Non refundable hotel booking

150940

daytona0 wrote: »

Well the company has presumably planned their resources on the understanding that bookings are non refundable, so they haven't planned on using the accountants (or other staff) for handling cancellations.

Due to OP they are required to carry out more work above and beyond what is expected and it isn't fair for the hotel to incur those costs.

The accountants *might not* have a full workload for the day but that is what they get their base pay for! To do their core jobs. If you want a service above and beyond the core service (ie a cancellation) then you might have to pay for it.

But they were prepared to remove the booking, keep the op on file and rebook when he was available to attend. It's probably equal if not more work than a refund. So if asked to show an additional loss there may not be one, hence to op may not be liable for any additional loss if the room were rebooked by someone else.

150940

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

I think the clue's in the thread title, 'Non refundable hotel booking', that's the chance you take.

Maybe that term isn't fair. Even with the budget chains you can cancel for a refund up to a set time before you're due to arrive.

Caz3121

150940 wrote: »

Even with the budget chains you can cancel for a refund up to a set time before you're due to arrive.

If you book a refundable rate...
Premier Inn give you a choice of booking a 'Flex' rate which can be cancelled up until 1pm on arrival date or the cheaper 'Saver' rate which cannot be amended/refunded
TravelLodge - Flexible can be cancelled up to noon on arrival date, the cheaper 'Saver' rate cannot
Holiday Inn - Flexible rate cancel up to 4pm on date of arrival, Advance Saver - non -refundable

Whilst budget chains do sell rooms that can be fully refunded, they also sell cheaper rates that are non-refundable. I personally pay the extra for the flexible rates (normally around £10-£20 additional per night) to have the ability to cancel for full refund. If I chose to book the cheaper rate I would be taking the risk knowing it was non-refundable and would expect any refund to come via my travel insurance if I needed to cancel or take the loss

I would not expect to be able to pay the lower price for the non-refundable rate and receive the same terms as the higher priced flexible rate

agrinnall

150940 wrote: »

Maybe that term isn't fair. Even with the budget chains you can cancel for a refund up to a set time before you're due to arrive.

Please enlighten us as to which budget (or indeed any) chains will refund a non-refundable rate. The clue is in the name, although it seems like some on this thread are unwilling to accept that.

JReacher1

agrinnall wrote: »

Please enlighten us as to which budget (or indeed any) chains will refund a non-refundable rate. The clue is in the name, although it seems like some on this thread are unwilling to accept that.

Most budget (and non budget) hotel chains will refund a non-refundable rate hotel booking for "exceptional circumstances". They don't do it as standard and the OP's circumstances don't count as exceptional but to say that a budget chain won't refund a non-refundable rate is untrue.

150940

JReacher1 wrote: »

Most budget (and non budget) hotel chains will refund a non-refundable rate hotel booking for "exceptional circumstances". They don't do it as standard and the OP's circumstances don't count as exceptional but to say that a budget chain won't refund a non-refundable rate is untrue.

Having looked into it they don't have to as long as he knew it was non refundable when he booked.

JReacher1

150940 wrote: »

Having looked into it they don't have to as long as he knew it was non refundable when he booked.

Yes they don't have to but they often make an exception if the reason you can't make the reservation are exceptional.

agrinnall

JReacher1 wrote: »

Most budget (and non budget) hotel chains will refund a non-refundable rate hotel booking for "exceptional circumstances". They don't do it as standard and the OP's circumstances don't count as exceptional but to say that a budget chain won't refund a non-refundable rate is untrue.

Maybe they will, I've never had to ask and if I had an "exceptional circumstance" I suspect that cancelling a budget hotel booking would not be high on my to-do list, but I think in this case we agree that the OP has simply had a change of mind and that is definitely not something where a refund could be expected.

Faith177

JReacher1 wrote: »

Yes they don't have to but they often make an exception if the reason you can't make the reservation are exceptional.

Which the OP's isn't imho

NJP2810

Thank you for all your comments, it's the first time I've asked for help on a forum.

Just to answer a few of your questions the rooms were £188 a night; 2 rooms, 4 adults, 2 nights with breakfast. There was no advisory that we cancel because of the Paris bombings, as mentioned in my original post we chose not to go. It was Zhotels in Piccadilly we booked with and they have very kindly let us postpone the booking until March, which I am very grateful for.

Thanks again.