hotels  usually ask for a credit for any charges incurred...ie: liquor, trashing of hotel room, ld phone calls,  etc. Not saying your parents would but the hotel doesn't want to be stuck for those charges. 4951
This whole topic really sort of bothers me. Personally I never carry around cash. I'm a paperless kind of guy, HOWEVER... I've had to deal with a few government offices in my time that didn't run debit cards and wouldn't take cash so they made me get a money order (which costs me extra time and $ to get one from the bank).This is why it makes me mad: You would think a government office would honor their own currency "This not is legal tender for all debts, public and private" printed on every bill. I think any business operating legally within the united states should be forced to accept cash no matter what. Including hotel rooms!!! 4951
Never used cash but no doubt it can be done. May want to call a few places and find out their policies - especially the chains. Might have to fork over a big deposit that you get back on check-out. Might have to say at crappier hotels... 4951