Hotel cancellations can cost you

“You find a great hotel rate online and hit the button to book it…

But did you read the “terms and conditions” section?…

If you didn’t, that great rate could cost you hundreds of dollars…

Like airfares, some reservations for hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns are nonrefundable or subject to penalties if you cancel your stay within a week or two of your scheduled arrival…

Although online travel sellers such as Orbitz and Expedia recently removed some cancellation penalties, plenty of innkeepers still charge them… And the practice may be growing…

Through this year, claims that involved nonrefundable lodging expenses were up 17% from the same period last year at Travel Guard, a travel insurance company based in Stevens Point, Wis…

In that spirit, here’s my own International Consumer Protector policy, which I offer at no extra charge:

Know what to expect: More than 80% of hotels charge a late-cancellation penalty, according to a survey released last year by the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. The survey didn’t show the typical amount or time deadline, and data on this are hard to come by.

A deadline of 4 or 6 p.m. on the day of arrival or the day before, with one night’s rate as the penalty, seems common at major chains. But that could be changing.

“The whole concept of cancellation penalties has picked up, especially in . . . accommodations that are associated with theme parks or resorts,” said Dan McGinnity, spokesman for Travel Guard.

Cancel your reservation at a four-room B&B at the last minute, and the innkeepers lose 25% of the night’s income, compared with just one-half percent at a 200-room hotel, Carroll said.

Do the math: Many hotel chains offer discounted rates described as “advance purchase,” “fully prepaid” or “book now and save.” These bookings are usually nonrefundable, so if you cancel, you may owe the full price of your stay. Is getting 10% or 15% off your room worth the risk? And is that charming B&B worth risking hundreds of dollars if you get sick before your trip? ” (via latimes.com) by Jane Engle

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