There has been some inaccurate (or not quite accurate) information posted here.
This is how you do it if you are concerned about getting a hotel near home or anywhere, really. Most of this applies to a hotel in any location.
First of all, yes, you do need your ID. Some up-thread said he had rarely been asked. Disregard that. You will need picture ID. Don't be concerned about this; the staff is just following their industry standards. No one is keeping it and they will not copy it. I have not ever not been asked for ID.
If you are concerned about a paper trail, see the post up there about booking online. You can do a few different ways, depending on your level of comfort.
Book online using your regular credit card with one of the services like hotels dot com or price line or through the hotel directly. You need a real bank card to book via the hotel.
(2) Book online using your own information (do not ever tell fibs about who is checking in because they do check this stuff), but use a gift card (Visa, AmEx, these are all available in many retail stores, from drug stores to grocery stores, and other places); when you get to the hotel, you will show them your ID and use your real bank credit card for incidentals. You just do not charge anything to the room or you pay cash.
In my experience, paying cash is okay every so often and depending on the property, the city, etc. To do that, you would need to book thorugh the hotel website itself (price line, etc, requires a card and charges it immediately--and it's almost always nonrefundable); let them know when you check in that you will allow them to put a hold on your card until you check out, but that you will be paying cash. Double check that they understand you are going to pay cash. Yes, they do screw up sometimes.
Now, think that over ... you are asking them to rent you a room in a town you live in, and that you will be paying cash. That can raise eyebrows in some places. Why would it not?
If you are hell bent on not having a trail of any sort, use one of the hotel services (hotels dot com, price line, etc) and pay with a Visa gift card. Have your ID ready to show them along with a regular bank visa or major credit card. Keep in mind that these prepaid credit cards usually have a limit of $500. Your real visa card will not be charged if you do not charge anything to the room.
No need to go into tremendous detail about why you are there. The reasons given above, except for the last one, are fine. You don't want to joke around about this sort of activity because you do not know just how much training any of the staff at any given hotel have had. And it's just a stupid thing to say. You need to work somewhere quietly while work is being done in your home. End of story.
FYI there are some hotels that have policies about renting to locals. I noticed when I was staying a place a few hundred miles from home: no rooms for anyone who lived within fifty miles. It all depends on the hotel, its management at that particular property, the corporate policies, etc. These are different everywhere.
For a gentleman booking one room for one night, seeing one lady, things should go just fine. Decide how you are going to pay for the room, show up with ID, be polite, low key, and respectful. Don't forget to carry some sort of baggage with you, even if you are not spending the night.
Now that I've typed that out, do some of you have a bit of insight into what it is like for us, when we travel and book in calls? It's stressful, trust me. We have to manage a lot of things. This one, hotels, is but one of them. Also note that often we cannot get our money back for reservations. Don't cancel late; you can wind up costing us money. There is a whole lot that goes into what any touring lady does, and the hotels are just part of it.
Posted By: KimJongilRIP
Hello,
There is a lady I've wanted to see for about a two years but she only does outcall. I have a policy of no ladies to my house. I'm not hiding anything just not comfortable with a lady comming to my house. With that said I'm going to rent a hotel room for the event. Any advise on renting a hotel? Just really concerned about check in and they see I'm local when reviewing my drivers licence. I havn't booked yet but just thinking ahead.