Lifehacker’s got a pointer to an FTC article for avoiding “credit card blocking” when booking trips, whereby a hotel will stake claim for the full cost of your stay, plus the incidentals it feels you may buy, prior to checking out of the hotel.

Among them are asking the hotel, before purchase, if the charge will be blocked, ensuring backup funds, and getting a credit card that only allows short blocks.

Good for those of us without money spare moneybags lying around just because the concierge gets skittish about the state of his petty cash drawer.

“Credit and Debit Card Blocking” [Federal Trade Commission via Lifehacker]

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