Right, probably should contact the hotel about this but don't fancy the long distance charges.

I booked some nights with the Howard Johnson Express Inn with my old mans credit card. Am I gonna need to present that card on check-in to the hotel? For incidentals or something.

You will most likely have to give them a credit card to check in. It doesn't have to be the one you booked the room with but just any card they can hold for incidentals, etc. That's how most hotels do it.

I work at a Hotel so I can tell you that we usually require the credit card in person or a cash payment

Thanks for the replies, though they're not really what I wanted to hear.

Surely if I have travellers cheques or cash that'll be good enough, I mean it's still money at the end of the day.

yeah they'll take traveler's checks too. These days most don't even take personal checks anymore

If you do not have a credit card at check in you have to give a $100 deposit.