaid Reservations: Some hotels may not require the hold if the room has been prepaid. Be sure to check with the particular hotel of interest for further details.

Cash users: While most hotels will take the amounts listed in cash, there are a few that may not. Be sure to double check with the particular hotel. Also, verify at check-in how the unused portion will be returned. Some hotels may return the cash immediately upon check-out while others may send a check that may take 2 or 3 weeks to receive.

Debit card users: Please remember that an authorization will immediately deduct funds from a bank account. Any unused portion of the hold is released immediately upon check-out but may take an additional 2 to 7 days for the amount to be credited back to the account. Check with the debit card issuer for further details.
Downtown
Hotel Amount Held
... ....
Rio $100/night (card only) or $200/stay cash for phone and movies only - Required
... ....

[shrdlu]

Re: Incidental Holds/Deposits at the Rio?

May not be accurate or be applied equally...

Nothing is this world is applied equally (or even fairly). I actually went back and checked my statements for Defcon 17 (which was the last one I stayed in a conference hotel for), and for 16, and neither had an advance charge. The important thing to note is that it means I've never stayed at the Rio, and therefore have no experience with whether or not they would have charged my card for a deposit.

It will remain a mystery.

As a side note, I recommend the Extended Stay, which is just down the street, and comes with a full furnished kitchen.