The last 2 years, I've done room shares and paid people who reserve rooms for space. This year, I want to try and book my own room, either at the Westin or the Seaport. Being a poor-ish college kid, I plan on opening my room for a share as well, but I want to lock down one of these two locations.
If i were to place the reservation with my Debit Card, but indicate that I want the transaction run as Credit [it's what my bank prefers], will I be charged up front/charged a deposit? I know previous posters have said Debit transactions are charged, I'm just hoping this isn't the case if the transaction is run as credit.
PAX East 2012 Checklist: [x] 3 Day Pass [x] Time off Work [x] Flight [x] Hotel
The last 2 years, I've done room shares and paid people who reserve rooms for space. This year, I want to try and book my own room, either at the Westin or the Seaport. Being a poor-ish college kid, I plan on opening my room for a share as well, but I want to lock down one of these two locations.
If i were to place the reservation with my Debit Card, but indicate that I want the transaction run as Credit [it's what my bank prefers], will I be charged up front/charged a deposit? I know previous posters have said Debit transactions are charged, I'm just hoping this isn't the case if the transaction is run as credit.
i think that previous discussion was about whether you are charged at check-in or check-out by the hotel. i have in the past used both credit and debit cards and never been charged anything prior to arriving at the hotel (don't recall if i was charged at check-in or check-out).
You don't get charged. They just place a hold on those funds and they are unavailable to you. This is for debit.
What if you don't have enough in your account? Do they just hold what you do have?
Also, concerning that questioning, I questioned them on if they charge you or not and this was the response:
Hello,
We thank you for your request. Nothing is charged at the time you book. The hotel will have the right to charge a deposit to the card after 2/25 so you will want a valid car on file bvy that time. Thank you.
*********************************************************
Any further questions or concern, please contact us at 1-866-220-9473 OR 1-312-527-7300 OR email to pax@onpeak.co. You can also check our website at http://east.paxsite.com/
Thank you for your attention,
PAX EAST OFFICIAL HOUSING
What if you don't have enough in your account? Do they just hold what you do have?
Also, concerning that questioning, I questioned them on if they charge you or not and this was the response:
Depends on your bank's policy on what happens with the hold. On deposits, it probably just depends on what hotel you book with. Granted it was prime, I stayed at the Seattle Sheraton and used a debit card and did not see a deposit hold on my card before pax. At check-in, they put a hold on my card for the stay+incidentals. A few days after checkout, they charged the card. Though, YMMV.
What if you don't have enough in your account? Do they just hold what you do have?
Also, concerning that questioning, I questioned them on if they charge you or not and this was the response:
Depends on your bank's policy on what happens with the hold. On deposits, it probably just depends on what hotel you book with. Granted it was prime, I stayed at the Seattle Sheraton and used a debit card and did not see a deposit hold on my card before pax. At check-in, they put a hold on my card for the stay+incidentals. A few days after checkout, they charged the card. Though, YMMV.
this has been my experience with the westin waterfront also, nothing charged or held before you arrive for check-in. i didn't even realize hotels had the option to charge a deposit before then, but i can confirm at least that the westin has never done this.
If i were to place the reservation with my Debit Card, but indicate that I want the transaction run as Credit [it's what my bank prefers], will I be charged up front/charged a deposit? I know previous posters have said Debit transactions are charged, I'm just hoping this isn't the case if the transaction is run as credit.
If you make a deposit online or on the phone a debit card has to go through as a credit card. It can only be used as a debit card if you are there in person to punch in the pin. I've stayed at the Westin and they have not held money for the deposit.
As far as holding money, in my experiences, if you use a debit card they may hold a certain amount on the card because the card is using your bank account because you have so much money available. This depends on the hotel, and again not the Westin in Boston in my experience and have stayed there the last to PAXEasts.
I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Brookline/Boston, which was pretty decent and there was shuttle that ran often between the hotel and the convention center. I hope to get the Holiday Inn again, simply because it was more affordable. It is a bit further away from BCEC than the other hotels but maybe, there will be another shuttle this year?
PAX East 2013 Checklist: 3-Day PAX Badge [x] Hotel [x] Travel [x] Time Off [x]
t: @nataliepi | fb: fb.com/hernandeznlh
I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Brookline/Boston, which was pretty decent and there was shuttle that ran often between the hotel and the convention center. I hope to get the Holiday Inn again, simply because it was more affordable. It is a bit further away from BCEC than the other hotels but maybe, there will be another shuttle this year?
I've stayed at the Brookline the last two years and have zero complaints. It's cheap, and you get your own shuttle. The staff have always been accommodating, lots of common area usually filled with games and socialization, and there's plenty of stores and restaurants in walking distance.
That said, I'm watching this thread like a hawk to jump on the Westin this year. I've been too late for it the last two years and, while the Brookline is perfectly nice, I've always envied the people in the Westin.
There's really something about being able to go between your hotel room and PAX without going outside... especially if it's hot/cold/raining/snowing outside. That's what keeps me in the Westin, even if it's a few more bucks per person and I have to stalk OnPeak to snag it (either when the block opens or as people cancel). I love convention centers with tons of hotels attached to (or at least immediately adjacent to) the building.
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ClixThis guy I knowSeattle, WARegistered Userregular
Why does OnPeak ask for a password on the registration page? Does this mean that it's not live yet?
Is there a link that goes right to the registration site that doesn't have pax in the address? The primary pax east site is blocked at work and I'm nervous I'll miss getting a room because of it.
Really? I just finished and received confirmation for the Westin. It was towards the bottom of the list (I booked online after calling and being told to call back later)
Edit: Ignore - I was booking group rooms, so the max is 20 rooms for a single group -hence the reason I was seeing limited numbers:
-- Also looks like they might be staggering the room availability this year - every hotel shows no more than 15 rooms available on a given night, so those who come in later might still have a chance. --
Are you using the link via the front page of the PAX East website? I just re-checked the site again and clicked in Check-in = the 21st, Check-out = the 24th, and the Westin Boston Waterfront is still an open, its just all the way at the bottom of the page.
I just realized the reason I might be seeing a max of 15 is because i'm booking group rooms, so I guess the max is 20 for a single group. Never mind me
I got the Westin too - but only booked Fri/Sat nights (coming from Maine I really don't need anything earlier or later). My son is going to be thrilled - and we got a two double bed room so I'll hopefully get a few to share the cost. Now I just have to make sure I get a pass for us.
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The last 2 years, I've done room shares and paid people who reserve rooms for space. This year, I want to try and book my own room, either at the Westin or the Seaport. Being a poor-ish college kid, I plan on opening my room for a share as well, but I want to lock down one of these two locations.
If i were to place the reservation with my Debit Card, but indicate that I want the transaction run as Credit [it's what my bank prefers], will I be charged up front/charged a deposit? I know previous posters have said Debit transactions are charged, I'm just hoping this isn't the case if the transaction is run as credit.
i think that previous discussion was about whether you are charged at check-in or check-out by the hotel. i have in the past used both credit and debit cards and never been charged anything prior to arriving at the hotel (don't recall if i was charged at check-in or check-out).
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What if you don't have enough in your account? Do they just hold what you do have?
Also, concerning that questioning, I questioned them on if they charge you or not and this was the response:
Hello,
We thank you for your request. Nothing is charged at the time you book. The hotel will have the right to charge a deposit to the card after 2/25 so you will want a valid car on file bvy that time. Thank you.
*********************************************************
Any further questions or concern, please contact us at 1-866-220-9473 OR 1-312-527-7300 OR email to pax@onpeak.co. You can also check our website at http://east.paxsite.com/
Thank you for your attention,
PAX EAST OFFICIAL HOUSING
Depends on your bank's policy on what happens with the hold. On deposits, it probably just depends on what hotel you book with. Granted it was prime, I stayed at the Seattle Sheraton and used a debit card and did not see a deposit hold on my card before pax. At check-in, they put a hold on my card for the stay+incidentals. A few days after checkout, they charged the card. Though, YMMV.
this has been my experience with the westin waterfront also, nothing charged or held before you arrive for check-in. i didn't even realize hotels had the option to charge a deposit before then, but i can confirm at least that the westin has never done this.
If you make a deposit online or on the phone a debit card has to go through as a credit card. It can only be used as a debit card if you are there in person to punch in the pin. I've stayed at the Westin and they have not held money for the deposit.
As far as holding money, in my experiences, if you use a debit card they may hold a certain amount on the card because the card is using your bank account because you have so much money available. This depends on the hotel, and again not the Westin in Boston in my experience and have stayed there the last to PAXEasts.
t: @nataliepi | fb: fb.com/hernandeznlh
I've stayed at the Brookline the last two years and have zero complaints. It's cheap, and you get your own shuttle. The staff have always been accommodating, lots of common area usually filled with games and socialization, and there's plenty of stores and restaurants in walking distance.
That said, I'm watching this thread like a hawk to jump on the Westin this year. I've been too late for it the last two years and, while the Brookline is perfectly nice, I've always envied the people in the Westin.
That's correct.
Edit: And since I nearly killed my F5 key, I was able to get in the Westin :-)
http://bit.ly/E13Hotels
You are so slow
I am a monster truck that walks like a man.
Really? I just finished and received confirmation for the Westin. It was towards the bottom of the list (I booked online after calling and being told to call back later)
-- Also looks like they might be staggering the room availability this year - every hotel shows no more than 15 rooms available on a given night, so those who come in later might still have a chance. --
I am a monster truck that walks like a man.
I made sure I booked my rooms first :P
I'm looking now and see 15 rooms at the Westin for each night except Thursday. Keep checking.
Bah I don't see anything!
remember, westin boston waterfront. Not copley
The 25th would not be thurs, fri, or sat would it? :P I was more referring to @vttym's post