Generally, no, you cannot pay with cash at Travelodge hotels in the UK in 2026. Travelodge operates on a "cashless" business model for security and efficiency. All bookings made online or via their app must be paid for at the time of booking using a valid credit or debit card. If you walk into a hotel without a reservation, the front desk still requires a card payment to process the booking and to hold as a guarantee against "incidentals" or room damage. While some individual hotels might have legacy systems that allow for very rare exceptions, the official corporate policy is that cash is not accepted for room payments or at the majority of their on-site Bar Café locations. This policy helps the chain keep overhead low, which in turn supports their "budget" pricing model. If you only have cash, your best option is to purchase a pre-paid debit card to use for your booking.