At check-in, a bank-issued credit or debit card is required to place an incidentals hold of $100 per stay. This is to cover any incidental and possible damages during the stay. Cash and Bit-Coin cards (Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, etc.) are not accepted for this hold, but can be used for other charges at check-out.

When you check into a Hilton hotel, the front desk will place a "temporary hold" on your credit or debit card that exceeds the actual cost of the room and taxes. This hold is intended to cover "incidents," such as room service, minibar purchases, or potential damages. The standard hold amount typically ranges from $50 to $100 per night of your stay, though this varies significantly by the specific brand (e.g., a Waldorf Astoria will have a higher hold than a Tru by Hilton) and the hotel's location. If you are staying for five nights, you might see a hold of $500 in addition to the room rate. It is important to note that this is not a charge but a "pending authorization" that reduces your available credit. If you use a debit card, this money is effectively "frozen" in your bank account and cannot be spent. After you check out, Hilton releases the hold immediately, but it can take your bank anywhere from 3 to 10 business days to reflect that change in your balance. To avoid liquidity issues, it is always recommended to use a credit card rather than a debit card for hotel check-ins.