When a host cancels a confirmed booking — or is found to be responsible for a cancellation under this policy — Holidu reserves the right to apply cancellation fees, except for extenuating circumstances.
These measures reflect the impact and costs that cancellations create for guests, other Holidu hosts, and Holidu. They help maintain the reliability of the service and the trust guests place in their holiday plans.
Host cancellations may not happen often, but when they do, the consequences extend beyond a single booking.
- For guests, they disrupt plans, create frustration, erode trust, and threaten their willingness to book again.
- For hosts, they undermine credibility, harm the property's reputation, lower visibility in search rankings, and put future performance on booking channels at risk.
- For Holidu, they create operational costs from managing disrupted bookings, finding replacements, and handling the added administrative work.
Learn more about the impact of cancellations and how to avoid them.
What to do if you have to cancel
We understand that exceptional circumstances can sometimes make a cancellation unavoidable. But accepting a booking is a commitment to your guest, and cancellations should only happen when there is truly no other option.
If you find yourself genuinely unable to honour a booking, please act as quickly as possible — either by offering an alternative property where feasible, or by canceling early to limit the disruption for your guest.
Any alternative you offer should:
- Be listed on the same channel where your guest originally booked.
- Be in a similar price range and meet the same or higher standards compared to the original listing.
When you offer a suitable alternative, our customer support team can step in to coordinate with the booking channel and the guest — helping to secure the guest's acceptance and reduce the likelihood of additional charges.
When (and how) the cancellation fee applies
If you cannot offer an alternative that meets the conditions above and is accepted by your guest, Holidu reserves the right to apply a cancellation fee. The fee reflects the impact on guests and the operational costs of finding replacements and managing disrupted bookings.
The cancellation fee is calculated based on the booking amount and the timing of the cancellation. If the calculated fee is less than €50 EUR, it is adjusted to a minimum of €50 EUR.
| Time until check-in | Cancellation fee (% of booking amount) |
|---|---|
| 48 hours or less | 25% |
| Between 48 hours and 30 days | 10% |
| More than 30 days | 5% |
What is the booking amount?
The booking amount is the total cost your guest agrees to pay when confirming a booking. For you, this amount determines your expected payout, minus any applicable platform fees or deductions.
When the cancellation fee might be waived
We understand that extraordinary situations can happen. In cases involving major disruptive events or other valid circumstances beyond your control, Holidu may waive the fee.
If you believe your situation qualifies for a waiver, please share supporting evidence. Our customer support team — backed by your local Holidu team — will review it carefully before making a final decision. Learn more about qualifying circumstances and how to request a waiver.
Before requesting a cancellation, we strongly recommend you consider the full impact beyond just the fee.
If, after reviewing the consequences, you still wish to proceed, you can submit your cancellation request here. Please note that cancellations are only legally valid if submitted through the process outlined on this page — requests sent by email or through other channels will not be accepted.
Do you want to contact us?
We’re here to help. You can contact us directly if you need assistance or have questions.
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