How to read a hotel's cancellation policy before you book

Two rooms in the same hotel can cost the same and still be very different bookings. One can be cancelled for a full refund until the day before; the other can never be refunded. The difference is the cancellation policy of the rate, and it is worth thirty seconds before you pay.

Refundable and non-refundable rates

A refundable rate lets you cancel and get money back, usually up to a deadline. A non-refundable rate is cheaper because the hotel keeps the money if you cancel or do not turn up. If your dates might change, the refundable rate is the safer choice, even when it costs a little more.

Find the deadline and its time zone

Free cancellation almost always ends at a specific date and time, not at the start of check-in day. The time is in the hotel's local time. For a hotel abroad, that can be several hours different from India, so treat the deadline as earlier than it looks.

What happens after the deadline

After the free period, most policies charge a part of the stay: the first night, or a share of the total, rising as check-in gets closer. Read how much, so you know the cost of changing your mind.

Check these before paying

• Is the rate refundable, and until when (date and time)?
• What is charged if you cancel after that?
• Are meals included, and is the price for all rooms and all guests?
• Does the hotel need a payment or document at check-in?
• Is any fee or tax payable at the hotel?

On Tripzoy

Each room's cancellation policy is shown before you pay. Tripzoy's own convenience fee and the GST on it are not refunded on a cancellation, as our refund policy says, so a refundable room returns the room price, not our fee.