I generally use expedia to book my vacations and so far it's been satisfactory. however, i wonder if upon arriving at a hotel--which has already been paid for through expedia--i decided i didn't want to stay there, would i be able to switch hotels and get my money back?

Only under exceptional circumstances such as a room type of lower grade than booked, or some safety/lack of facilities advertised issue.

I always try to avoid paying up front, but if you research the property first there shouldn't be too much in the way of trouble.

HI beth23--you have touched on one of the many reasons I try to avoid, whenever possible, the use of "middlemen". I almost always book hotels and airline tickets directly. Of course sometimes a better deal can be gotten through services, but usually not. I just feel there is more control when I am dealing with the service provider directly. A few years ago, an Air France flt returning to the US from Paris was missed b/c of a delayed connecting flt from Rome. A family of 4 who was on the same flt w/us--who had booked through a service--had to wait till the next day. Our family--who had booked directly with Air France-- went on a later flt the same day. Another time when I did buy a specially priced tkt through Travelocity and then suddenly needed unexpected surgery, they were very unpleasant to deal with whereas since it was an American Airlines tkt, and I later related my experience to an American Airlines agent, they told me they would have reticketed me w/o any problem in such a situation.

Hi beth,

That's similar to ordering a bottle of wie and then sending it back because you didn't care for it.

It only works if the wine is not what was claimed.

Beth-

This is from Expedia's website:

< Changing or canceling a hotel reservation

Lodging can be changed or canceled according to each property's rules and restrictions. Some properties impose penalties, such as one night's stay, if you cancel your reservation within a certain number of days before your scheduled check-in date. Other properties, such as Expedia Special Rate lodging, charge a small penalty for changes made any time after a room is booked.
To change or cancel a lodging reservation, go to My Trips and open the itinerary that contains the lodging you wish to change or cancel. Click Cancel this reservation and review the refund and penalty details. >

I like www.venere.com,because I've always found great rates there and they don't require prepayment. You pay nothing until you check out of the hotel.

Right Mary Fran--we *did* use them on our trip to Italy and they did seem to be a more user-friendly service. I think the way they operate is very different than something like Expedia. I was going to mention them as an exception to the point I was making above but thought it would be confusing. Thanks for bringing them up, b/c we also were very satisfied w/that service.