Maybe I'm showing my age, but I remember only needing to give a Credit Card
for a guaranteed room. They would hold the room until 6:00 without one. Has
that changed?

Nope, nothing has changed. When you give a hotel your credit card
number, they do what's called a "preauthorization" of your card for
the dollar amount of your hotel room rental.

This does several things:

1. It makes sure your credit card number is valid
2. It sets aside 'x' amount of money from your credit limit to pay for
your hotel room.
3. It gives the hotel a way to charge you if you no-show.
4. It serves as your room damage deposit.

Nothing is charged until you arrive, but gives the hotel the ability
to charge your card.

Without a credit card number on file, there is no reservation --
period. It's an ever-diminishing minority, but I still find it
amazing the number of people that don't have a credit card, and still
don't understand what the word "reservation" means.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"