Hotel Drama: Expedia Customer Told to Cancel Booking Over 'Low' Rate

A traveler who snagged a great deal on Expedia got more than she bargained for when the hotel asked her to cancel—because the rate was apparently too low for their liking. This peculiar request was shared on Reddit, where the woman described her experience.

After booking the room and receiving confirmation, she got a message from the hotel via Expedia’s messaging system. The hotel requested that she cancel her booking. Yes, you heard it right—cancel it because the rate wasn’t profitable for them. Talk about buyer’s remorse, but on the seller's side!

She contacted Expedia to clarify the situation, and an agent assured her that the booking was confirmed and should be honored—unless she initiated the cancellation herself. Armed with that information, she reached out to the hotel again to inform them of Expedia’s response. The hotel didn’t take it lightly; they allegedly threatened not to accommodate her if she refused to cancel.

Expedia later addressed the situation, stating that hotels are expected to honor bookings unless extraordinary circumstances arise. Their spokesperson added that Expedia investigates hotels with consistently poor traveler experiences. However, in this case, they lacked the necessary details to follow up.

Reddit users chimed in with advice and similar horror stories. One urged her not to cancel because doing so could leave her liable for penalties. Others warned her about the risks of showing up at a hotel in a foreign country—this one was located in the Middle East—and finding herself without a room, no matter how 'right' she might be.

One commenter bluntly said, "This hotel has made it clear they don’t want you staying. Take your money and rebook somewhere else." Another shared their own similar experience, recounting a nightmare scenario where a hotel demanded an extra 200% payment upon arrival.

It’s a cautionary tale for anyone booking travel deals online. While snagging a bargain is exciting, sometimes it comes with unexpected baggage—like a hotel that doesn’t quite understand how agreements work.