Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Question about Travelocity cancellation penalty

I haven't used Travelocity before. What would my cancellation penalty be for a hotel with the following terms, if I needed to cancel the week before the date of the reservation?

[under "hotel policies":]
Any changes to or cancellation of your GoodBuy reservation may result in fees from 25.00 USD up to the full cost of your stay.

[then, a few paragraphs later, under "room policies":]
Cancellations or changes occurring within 12 hours of 12:01 am (Central Time) on the day of check-in are subject to a cancellation penalty. This includes a 1 night room charge plus applicable Tax Recovery Charge & Service Fees.

It's that word "may" which I don't understand. Does it mean that Travelocity will probably charge $25 if I cancel a week before the check-in date? Or is the penalty under "room policies" the only penalty, and therefore no $25 fee on this particular hotel for cancellation the week before?

I haven't made the reservation yet, because the risk of losing $25 for a room I might need to cancel isn't worth saving a few bucks by using Travelocity this time, but if there's no $25 fee... :confused:

Thanks for your insight!

Unless things have changed recently, Travelocity's blanket hotel cancellation charge is $25. Period. In other words, your minimum cancel fee will be $25, in addition to any fees that may be associated with the terms & conditions of the rate you've booked.

Example; You book a 3 night stay that reqires a minimum 48 hour cancellation or you forfeit your first night's lodging. You wind up cancelling just 24 hours prior. Travelocity will charge you their $25 cancel fee, plus the first night's lodging and you will be refunded the 2nd and 3rd night's lodging.

If there's a chance you might have to cancel, and you can find the same rate Travelocity is charging at Expedia, Hotels.com or the hotel's own website, I see no reason to book with Travelocity. Expedia used to charge $25 cancel fee just like Expedia, however they dropped the fee earlier this year (as was already the case with Hotels.com). Is the rate you're seeing on Travelocity truly cheaper than most other sites?

Unless things have changed recently, Travelocity's blanket hotel cancellation charge is $25. Period. In other words, your minimum cancel fee will be $25, in addition to any fees that may be associated with the terms & conditions of the rate you've booked.

Thank you! That's what I was afraid of. It's not "may," it's "will." ;) Think I'll look elsewhere, since it's not that much cheaper.

Thank you! That's what I was afraid of. It's not "may," it's "will." ;) Think I'll look elsewhere, since it's not that much cheaper.

If it's cheaper on Travelocity than Expedia, then I would purchase with Exepdia and file for their Best Rate Guarantee program. If approved, they will match Travelocity's rate in addition to depositing a $50 certificate valid for a future purchase within a year's timeframe. And if the hotel is a major chain, chances are they, too, have a best rate guarantee program. You could weigh the advantages/disadvantages of the programs between Expedia and the chain and go from there.