Post-booking price tracking delivers the most value on refundable rates where you can cancel and rebook without penalty. Understanding the difference upfront saves frustration later.
Refundable rates
- Free cancellation until a stated deadline
- Usually higher nightly price than prepaid
- Ideal for long lead times and monitoring
- Actionable when RoomPriceTracker alerts fire
Non-refundable rates
- Lower upfront price in exchange for no cancellation
- Alerts are informational — rebooking rarely possible
- Still useful to learn market patterns
- Consider for short lead times when price is already low
Choosing for your trip
| Topic | Book non-refundable when | Book refundable when |
|---|---|---|
| Lead time | Days away, price already sharp | Weeks or months ahead |
| Flexibility | Dates and hotel locked | You may rebook if rates drop |
| Monitoring | Low ROI for tracking | Pair with RoomPriceTracker |
| Risk | You accept sunk cost | You want option value |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a travel expert?
No. Search for your hotel, add it to your dashboard, and set an alert threshold. Setup usually takes under two minutes.
How many hotels can I track?
Starter lets you track 3 hotels; Advanced supports up to 9 — useful if you are comparing options or have several upcoming trips.
Is there a discount for new signups?
Yes — sign up through our promotional link for 50% off your first month. Full price applies from month two.