Credit Card prepayment

While reserving an extra night to our week at surf club on marriott.com, before the confirmation it states:

• We will need a credit card prepayment to reserve your room.

• To insure that you receive this special rate, we will charge your credit card a prepayment of 1,153.44 USD (your room charge plus tax for 3 night) on December 20, 2006.

I've never had marriott charge me for 3 nights for 1 night reservation 6 months in advance! Is this just standard for aruba?

We Added an extra night in hawaii and didn't have this come up.

prepayment

This sounds like what is to be the new trend in hotel bookings. Many hotels when you book on line now give you a cheaper rate, BUT these are prepaid rates. I am associated with Radisson and that is exactly what we do. If you don't show up, you lose the cost of a nights stay. If you cancel late, the same thing. I'm sure you could call and reserve without this, but I bet the rate is more expensive. The point is you can't have it both ways. You can't get the cheap rate and not prepay. I have had guests say I don't want to prepay I just want the cheaper rate- NOOOOO it doesn't work that way! BTW I would read the fine print and find out what conditions exist to canceling the reservation. All of this is probably somewhere on the website. However, make no mistake- they will collect the money the minute you make the reservation. If its 6 months out, you'll start paying or will pay it beginning on your next statement so be sure the rate is a good one because it will deny you the use of those funds beginning immediately.

It sounds to me like there is a computer glitch with the computer "assuming" you are reserving 3 days or more (maybe it registered as 1 week rather than 1 day?). I would call them and make the reservation over the phone. Don't let them charge 3 nights in advance and worry about getting 2 nights credited back- it will probably be a nightmare in the long run if you do.

m61376 said:

It sounds to me like there is a computer glitch with the computer "assuming" you are reserving 3 days or more (maybe it registered as 1 week rather than 1 day?). I would call them and make the reservation over the phone. Don't let them charge 3 nights in advance and worry about getting 2 nights credited back- it will probably be a nightmare in the long run if you do.

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I called Marriott reservation line, and she told me this is aruba marriott policy. I made sure the reservation was for only 1 night and the final confirmation indicates they will bill my credit card within 10 days of booking for 3 nights. I honestly don't see how this could even be legal to charge someone 3X what they are receiving 6 months in advance. The rate for the night is just the normal Marriott Owners Discount through marriotts web-site, not a travel web-site where prepayment in full is normal.

Jimster said:

This sounds like what is to be the new trend in hotel bookings. Many hotels when you book on line now give you a cheaper rate, BUT these are prepaid rates. I am associated with Radisson and that is exactly what we do. If you don't show up, you lose the cost of a nights stay. If you cancel late, the same thing. I'm sure you could call and reserve without this, but I bet the rate is more expensive. The point is you can't have it both ways. You can't get the cheap rate and not prepay. I have had guests say I don't want to prepay I just want the cheaper rate- NOOOOO it doesn't work that way! BTW I would read the fine print and find out what conditions exist to canceling the reservation. All of this is probably somewhere on the website. However, make no mistake- they will collect the money the minute you make the reservation. If its 6 months out, you'll start paying or will pay it beginning on your next statement so be sure the rate is a good one because it will deny you the use of those funds beginning immediately.

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OK, I'll pay for my one night, even though I planned on using the gift cards I just bought during the recent promotion. But, to force me to pay for 3 days? How is that right? Its NOT a cheap rate, just the normal MOD through marriotts site. I understand the cancellation policies, if I don't show up and I don't cancel in the timeframe they indicate, they will bill me for the night, but to bill me for 3 nights 6 months in advance when I am only reserving 1 night is not right.

Sounds like their policy is a three night minimum stay for rentals, this is not uncommon in high demand, resort region hotels, especially on weekends.

Best solution is to book the other two days and extend your vacation

johnmfaeth said:

Sounds like their policy is a three night minimum stay for rentals, this is not uncommon in high demand, resort region hotels, especially on weekends.

Best solution is to book the other two days and extend your vacation

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That would be great!! but, Limited vacation time and FF tx dates set, prevent us from doing that. There is no minimum required stay from what the marriott rep was telling me. Just aruba policy....he said that they probably wouldn't charge the 3 nights, only 1 if that is what I booked. so, who knows?? he transferred me to a vacation club customer service where there was no answer. I guess I'll try and call tomorrow, or maybe call the resort directly..thanks.