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.

Why host cancellations matter

Host cancellations may not happen often, but when they do, the consequences extend far beyond a single booking:

• For guests: Cancellations disrupt plans, create frustration, erode trust, and threaten their willingness to book again.
• For hosts: Cancellations undermine credibility, harm your property's reputation, lower visibility in search rankings, and put future performance on booking channels at risk.
• For Holidu: Cancellations 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 must 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.

Offering an alternative property

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.

Cancellation fee schedule

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%

Understanding 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. This is the figure used to calculate your cancellation fee.

Example: How cancellation fees are calculated

Let's say you have a confirmed booking with the following details:

• Booking amount: €800
• Check-in date: 15 days from today
• Days until check-in: 15 days

Since check-in is more than 48 hours away but less than 30 days away, the 10% cancellation fee applies:

• Cancellation fee calculation: €800 × 10% = €80
• Fee amount charged: €80 (meets the €50 minimum)
• Amount deducted from your payout: €80

If the same booking were cancelled within 48 hours of check-in, the fee would be 25%:

• Cancellation fee calculation: €800 × 25% = €200
• Fee amount charged: €200

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 you cancel: Important considerations

Before requesting a cancellation, we strongly recommend you consider the full impact beyond just the fee. Cancellations affect your property's reputation, search visibility, and future booking performance on all channels.

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.

Summary

Understanding your cancellation policy helps you make informed decisions about your bookings. By avoiding cancellations when possible and offering alternatives when necessary, you protect your reputation, maintain guest trust, and ensure the long-term success of your property on Holidu and other booking channels.