Non Refundable Hotel Reservations

I've seen non-refundable hotel reservations all over the US and Europe. No, it's not something unique to the UK. Generally, you can pay a little more for a refundable reservation, but every hotel has different policies. Some get heavily booked anyway so have no need to offer refundable reservations. Generally, almost every hotel I stay at these days locks me in to the reservation being non-refundable a day or two before arrival or something like that.

If you're worried about being locked in, perhaps you can look for a different hotel close by that actually does offer refundable reservations (up until a few days before arrival for example) but closer to arrival you can firm up your plans for that final night in your mind and just commit to it one way or another.

Did you look at other booking sites like Booking.com that may in fact offer a refundable reservation even at this particular hotel? Sometimes you can find different options at the different booking sites.

Andrew is right;
I am going to New Orleans next week and my hotel non-refundable rate was $200 less.

I've seen hotels all over the world do this.

As others have said, it may be possible to book a room via a website and have the option of refundable or nonrefundable, but the nonrefundable rate is almost always cheaper for you.

OP-

Please really double check your dates. A typo in your post or is changing your flight mandatory?

1-27 to 1-28 is a single day...... 1-27 to 10-28 is a period of 9 months.

Nonrefundable prepaid hotels now common in the US. I see it as an option with many chains, icluding Marriott. You save some money but you are committed.

Sid

I agree with looking at another website to see if you find a refundable rate offered at that hotel. If not I would probably go for it but I don’t like to change hotels! Just me.

If you do decide to change, I like the Lime Tree on Ebury Street. It’s very near the National Express coach station for a ride back to the airport if you are leaving from Heathrow or the train from Victoria Station if it’s Gatwick. Like the Lime Tree on FB as they sometimes offer special deals.

I think you’ll be glad of the extra day! There is so much you won’t get to and by then you’ll be zipping all over on the Tube!

Sid,
My post just had a typo in it. The dates in question are 10-27 to 10-28. I tried to go beck and correct but by then I couldn't, I just assumed that it'd be evident as to what I meant, sorry.

After reading some other posts I am wondering if it'd be better for us to figure a way to store our bags for a few hours that extra day, do some sightseeing then take the tube to Heathrow late that afternoon and stay at a hotel out there to save having to make the trip in the morning. I'd assume others have done this, will hotels do this for guests that are checking out?

Nearly all hotels will store bags for guests after they check out. In the US that's a service one tips for. In London--who knows? Probably a tip would be expected if you're staying at an upmarket hotel.

I hate having to get up really early and allow extra time for the trip out to the airport with a transatlantic flight hanging in the balance, so I Iike to spend my last night at Heathrow. I head out there after an early dinner in the city. I was really happy with the Premier Inn near T4 last fall and have booked a night there for September this year. I recently scored a fabulous no-refund rate under £40 for a single room. I could have chosen a cancellable rate under £50. Rates for late August were higher when I checked about a week ago, but much, much,lower than one would pay for a relatively new business-class hotel in the city. You can walk to T4 from the hotel in 15 minutes. It's through a covered walkway.

I'm with acraven about hating to worry about getting to Heathrow from central London for a morning flight back to the US.

For my next trip, the flight home departs at 11:40 and I'm staying at a hotel within a short walk to Paddington, where I can take a train straight to Heathrow (Express or whatever the new TfL version of the "Connect" is now called). If my flight were earlier, or I wasn't so nicely situated for a train to the airport, I'd spend the night before the flight near Heathrow. In a heartbeat.

Hi -

Probably a wise move to stay overnight at Heathrow prior to your flight and equally wise not to go to Heathrow until later in the afternoon/evening. IT can't be said there's a ton of fun or interesting stuff to do in and around the airport.

And that said, I'm sure the central London hotel would store your bags for the day so you can collect them immediately prior to travelling to Heathrow. We've done exactly that when wanting to maximise a final day in London before heading home. They usually have a (locked or otherwise secure) storage room near reception, some give you a ticket or token to reclaim your bags, some don't. None have ever charged me as a guest for this facility.

Enjoy your extra day and have a great trip!

Ian

We will be flying Delta back home;. anyone know what terminal we'd need to use on that?

Delta generally uses Terminal 3.

https://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/which-terminal.

Delta flies out of Heathrow's Terminal 3.