TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums US VI and Puerto Rico St. Thomas hotel question

Is it common for St. Thomas hotel's to charge your credit card the full amount for a room you book way in advance? Last year I booked a room with Windward Passage five month's in advance, and our card was charged the full amount almost immediately after I hung up. And just now we checked our on-line credit card account and Island Beachcomber has charged the card the full amount for a room I called to book for late May '17 for our last night near the airport. Again, almost immediately after I hung up. Is this common? Do all hotel's do this in the USVI ,or am I paying someone's salary in advance?

I've never paid in advance when booking directly with the hotel, but always do when it's through a re-seller.

I have not stayed at the Beachcomber tho.

I recently booked for 2 nights and was charged 50% upfront. I think I recall seeing at the time of booking that if you only book one night, you have to pay 100% upfront. So that may be why. We usually go to SXM and many places do charge a percentage upfront or by a certain date prior to arrival.