Plus they don't just hold your card number for a no-show deposit. They actually charge it and keep the money when (or shortly after) you make the reservation. Too bad because it's such a great venue and they do treat guests well when you're there. But it's not the only venue. Maybe we should look elsewhere next year.
A lot of this depends on your credit card company. My son was getting married in New Zealand and I had $4000 on my Chase Card for flight and hotel reservation. Marriage fell through. Priceline said everything was non-refundable. Chase said "no it isn't." They took the money right out of Priceline's account.
Yep, you can get your credit card company to go to bat for you. Places that have a long cancellation policy are not very friendly for us considering the things that can go wrong on a motorcycle trip (weather, mechanical, crash, etc) and traveling in groups, rooming with others.
The old Snowshow Inn was like that, and while they worked with us a few times while there in person (that year it snowed) they state on the website on and phone if you ask, once booked you're obligated for the first night, no matter when you cancel. I also got burned once like this planning to go to Deal's Gap and staying at the San Ran Motel in Robbinsville. We had been there before and it seemed like a nice place. We had a group of 7 guys, reserved 3 rooms for 2 nights. Storms came into Lexington (STAR 2013) and we cancelled our plan. One guy from Texas continued and used one room for one night. But I was told even if they could rent the room again I would not get a refund.
Tomorrow I leave on a 5 day trip through SW PA (Fallingwater & Flight 93 Mem) and onto the mountains of WV/VA. We were going to stay in Monterey at the Highland Inn, instead of in a big city and chain hotel. Their rate was pretty high (and more than stated on the website) running $125 a night for a room with 2 beds, and that was with a 10% discount since I was staying 2 nights. Their cancellation policy was 72 hours before arrival. So I looked around, found a good room for first night in Staunton (Best Western) then we'll start heading home and stay in Elkins or further west the next night. I just didn't get a good feeling about the Inn, their restaurant isn't open, but there is a place to eat across the street.
Now I generally deal with chains, and pay close attention to cancellation policies (prefer same day, 6PM is still pretty common). I'd love to support the smaller places, but sometimes they just don't work out. (Glenn Ferris Inn is still my favorite small hotel, Allegheny Inn a close second.)
Hope things work out, sucks to think of changing venue when they're otherwise a good location.
