Can I cancel a hotel and book another room instead without paying for the non-refundable room? [closed]

I have used booking.com to book a non-refundable hotel room for two nights in Singapore. They only have my debit card number and expiry date and have not charged the card. I want to cancel this booking and book another room instead.

Can I do so without paying up for the non-refundable room?

Best Answer

Non-refundable literally means that you cannot get back any amounts already paid. (See definition in MW's Learner's Dictionary)

But in the case of a hotel booking, which is often only paid after checking in or even at check-out, it usually has an additional meaning: You agree to pay a specified amount - up to the full amount of the reservation - even if you do not use the reservation.

It highly depends on what was actually agreed upon between you and the hotel (and maybe booking.com). This cannot easily be answered without knowing the contract.

So your best course of action would probably be to contact the hotel directly, as @pnuts mentioned. They should be able to waive the original booking ex gratia when you place another reservation with them. But be prepared for the case that they won't! As harsh as this may sound, this is the price you pay for - usually cheaper - non-refundable bookings!

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Can I get out of a non-refundable hotel reservation?

Yes, it's possible. "You can resell your nonrefundable hotel bookings to other people and receive a refund that way," says Galena Stavreva, CEO of SpareFare.net, which facilitates these room changes. She says hotels allow for changes of the name of the main guest under the reservation.

How do I cancel a room without being charged?

Call the hotel where you made the initial booking. Ask for a refund or waiver. Explain your reason for canceling. If the person on the other end of the phone doesn't have the authorization to waive the cancellation fee, ask to speak to a manager.

Can you cancel a hotel room once you can?

For most hotels, you can cancel up to a certain time on the day of your arrival, usually 6 p.m., without penalty. But when conventions are in town, or during holidays and other peak travel periods, cancellation rules are typically more severe.

Can I do a chargeback on a non-refundable hotel?

Can customers dispute non-refundable hotel reservations? Technically, no. This kind of purchase doesn't fall under the legitimate reasons for filing a chargeback. A cardholder may claim fraud, however, in which case the merchant should fight the chargeback.

Can you cancel non refundable hotel on booking com?

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