So, your flight gets canceled and there’s no way you’re going to be able to check-in to your hotel on time. Or, your traveling party gets sick at the last minute and you need to change your itinerary altogether. In travel-speak, this is what we call Panic Hour. The pervading question is whether you can get a refund for your reservation in the face of unforeseen circumstances.

Every hotel operator and booking site has its own cancellation policy, and some will even go as far as charging you the full hotel reservation price if you don’t show up, leaving you bereft of precious cash. Fortunately, you do have some options for cancelling your hotel reservation without a serious penalty. Here are some surefire strategies to avoid cancellation stresses and save your hard-earned dollars.

The 11th Hour: Canceling Reservations Within 24-Hours of Your Trip or Because of a Cancelled Flight

If you request a cancellation within 24-hours of your trip, you may be charged a cancellation fee. Confirm what the policy is for last-minute cancellations at the time you make your reservation to find out what the hotel will do in case of an emergency.

• If your flight gets canceled and you are forced to cancel your entire trip because of it, your hotel may or may not honor the cancellation at the last minute without penalty.
• Since hotel policies about canceling because of inclement weather or a flight-related emergency vary, your best bet is to purchase travel insurance and coverage for flight delays or weather-related emergencies.
• Keep in mind that basic travel insurance coverage may not cover situations related to the weather, so if you’re traveling during peak storm season, make sure you’re investing in a plan that will accommodate the situation.

Travel insurance is a smart investment in general, and would adequately protect you in either of the aforementioned situations; several third-party companies offer this service at reasonable cost. Better than forking out hundreds after the fact, right?

Personal Circumstances: Canceling Reservations Because of Illness or a Death in the Family

You probably won’t be eligible for a refund of your hotel reservation because you’re sick, or if there’s been a death in the family.

• Few hotels will be willing to refund a percentage or the entire amount of your reservation because of personal circumstances, so, once again, ensure that you receive at least some of your money back by purchasing travel insurance when planning your trip.
• In many cases, you’ll need to provide the insurance company with some type of proof of your situation—a doctor’s letter, funeral documents, etc.—to be eligible for the refund.

No-Go Travel: Canceling Hotel Reservations Several Weeks in Advance

Most hotels will honor a cancellation without a penalty if you cancel several weeks in advance. You may be able to cancel the hotel reservation online by submitting your confirmation number and other information about your purchase in an online form, or call the hotel directly to speak with a representative. The hotel may ask you for the credit card you used to hold the reservation, and will give you a cancellation confirmation number when the process is complete.

• Another tip: always get a cancellation code from the hotel after you’ve gone through the process of canceling your reservation. This may be a series of letters and digits that the hotel can look up within minutes in case your credit card does end up getting charged by mistake. It goes without saying, but don’t misplace this!

In some cases, the hotel may be able to rebook your reservation for another date at no extra charge. Consider rebooking for new dates to avoid the penalty when canceling at the last minute.
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Fairmont Hotel San Francisco: Pargon