pears43

Does anyone have experience booking with Expedia or other services and then having to cancel or change itineraries? Is it easy to get a refund on your credit card? We've avoided using them when we're not absolutely sure that we'll adhere to our schedule (e.g., on a recent business trip with my husband, whose clients may change his schedule at the last minute). The downside of this is, of course, that we end up paying more for hotels.

m_kingdom2

If you book hotels only you can cancel and you will lose around 20GBP so 35 or so USD.

If you book an "holiday" that is a flight and hotel coupled together at a special rate, then nothing can be refunded.

Flights cannot be cancelled unless you are booking flights that can be cancelled - these are always more expensive.

carcassone

We've booked hotel via Expedia and it clearly states that it's non-refundable. I'm not sure if you're allow to change the dates. You can always call their 800 number if you're not sure.

You can shop around using Expedia just to get some idea on prices and availability. Then you can contact the hotel directly to see if they would match the price. Most hotel usually have a more forgiving cancellation policy like no charge if more than 24hr notice.

Having said that, last time I used Expedia was because it quoted an execellent rate and when I contact the hotel directly, they said they can't match that "special Expedia rate".

Good luck.

eedwards

I have never had a problem cancelling hotel reservations without a charge. The only time they charge is if you book an "Expedia Special Rate." I've also made and cancelled car rentals with no problem. I've never tried to change airline tickets but I would assume if you buy a restricted ticket there is not much they can do to help.

Mary_Fran

I always try to book on www.venere.com, because you pay nothing until you check out and there is no problem with cancellation as long as it's within the hotel's policy - usually 24 hours. I've always gotten very good rates through venere as well.

elaine

You won't necessarily pay more for hotels. On only one occasion have I found that a hotel via email won't itself honor a discounted rate that I found on a general hotel booking website.

kybourbon

I booked a hotel and flight package with Expedia a few years ago and didn't like the hotel when I arrived. I called Expedia from the hotel and cancelled the rest of my hotel stay. I wasn't charged for the hotel but was charged a cancellation fee. We found our own hotels for the rest of the trip. I don't remember the fee but it seems it was around $50.