If you see a description starting with COT*PCH on your Capital One bill, it is probably a Capital One Travel Premium Choice Hotel. Since this is rather nondescript if one books multiple hotels of this type through the portal, I noted what hotel this was on the side. Now that I know what to expect when using the Capital One travel portal (especially after COTHTL844-422-6922MA), the abbreviated item is less suspicious.

If you see something starting with COTHTL (or a full COTHTL844-422-6922MA) on your credit card statement and you have a Capital One card, check whether the amount matches a hotel reservation you made. It is probably a Capital One Travel Hotel charge, meaning that you booked it through the Capital One Travel Portal. I was initially concerned to see a US charge amidst all the converted JPY-USD charges and was a little worried that I was the victim of fraud. After reviewing the dates, I realized, with some relief, that it was simply the charge for the hotel I booked…