Had a hostel worker call me out on my booking routine and now I'm second-guessing everything

I used to just book the cheapest 8-bed dorm on Hostelworld without checking the cancellation policy. This guy at a hostel in Lisbon last summer told me I was throwing money away because those 'non-refundable' deals are usually trap prices that don't save you when plans shift. He said I should aim for places with free cancellation up to 48 hours before, even if the base rate is $3 more. Now I split the difference cheap vs flexible and wonder if I'm overthinking it. Has anyone else gotten roasted by staff for a habit that actually works better than their advice?

2 comments

2 Comments

brookepark1mo ago

Five bucks extra for cancellation is way cheaper than losing the whole booking, which is kind of the real math here. Youre not overthinking it, youre just learning the game a little later than some of us.

river_bailey21mo ago

Jumped into this trap myself a few years ago. The hostel worker wasn't wrong but the thing is, paying a few bucks more for flexibility kinda saved me more times than I can count when my bus got delayed or I ended up liking a city more than I thought. I mean, I still book the cheaper options if it's a place where I'm like 100% sure on the dates, like visiting family or a solid plan. But for random travel where stuff can change, that extra $3-5 is totally worth it just for the peace of mind. You're not overthinking it, you're just getting smarter about your money.