Hi Sophie,

I travel a good bit on business throughout US, and often to NYC. I have a very good friend in the hotel biz and he tells me when anyone pays cash it raises a red flag.......but especially if it's a beautiful, young and unaccompanied woman (if this was your plan).

Always better to pay with plastic of some sort. No reason to spook the horses, if you can avoid it.

I always use CC when I travel (but I never do outcalls).  This isn't authoritative, but ...

I always thought most non-dive hotels require a CC as a form of security. When you check out, you can pay cash and they will refund / cancel any amount encumbered on your CC. But they still need the CC in case anything happens to the room (drunken TV smashing bed breaking orgy).  

There are several short stay hotels in NYC that are on a cash basis but they are more dive-y.

But all reputable hotels will require that you have a credit/debit card on file to checkin, so plastic will be required even if you're paying in cash.

I pay in dinero majority the time, as some said i also have some regs in hotel business and its not the money that raised the flag its your appearance, approach, and demeanor when paying. If you look like a hooker, they're going to judge you like a hooker, if you pay in cash, always pay a little more over so it doesn't look like you just 'have enough'

If paying in cash, only use big bills btw, If your stay is longer then 5 days... i use prepaid cards.. never do i use my personal accounts.