Since you need the flexibility to cancel this particular trip, I can't help but wonder why you aren't just telephoning the hotels you are interested in directly this time instead of booking through a third party?

It's obviously a general warning that applies to certain types of booking -- those made at "a non refundable or prepaid rate". They are usually the cheapest rates and, like all bargain rates, they are subject to stricter conditions than other bookings. All you need do is be sure that you don't book such a package if you want the option of cancelling.

I presume Venere have had some problems where clients did not read the conditions on which they booked, and are simply flagging the need to be sure what you are doing.

In general, booking services apply cancellation conditions prescribed by the hotels.

For reasons I won't get into, I need to get confirms, and it's easier to do this through a third-party agent since I can get an e-mail confirm and also cancel easily. I suppose I can get the hotel to send me a confirm also.

I guess I'll probably use Utell instead, which I've not used in a while.

I recently had to cancel a reservation that I had made through Venere. It was relatively easy.

The email sent to me confirming my reservation mentioned the cancellation policy of the hotel that was booked. It specifically mentioned the date up to which the reservation could be canceled without a penalty.

Most if not all hotel direct on line booking sites such as Hilton and Marriott will send you an e-mail confirmation almost as soon as you click on confirm.