In some situations you may need to rent a hotel room discreetly, such as if you want to hold a small surprise party or need a place to recuperate after plastic surgery. In the past, renting a hotel room discreetly was easier because hotels did not rely on credit cards for reservations. You still can rent discreetly, but you'll need to do a little more research and handle the room booking slightly differently than you would if discretion weren't necessary.
Look up hotels in the area where you want to stay. Resources include telephone books, newspapers, and hotel and travel websites.
List the hotels that are not associated with major chains. Chain hotels are more likely to require payment by credit or debit card and may not accept cash.
Call the hotels on your list and see which ones accept cash. Ask what their prices are as well. Use these figures to withdraw cash from your bank or other financial account to cover the cost of your stay. Note that some hotels may accept cash but will require an additional deposit.
Go to the hotel of your choice as soon as the hotel will allow you to check in. If possible, don't wait until evening, as most people will check in after 6 p.m. and you will encounter more guests. You do not need to make a reservation in advance, but call ahead to make sure rooms are available.
Pay any deposits required by the hotel in cash. If required, provide a credit card number, but tell the desk clerk you will be paying in cash. The clerk won't think paying in cash is suspicious if you also have a credit card. If the hotel does not require you to provide a credit card number, do not offer it. If the receptionist also doesn't ask for an ID, use a pseudonym for the registry.
