VRBO & Booking.com: The Best Cancellation Policy Strategy

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What happens when your cancellation policy is working against your revenue instead of protecting it?

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers breaks down the real impact of cancellation policies across VRBO and Booking.com and explains why hosts are leaving significant revenue on the table by using the wrong rules for the wrong seasons. This episode is the continuation of last week’s conversation about Airbnb policies and goes deeper into how each platform structures cancellations, how booking windows shape risk, and how small policy adjustments can dramatically improve your ADR and occupancy.

Jasper unpacks why relying on a single, static policy for the entire year can be harmful, how different markets demand different rules, and why Booking.com’s flexible setup offers strategic advantages that most hosts don’t take advantage of.

You’ll discover:

• Why one cancellation policy for the entire year rarely makes sense

• How booking windows should determine whether you go strict or flexible

• The major differences between strict, firm, moderate, and relaxed VRBO policies

• How Booking.com lets you build multiple policies and price them separately

• Why offering both flexible and non-refundable rates boosts conversions

• How choice overload can confuse guests and reduce bookings

• A strategy to use flexible policies to gain early traction on new channels

• When and why to align your policies across platforms

• Why diversifying policies can help new listings grow faster

• How cancellations affect your ability to rebook at similar ADRs

Jasper also explores how Airbnb will introduce dynamic cancellation policies in 2026, why blocking your summer calendar can protect you from expensive last-minute cancellations, and why Booking.com is gaining momentum in the US short-term rental market.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Cancellation strategies for revenue optimization

• Booking windows and seasonal policy adjustments

• VRBO cancellation tiers explained

• Flexible vs non-refundable rate setup on Booking.com

• Guest behavior and choice stress

• Protecting ADR with the right refund windows

• Channel diversification for STR operators

• Onboarding strategies for new listings

• Airbnb’s upcoming dynamic policies for 2026

🔗 Relevant Links:

Learn more about Freewyld Foundry → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com

Follow Jasper Ribbers → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasperribbers

Follow Freewyld Foundry → https://www.linkedin.com/company/freewyldfoundry

Keywords:

Short-term rentals, vacation rentals, cancellation policies, revenue management, booking windows, Booking.com strategies, VRBO cancellations, Airbnb update, STR host tips, non-refundable rates, flexible policies, ADR growth, occupancy strategy, channel diversification, dynamic pricing, STR profitability, Freewyld, Freewyld Foundry, Jasper Ribbers, hospitality strategy, maximizing revenue

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