Yes, you can easily book a hotel for another person on Hotels.com in 2026. During the booking process, after selecting the room, you will see a section for "Guest Details". You should enter the name of the person who will actually be staying in the room, rather than your own name. This is critical because the hotel will require a photo ID upon check-in that matches the name on the reservation. In the "Payment" section, you can use your own credit card to pay for the room (if it's a "Pay Now" booking). However, keep in mind that almost all hotels will still require the guest to provide their own credit or debit card upon arrival for "incidentals" like room service, parking, or potential damages, even if the room rate itself is prepaid. If you want to cover the incidentals as well, you must usually contact the hotel directly to fill out a "Credit Card Authorization Form" prior to their arrival. If it is a "Pay at Hotel" reservation, your card is simply used as a guarantee, and the guest will be responsible for paying the full balance at checkout.