Money Moral Dilemma: Friends cancelled our reunion at short notice - should they pay for my hotel?

Missy15

As you don't mention flights or trains, I am guessing you would be travelling by car, so ask another friend to join you,  if you have  booked a single room ask the hotel if another single room or a twin room is available, if not worst case scenario your friend might be happy to stay at another hotel nearby, both of you enjoy the break, and don't contact your other" friends " again.

sclare

It's annoying, but no, you can't. The sensible thing to do with any hotel booking, especially if the trip relies on others, is to make a booking that includes free cancellation. 

Ed264

If you ask for them to reimburse you, they might tell you where to go (excuse the pun!) As others have said, why not go for the break anyway, you may well enjoy it.

Southendormargate

Dump the friends if they haven't already dumped you and move on. 

keithyno.1

If you're not bothered about these friendships after this experience and have decided you don't want to keep in touch with them in the future as a result of it then sure, go ahead and ask them to foot the hotel bill. But be prepared for them to tell you in no uncertain terms that you've no chance! 

But if you still value the friendships and there's a chance that reunions will take place in the future then just suck it up and go and enjoy the hotel break anyway. 

Ron246235

The question in the title is "should they pay for my hotel?" and the answer to that is yes. They should have told the person sooner and they have caused him/her to waste a lot of money. If I had arranged a trip like this and then cancelled quite late, I would feel an obligation to give the person the money. 

In reality they might not pay, because they don't care and they can get away with not paying. But this is supposed to be a money moral dilemma, and I think morally they should pay. 

SugarSnap

Personally I wouldn’t, but go anyway and have a lovely peaceful break.  

Learning from this is to never pay an advance/non cancellable hotel rate when meeting up with people you rarely see.  Their reasons for cancelling might also be legitimate.  Enjoy your mini break.

mramoeba

If you really don’t want to use the room (and this to me is the obvious thing to do, go and have a relaxing break) then write a polite email to the hotel asking if they will consider a voucher instead of the money back to be redeemed at a later date. Many hotels will consider this over the high season as they can usually let the room. 

lady_2

mramoeba said:

If you really don’t want to use the room (and this to me is the obvious thing to do, go and have a relaxing break) then write a polite email to the hotel asking if they will consider a voucher instead of the money back to be redeemed at a later date. Many hotels will consider this over the high season as they can usually let the room. 

I agree- I have found many businesses respond very favourably to a polite email explaining the change of circumstance, and I would hope the hotel would offer you a credit for a future stay. You have nothing to lose- so give it a go. 

Gardentoto

Presumably they said sorry and gave a valid excuse? If they didn’t then that’s rude - no great loss on your part as you probably wouldn’t need these friends back in your life. If they did say sorry and gave a good excuse, then just go in any case, and enjoy a weekend away Even if it’s just by yourself. You just can’t ask for a refund from them whatever as it Then makes you look worse than them.