For years, a popular saying was “cash is king.”You didn’t have to have a credit or debit card. You didn’t even have to have a checking account. As long as you could pay for something with cash, you were good to go.
Nowadays, not so much.
Sure, you can still easily pay for some things with cash. Groceries (if you go to the store yourself to buy them). Purchases at a gas station (if you pre-pay for your gas, anyway). Little stuff like that.
But over the years, we’ve become more and more of a cashless society, with the likes of Apple Pay, Google Pay, Paypal, Venmo, Velle, direct deposits, credit cards, debit cards and even prepaid reloadable cards taking the place of cold, hard cash. The COVID epidemic put even more nails into the cash coffin, when “touch free” became all the rage.
Which leads to the question – do ANY hotels accept cash anymore?
The answer is yes, but with the caveat of “not all of them” and “but you also almost always have to have a card on file.”
What’s up with hotels wanting credit cards?
Essentially, hotels want to make sure they’re paid for everything that may be due them.
So if you make a reservation, they want a credit card on file as a deposit. That way if you’re a no-show they can still charge you as per whatever rules they have set up (usually the one night deposit).
They also want a way to be able to charge you if you just happen to, you know, sneak out and leave the hotel without paying them on your check out day.
AND they want to ensure they can charge you for whatever else might come up. Minibar fees. Room service. Smoking in the room. Stealing the bathrobes. Trashing the room. Stuff like that.
If you’re paying with cash, you may or may not have enough cash on hand to cover what you owe them…and they know it. So nowadays, hotels really prefer credit (and even debit – but not as often. But we’ll save that for another post) cards.
But as I said, some hotels DO still take cash. It varies from brand to brand and sometimes even from hotel to hotel even within brands. Here are the rules for some hotels – the list, which focuses on the U.S., is by NO MEANS exhaustive.
Choice Hotels
Varies by location, regardless of brand. Call hotel directly.
Drury Hotels
While we accept cash at certain locations, we do require a photo ID and a valid credit card at check in.
Extended Stay America
For guests opting to pay for their rooms in cash, a $100 cash deposit is required per room, per stay. This deposit will be used to guarantee incidental charges that may be incurred during your stay, if any, as well as damages to the guest room.
IHG
Varies by location, regardless of brand. Call hotel directly.
Hilton
Varies by location, regardless of brand. Call hotel directly.
Howard Johnson
Varies by location. Call hotel directly.
Hyatt
Varies by location, regardless of brand.
No info about cash payment on their website; call (800) 323-7249 for questions.
InTown Suites
All of InTown’s 188 locations will accept cash at check-in. Guests are required to pay for their entire stay upfront and must provide a photo ID.
If a guest does decide to pay with cash at check-in, a cash deposit is required to cover any potential damages. Of course, this deposit is fully refundable upon check out after a room inspection is complete. Guests also have the option to keep an active credit or debit card on file in lieu of a cash deposit. The card would only be charged if damages occur.
Marriott
Varies by location, regardless of brand. Call hotel directly.
Omni Hotels
Varies by location. Call hotel directly.
Motel 6 & Studio 6
Advance payments may be made with cash, credit card, or traveler’s check.
Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts
Varies by location. Call hotel directly.
Radisson
Most (but not all) locations accept cash, regardless of brands. When paying with cash you must pay at check-in. An additional cash deposit is required to cover room charges or damages.
No info about cash payment on their website; call (800) 333-3333 (yes, really) for questions.
Red Lion Hotels
Varies by location. Call hotel dorectly.
Red Roof Inn
According to their FAQ, Red Roof Inn doesn’t specifically say they accept cash payment, but they may offer alternatives for those who feel uncomfortable using a credit card to book a reservation. The suggest calling 1-800-RED-ROOF or by contacting the hotel property directly.
Shilo Inns
Credit card required for check in but cash payment allowed at check out.
No info about cash payment on their website; call (800) 222-2244 for questions.
Wyndham
Varies by location, regardless of brand. Call hotel directly.
Feature Photo: pixabay
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3 comments
In the 1980’s, people could still pay cash. Relatives didn’t start having credit cards until the 1970’s.
Still a few no-tell motels that take cash….so I’ve heard.
There’s a modern way to do it. I have a Canadian credit card. Spending does not get into the US credit reports. I use the Canadian credit card not because I want to hide spending but to get Canadian charges billed in Canadian dollars, so I will not look like a foreigner in Canada, and because it has a PIN to use it, which is handy in Europe.