Hotel Cancellation Policy

Booking a hotel is exciting, but when life happens- Plan change, Emergency arises, & Unexpected delay, can throw off all the arranged itineraries. A smooth & flexible travel experience is possible with an understanding of the Hotel Cancellation policy. This policy is not just a formality but also a necessary thing to understand. 
As you know, every person wants transparency & convenience while choosing any hotel because transparency always builds trust toward hotel booking. Whether you book a hotel for a business stay, family stay, or any other, the hotel cancellation policy should be known by every guest due to uncertainty. It will help you to get a refund or a proper solution in case of any emergency. 
This blog outlines all the guides for the Hotel Cancellation policy. From free cancellation to last-minute penalty, everything is going to be discussed. Stay connected. 

Importance of Hotel Cancellation Policy 

As we uncertainty can happen anytime. A peace of mind hotel cancellation policy suitable for all guests. In case of any emergency, you have to cancel the hotel, then these policies play an important role & provide you a solution according to your problem & convenience. Here are some important aspects of a hotel's cancellation policy: 

For Guests

• Offer peace of mind 
• Help in financial safety & budget planning 
• Encourage travelers to book earlier without hesitation

For Hotel 

• Reduce vacancy rates 
• Enables better staff planning 
• Provide a professional guest experience 

Types of Hotel Cancellation Policy 

Types of hotel cancellation policies are:

Standard Cancellation Policy 

For hotel cancellations, a standard cancellation policy is made, which is generally followed by every hotel. Let's see: 

• Guests can cancel their Hotel without any charges, but only 24-28 hours before check-in. At that time, you get a free window cancellation. 
• If the free window is closed & you want to cancel the hotel, then you have to pay one day's hotel charge or the full booking fee.
• Without informing of any prior cancellation, you have to pay 100% of the booking amount.

Flexible Cancellation Policy 

Flexible cancellation policies are designed for those travelers who want more flexibility in their plans. In this policy: 

• Free cancellations are allowed up to 12 to 24 hours before departure 
• Some hotels also allow same-day cancellation 
• This policy is suitable for unexpected travel plan bookings

Non-Refundable Policy 

The non-refundable policy is designed for promotional or discounted rates. It includes: 

• Once booked, it will be fully charged and canceled 
• No allowance for date changes or modifications 
• Suitable for those travelers who are 100% certain of their dates

Group Booking Policy 

The group booking policy is mainly designed because many rooms are blocked. It includes: 

• Cancellation is allowed up to 7 to 14 days before check-in 
• Late cancellation may cause full booking charges 
• A certain amount needs to be deposited at the time of booking 

Charges & Refunds of Cancellation 

Here is the list of information about charges & refunds. 

Refund: If eligible for a refund, it will automatically proceed to you within 4-5 business days.

How to Cancel or Modify a Hotel Booking? 

If you are also facing any issue & you have to cancel your hotel, but don't know how? Then keep reading this blog. We are going to discuss some steps to cancel or modify a hotel booking:

Identify your Booking Source: To cancel or modify the booking, it is necessary to identify the booking source, which means where you booked the hotel, directly from the hotel, a third party, or any other.

For Direct Hotel booking: If you have booked your hotel directly, then follow these major steps: 

• Visit the hotel website where you booked your flight 
• Go to manage booking 
• Select the cancel option
• Review cancellation policy 
• Continue with the cancellation

For third-party Bookings: If you booked your flight from a  third party or agency, then follow these considerations:

• Contact a third-party agency 
• Navigate to your bookings 
• Find the cancel option
• Follow all cancellation instructions & policies 
• If you agree, then continue

Cancel by phone or email: If you prefer to talk on the phone instead of messaging or website, then call your hotel or the third party from which you booked your ticket. Follow some important steps: 

• Call hotel 
• Provide reference ID or other reliable information 
• Inform your message for cancelling the hotel 
• Also, request them for written confirmation 

How to Avoid Hotel Cancelation Penalties? 

If you also want to cancel your hotel booking but without paying any penalties, Trip formers will help you by suggesting some major tips such as: 

• Always choose flexible or free cancellation rates 
• Understand the cancellation window 
• Avoid selecting non-refundable booking hotels 
• Cancel the booking as soon as possible 
• Contact to hotel directly instead of texting or requesting on sites 
• Prefer to use travel insurance for security 
• Book a hotel from trusted platforms
• Keep proof of cancellation 

Final Thoughts 

In this Blog, we have covered major areas of the hotel cancellation policy, in which we discuss the importance of policy, the types of hotel cancellation policies, charges or refunds & major tips that help to protect the customer from penalties. We are all aware that life happens, uncertainty can come anytime & anywhere, especially during travel. For that, we have to cancel our hotels & sometimes we have to pay the full amount of the booking without going, just because of a lack of knowledge about policies. It is most important to know about policies & especially when we are travelling. Trip Formers always provide you with helpful information.