When reserving a hotel room, a number of credit cards offer something called a guaranteed late arrival. You use the credit card to reserve and pay for the room and no matter what time you arrive, you’re guaranteed a room.

But the guarantee doesn’t say that it will be a room at the hotel you originally booked.

In some cases, if the hotel sells out, your guarantee then means the hotel will “walk” you to another hotel for that night and bring you back for the second night.

So don’t assume anything with the guarantee. Instead, call ahead if you’re running late. Talk to the manager on duty and confirm the hotel will actually hold your room.