While most hotels accept debit cards, there may be certain restrictions in place for prepaid or international debit cards. Prepaid debit cards often require additional verification or proof of funds, so some hotels may not accept them for holds.

Using a temporary debit card (one issued instantly by a bank without your name printed on it) at a hotel is possible but can be quite complicated. Most hotels require a valid form of identification that matches the name on the card used for check-in to prevent fraud. Since temporary cards lack a printed name, many front desk systems may flag them or a clerk might refuse them. Furthermore, hotels place a "security hold" or "pre-authorization" on debit cards for the full stay plus a daily incidental fee (often $50–$100). Because it is a debit card, these funds are physically frozen in your bank account and can take 5 to 10 business days to be released after you check out. If you must use one, it is a grounded peer tip to carry your bank's app or a printed statement to prove the account is yours. However, using a standard credit card is always the "gold standard" for hotel stays to avoid having your actual cash tied up in temporary holds.