As you might know from our official hotel policies and rules, at Velero Beach Resort we take a US$ 200 hold or cash security deposit upon your check-in. This is a common practice in the hotel industry worldwide aimed at covering any incidentals, room service and/or minibar charges. The client gets this deposit back after the room inspection once we make sure no damage was left in the unit. This rule applies equally to direct bookings and reservations made via online travel agencies.

There is an important detail to consider though when choosing your bank card for this security deposit hold. Because the type of your card will determine how much time it will take to get your money back.

Generally speaking, a hold will be released within 24 hours of checking out. But sometimes it can take up to a week to see the charge disappear. For example, Visa cards can only have a hold last for up to 30 days while American Express cards only allow holds for seven days. However, while payment networks set limits, banks each have their own standards in place for how long a pre-authorized charge may stay pending on your account. Besides, each bank has its waiting line and process speed with which they review hold releases.

We as a hotel are unable to release the funds ourselves and can’t control the timing. Especially if you use a debit card where the money can stay frozen for more than 30 days. Releasing a hold on debit cards can turn into an endless time-consuming story because you will most likely need to call your bank customer service and open a case. While hold release on credit cards will just mean cancelling the credit limit that we ask the hotel to put on your card.

To sum up, we send your bank a notification to release the funds immediately after your check-out but we can’t be responsible for the length of the hold. That’s why we strongly recommend to use cash deposits or credit card for the hold while avoiding debit cards to save your time and energy.