I would like to know the opinions of the readers here, concerning owners overbooking their B&B, and cancel your reservation.

Most B&B policies state that approx. 10% of your total cost will be charged if you cancel a week to 3 days before the arrival.

But, do you, the readers feel that the consumers should be compensated, maybe 10% of the total, if the owners overbook and cancel your reservation?

Airlines have done this routinely for quite some time: overbook, and offer deals to the people that are bumped.

Thanks for any input on this subject.

I'd ask them to find me another place to stay, and for the same price!

Message: Yes, definitely! That happened to us in Canada. Their cancellation policy if the consumer cancelled was set in stone, but if it was their mistake (as happened with us), then they felt like they took care of the problem by making a phone call to get us another room (at $40 more a night). We had reservations (we thought) for 3 nights--and they gave away our room on the third night, so we had to move which cut into our vacation time. We couldn't just cancel the whole thing without the 10% or more charge. We were not happy with the outcome. It wasn't a B&B, but was privately owned. I wonder if that happens at chain owned hotels and what their compensation is. It wouldn't have helped us to get a discount for another date, since we may never go back to that area.

I would add a review on TripAdvisor if they're listed there, and anywhere else on the web I could find to let others know.

There is really no excuse for any B&B to have to ever cancel a reservation. Surely not due to "overbooking". I would guess that they had the opportunity to book your room for more days and took it.

Some years ago, we had a B&B reservation cancelled. We booked another one nearby. Once in town (the sort of seaside town where all the locals know everything that's going on), we learned in a local restaurant that the owners had cancelled ALL the reservations for that weekend in order to book a wedding party and their guests.

We got bumped from a particular room at an inn in Healdsburg because a large party wanted to book 3 or 4 rooms in the same section. I was offended, and cancelled completely, opting to stay elsewhere. I know that's not as bad as loosing a room entirely - BUT - I still thought it pretty nervy on the part of the owners!

When there are last-minute cancellations on either party's part, each has options:

a. The B&B can keep part of the deposit if the consumer doesn't show.
b. The consumer can choose to avoid doing business with the B&B ever again if the B&B gives away the room.

Comparing a B&B to an airline (or to a large hotel, which in my experience finds you a free room when they can't honor your reservation) just doesn't work.