windsor hills-question on cancellation fee & policy

[tami82]

I currently have a reservation on site but thinking of getting one of the themed condos. For anyone who had to cancel exactly what is the 20% fee, is that off the $100 deposit or the whole price for # of days of stay which for 5 days would cost $750 for the particular condo im looking at. Alot that i have seen have this same policy of 20% cancellation fee before 60 days prior and what if you pay the balance and for whatever reason have to cancel close to the date, do they really take the whole balance or let you use that towards another stay. It seems like an awfully big risk to take and one that is holding me back from booking.

 

[summermac]

I think it varies by owner.

 

[TinkerbellNYC]

Our owner we used in December had no cancellation "fee", he thinks they are a ripoff to guests and should not be charged, he also does not hold "security deposits" while you are at his Condos, he talks about it at his website. Just be sure to pick the right owner or company and you won't have these cancel fee issues.

 

[tami82]

Has anyone done this? Again im a bit concerned about renting in the event something happens that would prevent us from going (i do have a daughter with diabetes and although there have been no complications or hospitalizations for the past 2 years it is always possible. I did go to a site and it gave me a price of around $100 for 5 of us, does this sound about right?? The price would be around $800 total for the condo and just wondering if this bit of insurance would be the way to go. Can anyone give me more info on this and are there any good companies i should go through (i had found the one from the internet that i got the price on.

 

[Brian Noble]

Any owner who doesn't keep some of your money if you cancel late in the game is either a fool, or charges higher rates overall to all of his guest to make up for the inevitable lost income.

This is one of the downsides of private vacation home rental---the policies are much less generous than a regular hotel room, but the price is also a lot less expensive. If you think there's a chance you may not be able to go at the last minute, you have two choices. You can self-insure (i.e. just lose the money if you can't go) or buy trip insurance.

I normally self-insure. Over the long run, I've lost some deposits/exchange fees here or there, but that's been less expensive than buying insurance each time.

 

[dougsmom98]

We always get travel insurance. We go through insuremytrip.com. For our entire family of 6, it costs $80+/-. We go during the winter months, so we feel the trip insurance is well worth it since we could get snowed in and miss our trip. It also covers lost and delayed luggage.

 

[sympatico]

Most owners have the "lose all once you pay your final payment". We usually get cancellation insurance through insuremytrip.com . You put in your dates and price info and they bring up a selection of insurance companies and what each one costs. You pick the one you want. If you're insuring a rental home you have to have a rental contract. Read the fine print for the insurance company you choose.

 

[tami82]

thanks very much for the information i will definitely check out the link. I will post this same message in a new topic as i put it under this post by mistake.