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How to Check an Accommodation's Cancellation and Refund Policy

Tap each step to understand a booking's cancellation and refund terms before you commit.

  1. Identify whether the rate is non-refundable, partial, or fully refundable

    Before booking, check which category the rate falls into -- a discounted non-refundable deal, a standard flexible rate, or something in between.

  2. Check the refund-percentage schedule by cancellation date

    Look at how many days before check-in you need to cancel to get a full or partial refund versus none at all.

  3. Try canceling directly from your booking details first

    Before calling customer service, check whether the app lets you cancel the reservation yourself from your booking history.

  4. Check how long the refund takes and by what method

    The number of business days a refund takes can differ depending on your payment method, such as card versus bank transfer, so check this in advance.

  5. Understand the no-show penalty and any future booking limits

    Not showing up without cancelling usually forfeits any refund, and repeated no-shows can lead to restrictions on future bookings.

The cheapest rate is often the least forgiving one

Steep discounts are frequently attached to non-refundable rates, which means a change of plans -- even for a legitimate emergency -- may not get you any money back. Before choosing the lowest price, weigh how confident you are in your dates against how much you'd lose if something forced you to cancel.

Cancelling early is almost always better than cancelling late

Refund schedules are typically tiered: cancel far enough in advance and you get a full refund, cancel closer to check-in and you get a partial one, and cancel within a day or two and you may get nothing. The moment you know a trip is off, cancelling right away -- rather than waiting -- protects whatever refund percentage is still available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I always cancel a booking myself in the app?

Most bookings can be cancelled directly from your reservation details, but some special rates or third-party bookings may require contacting the property or customer support directly -- check the booking confirmation for instructions.

What counts as a no-show versus a late cancellation?

A no-show generally means never notifying the property or app that you're not coming, while a late cancellation means you did cancel, just closer to check-in than the full-refund window -- the two are usually treated very differently, with a no-show typically forfeiting the entire amount.