We’ve all been there—plans change at the last minute, and suddenly that hotel reservation you made weeks ago is no longer needed. But when you check the terms, you realize the cancellation window has closed, and you’re now facing a steep penalty or even losing the full cost of your stay. Fortunately, there’s a clever little workaround that many seasoned travelers use to avoid these fees—and it’s surprisingly simple.

Here’s how it works. If you’ve missed the hotel’s cancellation deadline but still want to avoid the penalty, you can try this two-step trick: First, call the hotel and reschedule your reservation to a later date—perhaps by a few days or a week. Most hotels will allow you to modify your reservation without a fee, especially if the new date is within the same rate category and room type. The key here is that by moving the reservation, you’re effectively resetting the clock on your cancellation window.

Once your reservation has been successfully moved to the later date, hang up and wait just a few minutes. Then, call back and cancel the newly rescheduled reservation. Because this new date falls outside the cancellation penalty period, you’ll likely be able to cancel it for free, without any fees or charges.

While this method isn’t guaranteed to work 100% of the time—some hotels have stricter policies or may flag frequent changes—it often does the trick, especially with large hotel chains or independently owned hotels that offer flexible customer service.

Of course, this approach should be used responsibly. Hotel cancellation policies exist for a reason, and abusing loopholes could lead to hotels tightening their rules or refusing future accommodations. But for travelers caught in a pinch, this trick can be a lifesaver—and a wallet-saver too.

So next time you’re stuck with a non-refundable reservation and your plans change, try this method. A simple call and a little timing might be all it takes to avoid unnecessary fees.