If you agree with this statement, you are definitely our kind of person:
“I understand that Jessica and Matthew are basically pretty damn understanding and flexible people. So I know they’ll do their best to accommodate the uncertainties of life. And I understand that they are running a small hotel that tends to book out fairly far in advance, and need to operate a profitable business. So, while they’ll do their best to refund my deposit if I tell them that my plans have changed, the less time I give them to fill the room, the lower the chance that they’ll be able to do so. A week’s lead time should be sufficient. Inside of that window, I’ll be looking at a credit rather than a refund. Of course, if I want to re-schedule my visit, or even give my deposit to a friend, they’ll totally be on board with that.
Oh, and with medical stuff like Covid, they get it. If my plans are cancelled because, say, Mexico closes its borders to tourists, they’ll be happy to give me a full refund.”