Cancellation policies

[Pete3178]

Good evening.

I am wondering what most folks use for their cancellation policy.  We are using flexible, but have had a person recently cancel 2 days before which  does suck. What policy do most hosts use ? I  have not changed our policy yet wanting to be flexible because of Covid.  Suggestions ?

[Sarah977]

@Pete3178  I've never seen any info on the percentage of hosts who use one cancellation policy or another, and I don't know that "most" hosts here use the same one.

I've always used moderate, and it's worked well for me. I don't get last minute cancellations because of my location- it's a destination touristy beach town, so guests have a lot of things in play like flights booked, time booked off work, etc. There would have to be some unforeseen emergency situation for them to cancel a day or two before check-in.

Hosts who get a lot of same-day bookings, because they live near an airport, for instance, may be fine with flexible, because they can usually rebook the space on short notice.

Hosts who have large places, which require a lot of cleaning and prep time and depend on their rentals as their major source of income may not want to use anything but the strict policy.

When I chose to use moderate, I also considered what I would consider fair if I were a guest. And I wouldn't want to have to deal with irate guests sending me nasty messages because they cancelled under the strict policy and don't see why they shouldn't get a full refund.

[Pete3178]

Thank you for your reply Sarah977. Yes our situation is a little different then yours. We also get our share  of bookings a few days prior, but its always tough when the unit is open when it had been booked  a few days earlier. 

BTW we drove by your town November a year ago on the way to Rincon de Guayabitoes. I love that area !

[Sarah977]

@Pete3178  It's quite interesting that there have been several other hosts on this forum who have mentioned, when they see I'm in Sayulita, that they were just here, or come down every year, or have stayed in a neighboring town. It is a very pretty part of Mexico, quite green and lush.

I'm not familiar with Hamilton, but I'm Canadian and lived in both Ontario and B.C.

It would definitely annoy me if people cancelled 2 days before check-in on any sort of regular basis.

Maybe try moderate or even strict and see how it works for you? You can always change to another policy, it's not like you can't experiment with one for awhile and then change it if you find it's not good for you.

[Pete3178]

Well we love the area as well. Haven't been since Covid started , but as soon as we can fly there again, we will return. We have been there many times. Maybe we can stop by some time, when we are in he area 🙂 

Hamilton is city of 500,000 plus,  living in the shadow of Toronto. We are out n the country and are enjoying the Airbnb life.

[Sarah977]

@Pete3178  We live parallel lives 🙂

I always go to Canada for a month or so in the summer to see my daughters, grandkids and friends. But couldn't go this last summer because of Covid. (I do know where Hamilton is, I lived in Toronto back in the early 70s,  just never spent any time in your city)

And I also live out in the countryside, on the outskirts of the Sayulita madness.

Yes, make a note of my tag here and send me a personal message here on the forum when you come down next. Would love to get together.