Options like “Pay at hotels”, “free cancellation”, “Book with Rs. 0”, or “Book now, pay later” are available on several hotel booking platforms to book hotels in India without prepayment.
Did you know that you can book a hotel room without paying the full amount in advance? Many travellers are unaware that several hotel booking platforms offer flexible payment options such as Pay at Hotel, Book@ ₹0, Book Now, Pay Later, No Prepayment, and Free Cancellation. In some cases, you can even reserve a hotel without using a credit card. These are safe payment options for hotel booking in India to avoid booking scams.
These options are especially helpful if you want to lock in a great hotel deal, secure your room early, or simply don’t want to pay the full amount at the time of booking. For example, some platforms allow you to confirm your reservation by paying as little as ₹1, while others let you reserve your room with ₹0 upfront and pay later according to the booking terms. When booking cheap hotels, the best time to book hotels in India can save money
In this guide, you’ll learn how to book hotels without prepayment or a credit card, which hotel booking websites offer these features, how each payment option works, and the important terms you should know before booking. We’ve also included screenshots, platform-by-platform comparisons, and a step-by-step booking guide to help you choose the best option for your next trip.
Why do these policies matter in India?
• Allows you to reserve a room without immediate payment. Giving you the flexibility to pay for your stay even on arrival.
• It is one of the smartest ways to book well, book early, and protect your monthly cash flow
• Booking a hotel becomes a much bigger commitment to the guest.
What Do These Terms Actually Mean?
• No Prepayment / Pay at hotel
Pay at hotel means pay by any mode directly at the hotel. No need for a credit/debit card. No upfront payment is required at the time of booking hotels. It allows free cancellation till check-in time. You can also compare pay at hotel vs pay now and which is better for Indian travellers on our previous guide.
• Book without a credit card
Hotel booking without a credit card means securing your accommodations using other methods like cash, UPI, debit card or wallet. Discover the complete information on how to book a hotel without a credit card.
• Free cancellation
A free cancellation policy allows you to cancel a hotel reservation without any penalty within a specified period. Most large hotel chains offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before check-in. “Free cancellation” means you would not be charged a fee to cancel your booking. While booking, the hotel’s cancellation policies are important.
Best Platforms To Book Hotels With These Options in India
1. Goibibo is one of the most popular hotel booking platforms in India that offers flexible payment options on many hotels. Depending on the property, you may find features such as:
- Pay at Hotel – Pay the hotel directly when you check in or check out.
- Free Cancellation – Cancel your booking within the property’s cancellation period without paying a cancellation fee.
- Book@ ₹0 – Reserve your hotel room without making an upfront payment. You can pay the booking amount later according to the terms of the offer.
These payment options allow you to reserve a hotel room instantly without paying the full amount at the time of booking. During the booking process, select a hotel that offers Pay at Hotel or Book@ ₹0, sign in to your Goibibo account if required, and complete your reservation. You can then pay using cash, a debit card, UPI, or another accepted payment method when you arrive at the hotel, depending on the property’s payment policy.
Note: Payment options such as Pay at Hotel, Book@ ₹0, and Free Cancellation are not available for every hotel. Always check the hotel’s payment and cancellation policy before confirming your booking.
2. Booking.com – No Prepayment, Free Cancellation, and Book Without a Credit Card
Booking.com is well known for its flexible booking options. You can filter hotels based on:
- No prepayment required
- Free cancellation
- Book without a credit card
Simply select these filters during your hotel search, and Booking.com will display only the properties that match your preferences. Here is a complete guide on how to use Booking.com, a step-by-step guide for beginners.
The screenshot below shows hotels offering No Prepayment Required and Free Cancellation, highlighted in green.
Important: Even if a hotel does not require advance payment, Booking.com may still ask for your credit card details to verify the booking and guarantee your reservation. Some hotels, however, allow reservations without a credit card.
I have compared Booking.com vs Google Hotels for price, maps, and filters: see which is winner
3. EaseMyTrip – Book with ₹0 Payment
EaseMyTrip offers a Book with ₹0 Payment feature that allows you to reserve selected hotels without paying anything at the time of booking.
To find these hotels:
- Search for your destination.
- Apply the Book with ₹0 Payment filter.
- The website will display hotels eligible for this option.
As shown in the screenshot, Book with ₹0 appears below the hotel price in green.
Important points:
- You must pay the full booking amount before the specified due date.
- If payment is not completed by the due date, the booking may be cancelled automatically.
- Bank coupons and cashback offers are generally not applicable to Book with ₹0 reservations.
- Always read the hotel’s terms and conditions before confirming your booking.
Please not that Bank coupons are not applicable and cashback is not valid on Booking with 0 payment.
Before booking the hotels under booking with ) read terms and conditions on booking.com.
4. Yatra.com – Pay@Hotel and Book Now, Pay Later
Yatra offers multiple payment options, including:
- Pay@Hotel
- Prepay
- Book Now, Pay Later
These payment options are not available for every hotel. A hotel offering Pay@Hotel may not support Prepay, and vice versa.
The screenshot below shows hotels displaying the available payment options beneath the room price.
For eligible hotels, Book Now, Pay Later allows you to confirm your reservation by paying ₹1 at the time of booking. The remaining amount must be paid before the due date.
Note:
- A valid credit card is generally required to secure the booking.
- This facility is usually available only for bookings with a check-in date at least seven days away.
- Read the payment terms carefully before booking.
5. Expedia – Reserve Now, Pay Later
Expedia provides flexible payment options through its Reserve Now, Pay Later filter.
You can also choose Pay at Property if you prefer to pay during check-in instead of paying online.
For example, the screenshot below shows Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport with the Reserve Now, Pay Later option highlighted in green.
With eligible hotels:
- You pay the hotel directly, often in the local currency.
- No advance payment is charged before your stay.
- A valid credit card is usually required to secure the reservation.
In many cases, the room price remains the same whether you choose Pay Now or Pay at Property, although this may vary by hotel.
6. ixigo – Book with ₹0 Payment
ixigo offers selected hotels with Book with ₹0 Payment and Free Cancellation.
When searching for hotels, look for the Book with ₹0 label to identify eligible properties.
This option lets you reserve your hotel without paying immediately, while still enjoying flexible cancellation policies on participating hotels.
Always check the payment deadline and cancellation policy before confirming your booking.
7. OYO – Pay at Hotel
OYO, one of India’s largest budget hotel chains, offers Pay at Hotel for many of its properties.
When searching on the OYO website or app, select the Pay at Hotel filter to view eligible hotels.
With this option, you can reserve your room online and pay the hotel directly at the time of check-in. However, availability varies by property, and some hotels may require partial or full advance payment.
Before booking, carefully review the hotel’s cancellation policy, payment terms, and any identification requirements.
Also read: Which apps give the cheapest hotel booking in India
Comparison of Hotel Booking Sites Offering Pay Later, No Prepayment, and Free Cancellation
| Hotel Booking Site | Pay at Hotel | No Prepayment / Pay Later | Book with ₹0 | Free Cancellation | Credit Card May Be Required | Important Notes |
| Booking.com | Available on selected hotels | ✔ No Prepayment | ✖ | ✔ Selected hotels | Sometimes | Credit card may be required to guarantee the reservation even if no advance payment is charged. |
| Goibibo | ✔ Selected hotels | ✔ Book@ ₹0 | ✔ | ✔ Selected hotels | Sometimes | Payment and cancellation policies vary by hotel. |
| EaseMyTrip | ✖ | ✔ Pay Later | ✔ | ✔ Selected hotels | Usually No | Full payment must be made before the due date to avoid automatic cancellation. |
| Yatra.com | ✔ | ✔ Book Now, Pay Later | ✖ | ✔ Selected hotels | Usually Yes | Only ₹1 is charged initially for eligible bookings; the balance is paid later. |
| Expedia | ✔ Pay at Property | ✔ Reserve Now, Pay Later | ✖ | ✔ Selected hotels | Usually Yes | Payment is made directly to the hotel for eligible bookings. |
| ixigo | Selected hotels | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ Selected hotels | Sometimes | Book with ₹0 is available only on eligible hotels. |
| OYO | ✔ Selected hotels | ✖ | ✖ | Selected hotels | Usually No | Pay at Hotel availability depends on the property and room type. |
Along with these, compare the best hotel booking sites in India for pricing, features, and amenities.
Key Takeaways
- Best for No Prepayment: Booking.com, Expedia, EaseMyTrip, Goibibo
- Best for Book with ₹0: Goibibo, EaseMyTrip, ixigo
- Best for Pay at Hotel: Booking.com, Goibibo, Yatra, Expedia, OYO
- Best for Free Cancellation: All seven platforms offer free cancellation on selected hotels.
- Credit Card Not Always Required: Booking.com, Goibibo, ixigo, and OYO may allow bookings without a credit card for selected properties, while Yatra and Expedia generally require one for pay-later reservations.
Step-by-Step: How to Book a Hotel Online Without Prepayment
Booking a hotel without paying in advance is simple if you use a hotel booking platform that offers Pay at Hotel, Book@ ₹0, or No Prepayment options. The steps below use Goibibo as an example, but the process is similar on most hotel booking websites and apps.
Step 1: Visit the Hotel Booking Platform
Open your preferred hotel booking website or app, such as Goibibo.
Step 2: Enter Your Travel Details
Enter the following information:
- Destination
- Check-in date
- Check-out date
- Number of rooms
- Number of guests
Click Search to view the available hotels.
Step 3: Apply the Payment Filter
On the search results page, look for payment options such as:
- Pay at Hotel
- Book@ ₹0
- Free Cancellation
Select the option that best suits your needs. For this example, choose Book@ ₹0.
Step 4: Browse Eligible Hotels
Goibibo will display only the hotels that offer the Book@ ₹0 facility. Compare the hotels based on price, location, guest reviews, amenities, and cancellation policy.
Step 5: Select Your Hotel
Click on the hotel you wish to book and review the room details, payment terms, and cancellation policy before proceeding.
Step 6: Complete Your Booking
Enter the required guest details and confirm your reservation. Depending on the hotel’s policy, you may not have to make an immediate payment. Instead, you can pay later according to the booking terms or at the hotel during check-in.
Important: Before confirming your reservation, always read the hotel’s payment terms, cancellation policy, and any conditions related to Book@ ₹0, Pay at Hotel, or No Prepayment offers. These features are available only on selected hotels and may vary by property.
FAQ
How to book a hotel without a credit card?
You can use other modes of transactions like debit card, digital wallet, or cash. At the time of booking hotels, you can also choose options like “pay at the hotel” or “Book with 0 payment”. Many websites have these options and allow you to secure the reservation via mobile phone. At the time of check-in, you can pay by UPI or cash directly.
How to get a hotel booking without paying
EaseMyTrip allows you to book their hotels with 0 payment; MakeMyTrip has the feature ” book MMT by paying only Rs 0″ and pay the due amount later. Goibibo and Expedia have similar types of options.
Can I book a hotel now and pay later?
Yes, you can absolutely book now and pay later. Many travel booking platforms, such as Yatra.com, MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Goibibo, Expedia, and Trip.com, offer options like pay at the property and book now & pay later. By choosing these options, you can book the hotel now and pay later
Is it ok to choose the pay at hotel option for online hotel booking
With the “Pay at hotel” options guest can easily book the hotel without paying money instantly. No upfront payment required. This type of booking offers more flexibility and allow to pay by any mode of payment method. You can even book 2 months earlier and confirm the accommodations.
What are the advantages of book now pay later?
• BNPL interest rate is 0
• Greater flexibility when booking accommodations
• It increases the conversation
• Booking early unlocks better rooms and better prices
• No paperwork, booking in 2 minutes
• Secure transaction via OTP
Is it possible to book a hotel with cash in India?
Yes, it is possible to book a hotel with cash in India. I have booked hotels in India many times, in all parts of India. But only when reaching there. I do not know about the big hotels, but small independent hotels accept cash. It is very common.
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