Bransons Best Policy.......

[Crazy4Branson]

I called Bransons Best hotel last Friday Apr 4, to book a room for the week of Apr. 20, for 7 nights.

Today, Apr 8, I was looking @ my charge card statement on line & noticed that BB had already! charged my card for the whole amount on the 4th. They did not tell me that they would immediatley charge my card, at the time I made my reservation. I know there will be a 10% "service charge" if I cancel......

&...... I know that they did not do that to me last year when I called for reservations..........

Was anyone else aware of their "new" (?) policy. It was a surprise to me.....Apparently this is becoming the norm, in Branson, now, with hotels & theaters & reservations.........just wondering..........

[bigsled]

Thats been normal when i use my card for hotels.

[Cheesecake]

I know that if I am going to a Convention in San Jose CA next June, I will need a Hotel room, because my Mother lives too far from there .... I'd rather not commute. I have looked into rooms, and they all charge your room now, when you reserve.

The rooms I've considered have a cancelation policy tho, money back if you cancel in plenty of time...48 hours I think. And it 's less time for money back, with a service charge of _%.
(?)
Just a couple of years ago, we stayed as a family in Springfield...we reserved two suites, and paid when we left...cause we ended up staying an extra day..........I remember everyone settling up with the desk, just before we left.

[Crazy4Branson]

In all of the traveling I have done, I can't recall of that happening, before.....I looked @ the BB web-site & their policy was printed in red, on the page where you select you room, etc.

I made my res. over the phone, & the woman I talked to did not tell me that my card would be immediately charged, so it has been a surprise to me.

Live & learn........

[teacherkim]

I've never had this happen unless I was using Priceline or wanting an "advance purchase" price that required prepayment. I would definitely be irritated that they didn't mention the change in policy.

[ggh]

I've rented lots of rooms over the years, and the only time I've ever paid ahead of my arrival was when I used Priceline.

I don't like the idea.

[ThunderHockeyFan]

I have never had this happen either at any of the hotels that we have stayed at.

We have reservations for a Days Inn in San Diego and they didn't do it either.

[ashbris]

We just stayed there last weekend and I used one card when I made the reservation and then I paid with a different one when I checked in.....I will have to check my statements. No one mentioned a new policy. There is a new manager there, Wes, very friendly and accomodating!

[TravelAgtSteve]

Speaking as a travel professional...

Many hotels abide by a credit card guarantee policy - your reservation is guaranteed on your credit card and won't be charged for the stay until you check-in. Also, if you cancel outside the cancellation period, or do a no-show, your card may be charged.

It sounds to me like Branson's Best either did not inform you of the policy to charge the card for the full stay up front, or they did but you didn't hear it or mis-understood it.

However, many Branson properties do charge you for the stay prior to arrival - it is best to check at the time the reservation is made.

[Suselit]

I don't understand why they would want to charge you immediately...before your stay.
What if you ran up phone calls or drank the entire mini bar or something...isn't that why hotels wait until you are checking out to charge your card?

[Cheesecake]

Originally Posted by Steve

Many hotels abide by a credit card guarantee policy - your reservation is guaranteed on your credit card and won't be charged for the stay until you check-in. Also, if you cancel outside the cancellation period, or do a no-show, your card may be charged.

Ahaaaaa, I betcha that is what the gal was telling me in affluent Chinese.
My Card would guarantee my reservation... if I don't show up, they have my number.
And if I call them 48 hours prior to say I am not coming...they don't use my number. And, if I short sheet them, they will charge 10 percent of the room rate(or something) to my number.

I do not rent a room often, so I'm confoozed when I have to.
thanks for that good explaination.

[Linda Kay]

When I make my reservations with Thousand Hills I give them my card number and that holds my reservation. They do not charge my card then. If they are notified at least 48 hrs. prior to arrival of your cancellation, your card is not charged.

[KJN]

Gosh, I don't like that method at all. I have never been charged lodging anywhere ahead of time. My credit card is just "holding" my reservation.

[CHRISTISAM2001]

We made reservations in Feb for our stay there in Mar and my cc was not charged before we got there. I dont think they should charge before you stay....sometimes you just cant help it and have to cancel.

[maryinecho]

I have never had that happen to me at any hotels. I have reservations at 2 different Comfort Suites for this year and they do not charge your card.