Apps · common
Why was I charged a deposit I didn't expect at a Chinese hotel?
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Quick Answer
Symptom: At check-in the front desk swipes or pre-authorizes an extra ¥200–¥1,000 on your card beyond the room rate.
Cause: Chinese hotels hold a refundable incidentals deposit per night that is often not itemized on OTA booking confirmations; it releases 7–30 days after checkout.
Solution: Ask the front desk for the exact deposit amount and release timeline at check-in, use a credit card rather than debit so the hold does not freeze your cash, and request a deposit-receipt at checkout.
What you see
At check-in the front desk swipes or pre-authorizes an extra ¥200–¥1,000 on your card beyond the room rate.
Why it happens
Chinese hotels hold a refundable incidentals deposit per night that is often not itemized on OTA booking confirmations; it releases 7–30 days after checkout.
How to fix
Ask the front desk for the exact deposit amount and release timeline at check-in, use a credit card rather than debit so the hold does not freeze your cash, and request a deposit-receipt at checkout.
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