Anyone else have concerns about booking international lodging for upcoming trips abroad? Like the actual flights, etc (addressed in the other international travel thread), this also can be a serious concern right now.
Things like availability, cancellation policies, the fluctuating American dollar (please don’t get political), and just getting this done.
We are going to be broad halfway around the world. The airfare, travel insurance, and trip are already paid for. However, we have four nights in Auckland NZ including New Years Eve.
We are wondering what suggestions folks here have about that piece of the abroad travel plans.
I just booked a Marriott room with no cancellation fee. If I need to cancel it, no problem, and I know with a Marriott connected hotel there will be no issues getting a refund.
I just booked a two-week trip to Japan this fall — my first time back in a decade. Geopolitics won’t keep me grounded, and I’m fortunate to have enough saved in fixed income to support my travels. I’ll keep exploring the world as long as my body lets me. A dear friend was recently diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia, and it’s a powerful reminder to seize the day while I can.
While I’ve almost always purchased travel insurance, I just purchased airfare for Feb 2026, and paid extra for cancel back to my payment method (vs credit on the airlines) - I’ve found (for me) the accommodations are the easier aspect. But, I do take them very seriously, and usually won’t book 3rd party (booking dot com, etc.) but I do use Airbnb, which I’m fond of and have been very happy with for over 10 years.
I think travel insurance is a great recommendation. In fact, if you aren’t going somewhere exotic, look into an annual policy that can cover multiple trips. I have a friend who flies back and forth to a Florida house from the NE - she would be covered for delays and/or baggage issues with an annual policy for each trip.
The reason I mention “if not exotic” is because the annual policies may have lower trip evacuation limits. If you are going somewhere not easy to get to (middle of Africa, India, Maldives or Seychelles or a Pacific Island), you may want specific high limit insurance for those trips.
If you are really concerned, then buy ‘cancel for any reason’ and while you may not get 100% of costs back, you will get a significant portion.
Having said all that, I’m still traveling. As to the euro vs. usd, I remember when it was 1.4! So going up 10% vs. USD is still much lower than some of the historical rates.
I already have the travel insurance. I’m just concerned about making the lodging reservations…which is like to do sooner than later. Hoping to hear from the agent who is handling this trip…today!!
We always book refundable hotel rooms as early as possible–usually just after we book the airfare. I then check to see if there are any price drops and will rebook the new rate and cancel the old, if so. In my experience, it’s about half and half whether that happens or not. Sometimes the hotel we have booked doesn’t drop but another one I have my eye on has, and I will switch hotels, too. For a large European city, I will sometimes even book a few different hotels at refundable rates and decide later based on what prices do.
I have a big trip coming up and most of my lodging spots offered a discount if you pay in full with no option for refund. I use my Chase Sapphire card which offers some travel protection. I did a mix this trip. Some prepaid and others pay when I arrive. If the difference was significant I paid ahead. I’m thinking with the exchange rate I’m ahead by having already paid.
With a short term rental I look at what the cancellation policy is. We go to one area where they charge 50% upfront and it’s non refundable. We don’t book that 2nd house unless we are sure our kids are coming.