7. Postpone, then cancel: Druumer89
Need to cancel a reservation at the last minute but scared of the fee? No fear, Reddit is here. Behold a clever solution from behind the hotel receptionist desk. Step one: call the hotel and push your reservation forward a few weeks. Step two: call back later that day and cancel. Voilà! Room canceled, fee bypassed, integrity (virtually) unharmed.
That's why we have a non-refundable $25 cancellation fee tacked on. If they tried doing this on short notice as in 24 hours before, it would be treated as a cancellation and they would pay for the full stay. Just word your "changing your reservation" policy to protect YOU in this event.
We state:
Changing Your Reservation
Changes to a reservation 14 days or more from the scheduled date may be made without additional charge with full transfer of deposit.
Changes made less than 14 days before the scheduled date are subject to the above-listed rules of cancellation unless we can rebook the room for that date. Cancellation of the revised reservation at anytime will result in the forfeiture of your full deposit..