Jordon Cox, the ITV presenter and content creator known as the 'Coupon King,' has revealed a 'secret' hotel booking trick that could save holidaymakers hundreds of pounds. Posting on YouTube and Facebook, Cox explained how travelers can take advantage of 'free cancellation' policies to rebook at lower prices if rates drop closer to the travel date.
How the Trick Works
Cox advises booking a hotel stay with a free cancellation option. After booking, he recommends checking the same website periodically for price drops. If the price decreases, cancel the original booking and rebook at the cheaper rate. He suggests checking around two months, two weeks, and five days before travel, but notes that cancellation deadlines vary, with most up to 48 hours before check-in.
“Hotels don’t want you to know this hack,” Cox claimed. He shared that he once saved £400 on a week’s hotel stay using this method. “It could pay a lot to check! It won’t work every time, but set a reminder in your phone, and spend a few minutes to potentially save £100s!”
Additional Tips and Social Media Reaction
Cox also noted that the trick works for car hire bookings. The post gained over 20,000 views and hundreds of likes on social media. One viewer commented, “That's a decent tip tbf.” Another added, “And that’s why hotels don’t offer cancellation for long.” A third user recommended a safer approach: “Make a new booking at the lower price, THEN cancel the original. Much safer in case someone else books.”
MoneySavingExpert offers similar advice, stating on its website: “You can also save by cancelling if the price drops after you've booked. To do this, simply cancel the original booking, then rebook at the cheaper price. Often this can work with the site you booked with. Most booking sites and hotel websites give you a non-refundable and a free cancellation option for each room type. Non-refundable rooms tend to be cheaper, so you'll need to weigh up if paying more for free cancellation is worth it.”
