Hotel sites with no cancellation fees?

waynehayes

Hi,

Due to a family illness, it's possible next years summer hols could be cancelled. As this condition is pre-existing, I don't think insurance would cover this. Are there any hotel booking sites that have no, or verfy little cancellation fees? I know about Booking.com, but thay don't seem to have much choice. Or are there insurance companies that will cover terminal pre-existing conditions of non-travelling family members?
Thanks.

zagfles

You could try booking direct with the hotel - often they'll let you cancel right up to the date of arrival with no charge!

ferf1223

may depend on where you are going, but we find that normally booking direct with the hotel gives much more generous termination provisions than using 3rd parties...and means our relationship is direct with the hotel which we prefer.

I would imagine that coverage for a terminal condition would be very expensive.

greenface

I think AllClear.com coves PEMC for non travelling but as others have said hotels are more flexible than third party booking sites . will you be travelling by plane too this is where you will need more cover from insurance companies

zagfles

For flights/crossings etc you might find it's cheaper to simply lose the money you've paid than to try to get insurance that will cover something pre-existing.

If you've not decided where you're going yet maybe go somewhere you can drive to then you'll only lose eg the cost of a channel crossing.

bagand96

It depends on the hotel and their relationship with the website in question - there is no hard and fast rule.

Sites like Hotels.com, ebookers, laterooms.com, expedia etc will always take payment upfront at the time of booking, however it still may have a 100% refund policy. It all depends on the T&C's of the booking rate; which need reading carefully. I've seen the same hotel on Hotels.com with different rates and T&C's, some non-refundable (usually a better rate), and some fully flexible. These rates and conditions are set by the hotel, hotels.com (for example) itself doesn't levy any of its own charges.

However, as a rule of thumb, the cheapest rates will usually have cacellation penalties or even be non-refundable.

shaunskankdog

Agoda too.

paddyrg

Bear in mind if you do buy separates instead of a package, you will not have ABTA to back you up.

johnnyreggae

It depends where you want to go but most of the major hotel chains have a 24 hour no charge cancellation policy so accor marriott hilton etc etc (except sometimes for their very best offers which require prepayment)

zagfles

paddyrg wrote: »

Bear in mind if you do buy separates instead of a package, you will not have ABTA to back you up.

Why would you need ABTA if you're not pre-paying? You'd be covered by ATOL for flights anyway, and you don't need cover for accomodation if you haven't pre-paid.

luci

As I understand it, you are only covered by ATOL for the flights if they are booked as part of a package. You are not covered if booked direct or DIY.