Non refundable costs

It varies.
I had to cancel a trip in 2022 after purchasing some things. Some refunded, some didn't.
Most places have cancellation policies you will need to read before purchase.

This isn't something I've ever specifically researched, but I have definitely noticed "tickets not refundable" emablazoned on websites for museums and the like. My guess is the majority--possibly the vast majority--of sightseeing tickets are not refundable; some might be changeable, but I have a feeling that would be the minority. Policies for sightseeing tours vary; sometimes you can cancel those up to 24 hours ahead.

Unless you're traveling to a resort during peak season or to a city at the time of a high-impact special event, it's usually totally possible to book a hotel reservation that can be canceled up until a short time before the arrival date. That time varies from day-of (sometimes possible at chain hotels if you're a member of their affinity group) to 3 days or occasionally longer. I've booked well over 200 hotel stays since 2015 and was forced into a 2-week-notice cancellation requirement one time, in Seattle during Holy Week. It's my impression there has been some outward creep in the required cancel-by date, just in general.

The situation with train tickets varies. In many countries you have the option to pay more for a more-flexible ticket.

I don't buy travel insurance for trip cancellation or trip interruption, so I'm careful about prepaying for things when it's not necessary. If I were going to buy trip insurance anyway, it might make financial sense to grab good deals on non-refundable hotel reservations.

Having lived in Italy and traveled there often since leaving, I can tell you that you shouldn't count on receiving a refund for any venue tickets.

I never estimate these amounts, but instead purchase it based on exact amounts. Our airfare is usually the first expense I have, so that starts the clock ticking. I made sure I have purchased insurance to be covered for pre-existing conditions (which usually has to be purchased within two weeks of our first payment). I just buy it based on what non-refundable prepaid costs I have incurred to that time. I buy Travel Guard, and they allow me to modify the policy as needed. They just charge me for the extra expense, of course.

We went to Norway for 18 nights this year. The costs I had to cover were a total of $4472 for the two of us. It included our airfare, our prepaid car rental, 5 nights of lodging, and short fjord and train trips. The total cost of our travel insurance was $477.80 for the policy with the highest coverage.

We have never had to make a claim but our daughter's family did when one of them had a serious accident a week before they were supposed to travel.

I haven't found trip insurance to be very practical for covering non-refundable trip costs for our travels. There is just too little that is really non-refundable. I'd get it primarily for accident or illness that may occur during a trip, and it probably comes along with some other incidental coverage.
I would never book non-refundable lodging. In most tourist destinations, there are many options that allow for cancellation up until at least five days prior. I plan way in advance and we prefer apartments. I generally book the best I find as soon as my dates are firm, but I continue to search for places I might like better (other people like me book, then cancel, so new stuff becomes available all the time). I booked and cancelled four different places in Florence leading up to our trip in November.

Unless there's a site that has to be booked early to get a timed spot, I usually wait to book tickets until a week or two before I leave because these are usually not refundable, but they're also small expenses in the grand scheme.

Thanks for the replies--very helpful!

I book “refundable” plane tickets on United. As I get older and achier, anything can happen beyond the year I would have for “changeable”.

I book only “cancellable” hotels and B&Bs. Time frame to cancel before being charged is usually anywhere from the day before check-in to two weeks before check-in.

Any sights, events and transportation I book prior to traveling have been non-refundable but may be covered by trip insurance.

I buy travel insurance for medical, evacuation and what-ifs but have not had to make a claim. I probably over insure but that’s my comfort level.

I typically get travel insurance to cover pre-existing medical conditions and medical evacuation rather than trip costs as the majority of what I book is refundable. However, to ensure you are covered properly, especially if you want the medical coverage, you need to estimate the trip costs. The good thing is you can always add/update as you go along. The main items that are tricky in estimating are hotel rooms that are refundable, but have 7+ days of notifications (for a two week trip, you should at least account for your first week). For museums, most of the time they are not refundable. Many tours are, but you need to read the refund policies.

The only other item is transportation: depending upon when you buy your train tickets and what type, they may not be refundable. Rental cars usually have a flexible cancellation fee. Anything you have to put a credit card down for, including dining reservations, check the cancellation policies.

I am not sure I would put airfare automatically in the "non-refundable" category, unless you definition is a cash refund in total. Most "non-refundable" airline tickets are not useless and a loss if you need to change plans, since the pandemic, most of the larger airlines dropped change fees, so you can rebook dates, and many will cancel an itinerary for a credit with the airline.

I typically have little use for trip insurance for travel costs, but trip insurance to cover disruptions, medical, evacuation, that does have more value to me.

Unfortunately many companies try to sell a package based on total cost of the trip, which, for me, would mean a grossly overpriced package, and benefits I would not be able to claim, even if I incurred a total cancellation just before, or during, the trip.

I’ve learned several tips that I didn’t know before. Thanks for all of the good info everyone!

One additional thing to watch for while booking your accommodations. I have found in Italy that may of the refundable rates are actually for 1-2 weeks before my travel time. So I've watched that carefully and actually made some of our itinerary decisions due to that. I feel comfortable if the date is after I've arrived in Italy, and recognize I may take a hit in my first stop if for some reason we are delayed due to plane issues.