I had a three week trip booked through the UK leaving from Seattle April 16 . All of my hotels/BB were RS recommended properties. All but one hotel (in London for six nights) have been working with me. Some have been so generous as to waive cancellation fees. The hotel in London's only concession was to offer me a special "covid 19" promo rate of 20% discount off their rack rate if I rebook within 14 days from today. I was pretty dumbstruck by their "offer" which they labeled "generous". I realize that I had a "contract" with them. I usually do not prepay but went ahead this time. Lesson learned. Unfortunately our cancellation insurance does not cover pandemics. Is this the experience others have received? I was hoping for at least a chance to rebook at no charge this year or a partial refund.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8855 posts
It really depends on the property. They are certainly within their rights to follow the terms of your agreement with them. Doesn’t make losing that money any less painful. Sorry it worked out like that.
Posted by
Mayberry on the Willamette
349 posts
I had booked about 4 nights in London & 1 airport night at LHR through Premier Inns. They were super easy on cancelling. There was a note on the website, click through & done. Full refund. I have 2 hotels in Paris I'm waiting to hear back on. One on an extra night on the end of a RS tour that i am expecting good things. The other is about 5 nights in the 11th. I want to rebook for same time next year so a credit is fine w/me. I went in expecting at the most to get a credit. So refund is great. You can bet I'm rebooking w/Premier inns
Posted by
72 posts
Renee
I canceled a trip to Italy (I am supposed to be there now) and I did not get refunds back on places I prepaid and it makes sense - you are getting the cheapest rate they offer so there is risk in getting that low rate - as you say lesson learned. All of these places are small locally owned places and they will suffer much more from this pandemic than I will. So yes a short term economic loss for me - but in the scheme of things I will take it. And in the future - as tempting as those low rates are I will probably opt for a more flexible option.
I will add that Delta was awesome - they refunded me all my miles that I used to buy the ticket for this trip - which was a no change restricted fare - they could easily have said that the fare rules did not allow that - but they went ahead and gave me back all my miles.
Good luck
Posted by
Milan, Italy
297 posts
Hotels are suffering this situation, in Italy, they were the first to suffer the consequences and have no way of paying their workers or even know if they will be able to re open.
If you chose a non refundable rate, stick with the rules of it, and think that you will be helping families survive.