SEATTLE -- Debit cards are now more popular than credit cards. But you may want to think twice before you use that debit card when you check into a hotel.

Hotels normally put a hold on your account for room and tax and something to cover incidentals -- that could be $50 day.

With a credit card, unless you're maxed out, you probably won't even notice the hold.

But with a debit card, that hold locks up your money.

"So in other words, it could freeze up part of your checking account balance and it could make it impossible for you to make other purchases that you want to make if you don't have enough money in your account.," said Gerri Detweiler with credit.com.

Detweiler says that hold can stay in place for up to 72 hours after you pay the bill.

"You could be tying up that credit line and then you could go to make other purchases in a restaurant or somewhere else and find your card declined. Or you could go over your limit," she said.

If you plan to use your debit card when you travel, find out about the hotel's hold policy -- and then be sure to have a little bit of pad in your checking account before you hit the road.

More information:

Swipe that debit card carefully: Hotel holds can tie up your money