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Hotel Stays Without a Credit Card
Travelling without a payment card is tricky. Although you can often pay for transport tickets directly from your bank account, by the time you reach the hotel the receptionist will want to place a security deposit of a few hundred euros on a credit card. Hotels almost always assume guests have a credit card for deposit-type charges.
A credit card on a trip is not just a way to pay; it also adds protection. Unexpected expenses, such as medical costs, might come up without warning. Travel insurance typically reimburses these in full, but you often need to pay first and claim afterwards. For that reason, a credit card with a sufficient limit not only makes hotel stays easier, but it also adds general security to your travels. Although credit cards are also issued to students, some groups find it difficult to obtain a card with a credit line. Fortunately, it's possible to make a hotel reservation without a credit card and enjoy a normal holiday.
A Simple Solution: Debit or Prepaid Card
The easiest credit-card-free option for hotel stays is a debit card. When you pay with debit, the money leaves your account immediately; there is no credit. Almost any adult can get a debit card, and even imperfect credit records are not necessarily a barrier. The downside is that the funds must be in your account at the time of payment. This also applies to deposit-type charges that a hotel or booking service temporarily places. The total may sometimes reach 1,000 euros, leaving it unavailable for everyday use. That's why a credit card is more convenient, but not everyone can get one.
We recommend that travellers without a credit card get a debit card from their own bank plus a backup card from another bank. Make sure the bank accounts behind those cards hold enough money for unexpected expenses and deposits.
For example, get an easy-to-obtain Wise, Revolut, or N26 card.
Traveling Without a Payment Card
You can also travel without a card. The first challenge is booking a hotel and checking in. You may not face other issues on the road, as you can handle almost everything at your destination with cash.
Hotel Reservation Without a Payment Card
You can compare hotel prices on sites like Trivago, but booking a hotel without a card usually does not work through the online travel agencies Trivago recommends. Once you find a suitable hotel, contact a Finnish travel agency that accepts payments directly from a bank account. You can also contact the hotel by email and ask whether the hotel provides advance payment by bank transfer, but the price may be slightly higher.
The Finnish version of Booking.com lets you pay using PayPal. You can transfer money from your bank account to your PayPal account without a card.
What Is PayPal?
PayPal is a global company specialising in money transfers and payment processing. Opening a PayPal account is quick, and you can transfer money from your Finnish bank account to it. You can also move money back the other way.
Checking In to a Hotel Without a Credit Card
You can check into almost any hotel without a card. In that case, the hotel typically requires a deposit for incidentals, and this deposit can be as high as 500 euros. You need to have the cash on hand if the deposit cannot be charged to a card. It's sensible to contact the hotel in advance and ask what process they recommend.
Keeping Cash Safe While Traveling
When travelling without a card, keeping your money safe is essential. You might carry 1,000-2,000 euros in cash, and protecting it is crucial to a successful trip. You cannot rely on hotel security in every country, so you should spread your cash across several locations. In quality hotels, rooms have a safe where funds are best kept. However, it's wise to keep some cash elsewhere, as even safes do not guarantee your money will remain secure.
Bottom Line
No one should travel without a payment card without a good reason. You can order a Visa Debit or Mastercard Debit card in 10 minutes. Can any adult open an account with the traveller-friendly Wise Service, deposit money from their Finnish bank account, and use those funds with a Wise Debit card while travelling. If getting a payment card is not possible, you can usually book a hotel without one through suitable services. This takes a bit of extra effort, so careful trip planning is essential.