Overnight stay - pay more to make it amendable or no?

[Samisue]

We want to book an overnight stay in a couple of week’s time. No reason to think we won’t go, I suppose unless we happened to be poorly or something. It’s £30 more to book the ‘amendable’ option. Would you spend this or not?

I guess it is good to have back up but when I’m 99% sure we will go, that £30 could be spent on breakfast out the next day.

YABU - I’d always book it

YANBU - no, waste of money

I think it depends on how much of an issue it is if you lose the money by not being able to go. I'd pay extra for a refundable room at a luxury hotel than somewhere like Travelodge where I could accept losing £50 if necessary

Well it depends doesn't it? I do sometimes if I'm not exactly sure which family members will be coming. But if it's a near certainty that everyone will be going then I don't.
If it's a long way in the future, I usually flexibook.
I did lose my money once when I didn't flexibook as I twisted my ankle and couldn't drive. This made getting there difficult, and made the visit pointless anyway.

I always book it to be free cancellation where possible - and will seek out venues that offer this - because for us life is such that it is always a risk we may need to cancel.

if you don’t think it’s likely though I can see the appeal of the cheaper!

I always book cheaper non refundable.

We book refundable but I have ME and Fibro so plans don’t always come to fruition.

If I wasn’t regularly ill then I’d probably do the non refundable option.

Usually wouldn't pay extra and especially not if in couple of weeks and was £30 extra

I was meant to go over Easter to a cottage with hot tub as my husband got it for Xmas as a present. 2 days before we had to move the dates as my son had broken an arm. I always book cancelable / amendable even if it costs more. Live always doesn’t go as you plan it and I don’t like losing money

For £30 I generally would.

If it was £300 more (like is often the case with flights), I wouldn't.

But I generally need flexibility due to having an elderly mother. I also tend to book things very last minute these days - partly due to her, and partly because the weather has been so rubbish so I book a few days ahead and hope a fine weather forecast is accurate!

Premier Inns are good as they have a rate that is cancellable up to 1pm on the day you arrive.

YANBU

Book the free cancellation option, then see how things are by the cancellation deadline-you could then book a non-refundable option and cancel the original booking. Downside is that prices might go up but I once got a much better price nearer to the date.

2k for a night in the Savoy, you probably should. £50 travel Lodge I'd risk it.

Even better if it’s £49.98 for two rooms in a Travelodge.
Last week I booked with a choice of £24.99 per room or (if I recall correctly) £27.99 per room. Thats £6 I could use to buy part of something …..

In general I’ll have a moments thought on the price options, how far in advance and how much money I’m risking. If I’m quite sure that I won’t cancel, that the thing won’t be cancelled, or that its cheap enough to not care so much then I’ll just pay the cheaper price.

Sometimes there are 3 price options - no changes, date changes allowed, and full change/cancellation.

For the OPs case, £30 extra for something in a couple of weeks, I probably wouldn’t pay the extra - unless the stay is a bit more premium and the risk is £££s

I've never needed to cancel so I book the non-refundable rate.

But I have been tempted to book the refundable rate for a summer stay, in case the weather looks crap.

We always book the cheapest option and have a back up plan of what we will do instead if the reason for the booking doesn't go ahead (outdoor event gets cancelled due to bad weather, friends we are meeting change their minds for example).

I dither about this as well.

Depends how much you'll lose if you don't go and how far in advance you're booking.

You said couple of weeks OP. A lot can happen in our family in 2 weeks so i'd be wary! 😂

If 30 quid is not much less than the price of the room there's no point. If you're losing £100+ it's worth it.

Like everyone else, it depends on the price of the room. Anything less than £50 then I wouldn't bother.

I'd pay the extra for the amendable one and then keep an eye on prices for the stay in case the price drops nearer the date. You can then book the cheaper price and cancel the amendable booking.

It's an insurance policy you're taking out isn't it. So it depends on your attitude to insurance policies in general. Are you the type who only insures things that would be financially catastrophic to lose (house, car)? Or do you insure everything from the washing machine to your phone?
The former approach is much much cheaper over a whole lifetime, IF at any one time you have enough savings to cover replacing anything vital immediately.