Introduction

Choosing the right cancellation policy is key to striking the perfect balance between encouraging bookings and reducing last-minute cancellations. At Travelnest, we offer a range of policies tailored to suit your needs. Each policy maps to different refund conditions across major booking channels, including Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Vrbo, Holidu, and Hometogo.

For added flexibility, you can also offer a non-refundable rate, giving guests a discount while ensuring you still receive a guaranteed payout if they cancel.

Want to make things even easier? Our Smart Policy takes the guesswork out of the process, dynamically adjusting your policy to what works best for your property.

Travelnest cancellation policies

We’ve got five core cancellation policies, each offering a different level of flexibility:

Super Flexible

Our most lenient option.
Guests can cancel and receive a full refund up until just a few days before their stay.

Flexible

Great for attracting guests who value flexibility.
Full refunds are available until relatively close to the arrival date.

Moderate

A balanced choice for hosts and guests.
Guests get full refunds if they cancel well in advance, with partial refunds as the check-in date approaches.

Strict

Limited flexibility for guests, offering you more protection.
Refunds are only available if the guest cancels well ahead of their stay.

Super Strict

Maximum protection for hosts.
Ideal if you want to deter cancellations with the fewest refunds.

Non-refundable rate option

For every policy, you can offer a non-refundable rate at a 10% discount. This option is perfect for budget-conscious travellers who are confident in their plans. Here’s why it works:

Guaranteed payout

If the guest cancels, you keep the booking amount.

Stronger booking commitments

Guests choosing non-refundable rates are less likely to cancel.

Attract price-sensitive travellers

Offering a discount can help convert guests who might otherwise hesitate to book.

Where this applies

Non-refundable rates are available on Airbnb and Booking.com.

How each Travelnest policy translates across channels

To understand how your selected policy applies on different booking channels, check the table below. This shows how refunds work for guests depending on their booking platform.

Note: Non-refundable options provide no refunds, no matter when the cancellation happens.

Smart Policy: Intelligent optimisation

What is Smart Policy?

Smart Policy automatically adjusts your cancellation settings based on your property’s booking and cancellation patterns. It’s like having a data-driven assistant that optimises for conversions and revenue.

Why it works

No guesswork

Smart Policy selects the best level of flexibility for your property.

Fewer cancellations

It attracts more reliable guests by adapting to booking trends.

Non-refundable option included

Smart Policy incorporates a non-refundable rates to boost bookings while protecting your earnings.

Getting started

How to set your policy

1. Log in to your Travelnest account and open your property settings.
2. Navigate to the Cancellation Policy section.
3. Choose Smart Policy for automated adjustments, or pick from the predefined options: Super Flexible, Flexible, Moderate, Strict, or Super Strict.
4. Activate the non-refundable rate option (if available) to appeal to cost-conscious travellers.

Review and adjust

• If you’re using Smart Policy, it continuously fine-tunes your settings for you.
• If you’ve chosen a static policy, we recommend reviewing it periodically to ensure it’s still working for you.

Additional tips and considerations

Know the rules

Some regions and guest nationalities may have specific cancellation rules (e.g., South Korean travellers or Italian regulations). Be sure to check for any conditions that might affect your policy.

We’re here to help

If you have any questions or need guidance, our friendly Customer Support team is just a click away.

By choosing the right cancellation policy, offering non-refundable rates, and using Smart Policy’s powerful optimisation, you can give guests the flexibility they need while ensuring stability for your bookings and revenue.