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Nothing bad at all. Unless you find something offensive about lying and screwing people.

Hopefully, every place requires a full, non-refundable deposit.

Who gets an advantage, doing that? Only one person - that's Andre L.

Who suffers?

The hotel owner at the place that you cancel at the last minute who then has the added admin of trying to rent the room to another at short notice, probably losing money on double admin, possibly renting the room at a discount, possibly failing to rent it at all.

Others who suffer are those fellow travelers who, searching for a room you will ultimately not use, find that the hotel is full or the room type is unavailable and have to look elsewhere.

And finally, everybody else suffers who will want to travel there as the owners will wind up raising all their prices to counter the extra costs.

Thanks, Andre, for raising the costs of my holidays.

- = -

Note, before you explode, that if only one person does this and it is rare the third consequence may not occur. If it becomes common it certainly will.

I won't forget that when I first moved to Germany, a colleague of mine booked a hotel in Garmisch over the phone and the only information they asked for was her name. No credit card, no address. I was a bit dumbfounded that a place of business would put so much faith that the customer wouldn't turn up a no-show. (and I still think it's poor business practice)

One of the good (or bad) benefits of booking.com (since I used them the majority of the time) is that you're allowed to double book. I've done it many times, almost always booking two hotels in two different cities on the same day (planning for long weekend breaks). I'm also guilty of booking a hotel in a location and then cancelling shortly before when a better deal comes along. Is it unethical? After witnessing how nonchalant businesses were in the service sector (first paragraph), I said no. The hotels and the booking site set all the rules, so as long as you play within the boundaries, it's all fair in love and hotels. (Rich people and tax loopholes come to mind)

With regard to screwing other tourists over - more a political decision than you think (individual rights vs. collective rights). Ex. - should it be mandatory for motorcycle riders to wear helmets because it will lower insurance costs for the rest of us?

I will usually double book in the initial planning stages as different hotels get recommended to me and I see if they are available. But, that usually is only a matter of an hour or so of having two hotels booked for the same date. I immediately cancel the other one, or wait for a traveling companion to take a look, but I would not feel right having them held till the last minute (being a small business owner) and thinking they may not be able to book that room while I had two.

Ethical issue? What? We're not talking about taking bribes, using political influence to get your unemployed brother-in-law appointed to a cushy government post, or using tests from human genome sequencing to abort un unborn child because it may have a genetic marker that you don't like. We're not even talking about letting the aliens from Area 51 live in the basement of the White House. As long as you intend to take a trip to one of those places on those dates, and as long as you adhere to the cancellation policies of the lodging and the policies of the booking site, there isn't an issue as far as I'm concerned. Having said that, you should cancel as early as you possibly can when you know what you're doing for sure.

As for those small B&Bs not taking any info other than one's name, e-mail, and phone number (maybe address), I was also a little surprised when I ran into this for the first time in Europe this past year. Two places required nothing more, one place required a 20€ deposit via PayPal, and another requested (but didn't require) one night's payment via wire transfer. They do place a lot of trust, but they will also still try to collect according to their cancellation policy for no shows (would ask that you wire whatever amout is owed). I suppose one could simply ignore their requests, and maybe the owner would even send the matter to a collection agency if they had enough info. They would be expecting one in this case to do the honorable thing and adhere to the "contract" that was agreed upon when the room was reserved. Now, this can become a big ethical issue IMO should one decide not to pay when they have not lived up to their end of the bargain.

I often book a hotel ( many months in advance) and then continue looking at other choices, and I will cancel and rebook if I find something I like better.
I do not cancel a few days in advance, but usually at least a few weeks ( or even months) in advance.

I travel during summer usually, and most places I stay are pretty busy and can easily rebook room with even a week or two notice. I haven't cut it that close, but I feel no guilt about it period. If hotel did not think it could handle it they would have a more restrictive cancellation policy , I have booked places with 24 hr free cancellation policies, which I think are pretty generous on their part, but they wouldn't do that if they felt it would endanger their business.

If I was choosing a b@b or a private stay in a home I would be more careful to begin with .

I myself might find waiting until 10 days before a bit of a close cut, but its not unethical .

I do warn you to not forget to cancel, I did that once , but I did pay a one night penalty which I thought was more then fair.

Easy question to answer. If it was your hotel or B&B, how would you feel about it? Always put yourself in the other persons shoes if you aren't sure if what you are planning to do is ethical, kind, etc. If you wouldn't want it done to you, then don't do it to someone else.

I recently made 2 reservations where neither hotel asked for any kind of deposit, etc. One was in Munich, one in Stuttgart and I kept both of them, and will recommend both hotels to others. I find trusting behaviour like this refreshing, and it is a shame that others feel it is ok to ruin it.

"If it was your hotel or B&B, how would you feel about it?"

That's also an easy question to answer: I would not set forth any rules or agree to any booking site rules that would in any way have the potential to negatively impact my business. So, it all becomes part of the business of doing business. As others have said, the hotels and booking sites have set the rules. Work within the boundaries of the rules, and there shouldn't be an ethical dilemma. Fail to work within the rules, and pay whatever penalty is dictated by the rules. That's all fair. But you're right about the B&Bs that require no deposit or credit card...they're taking a risk that they have (so far anyway) determined to be acceptable to them. As long as one adheres to the cancellation policies of the B&B, I see this as no different than a larger hotel. The B&B wouldn't have policies (or shouldn't have anyway) that could harm their business.

By asking the question, you have doubts. Using 10 day weather forecast to decide which trip to take combined with three-day cancellation policies indicates decisions will be made in a fairly narrow window of time and as close as three days out. So why make reservations at all? The answer presumably is you are traveling at more popular times/locations and wish preferred accommodations. "What do you think of ethical aspects of double booking? Is it really that bad what I intend to so?" Given the above, it's not ethical and harms hotels and fellow travelers...you are the sole beneficiary.

If Andre follows all the rules set by both the hotels and the booking sites, how EXACTLY does he harm hotels? And how EXACTLY does he harm other travelers? Other travelers have the same opportunity as Andre to search for and book available hotel rooms for a given date. If a room isn't available because Andre booked it, then it's simply not available and another lodging, maybe even one of those small B&Bs that really needs the business, may benefit from Andre's practice. BTW, pretty much everyone does something every day that benefits nobody but the person doing it. That doesn't make whatever it is they're doing somehow unethical simply because the thing they're doing doesn't benefit anyone else.

I don't know. I tend to choose hotels that offer really flexible cancellation policies (up to 24 hours ahead of time, usually) so I'm not out hundreds of bucks if I have to cancel at the last minute (nature of my husband's job makes this a constant possibility)

I've never had to cancel, but I do feel like if the hotel is setting these policies (and even on Booking.com, there are both refundable up to 24 hours and non-refundable hotels available - sometimes both options at the same hotel with better deals offered to those who chose to book non-refundable rooms) then the hotel has taken into account the fact that people may potentially cancel at the last minute (less than a week out) for ANY reason and don't find it impedes their bottom line.

All that said, it seems like there'd be a difference using Andre's strategy with a large hotel chain versus a small family-run place that is relying on you to keep your agreement to stay with them for their financial security.

I have always agreed with the wise man who said, "Character/ethics is what you do when no one is looking." It's doing what is right, not just following established rules or law.

The question was about the ethics of double-booking not just about the feasibility or possibility of double-booking. When you consider the ethics of action you look beyond mere legality to consider the impact of what you do on others and your community and the world that you live in. If you haven't thought about issues in this manner, check out The Ethicist in the NY Times.

I think that what you propose is potentially harmful to a number of people as outlined in the other responses. Would you cancel your trip if you only made the one booking to Levanto and rain was forecast? Or would you go anyway? That might weigh into your thinking. Of course, with double-booking at a minimum at least one business is screwed.

Aa Nigel said, if this becomes a business practice, all hotels will start requiring deposits or worse, they will overbook their hotels like the airlines do to insure that they fill their hotels. Or they will start requiring a minimum stay as they do in Edinburgh during the festival.

So, another point to consider is whether or not this behavior will make traveling a less pleasant experience in the future. Sure, you've got a great situation this year, but if it rains in Levant this year and you cancel, what will your experience be next year?

Is it unethical? Perhaps. Is it a nice thing to do to a small business with a small profit margin? Probably not.

Pam

I've used booking.com extensively and have cancelled reservations 3 or 4 times, usually a month or more ahead. I've never double-booked, it's actually never occurred to me, and I find the idea unethical on several levels (which have been pointed out already). Like those Renaissance paintings that show a horse's behind in the foreground to demonstrate perspective, just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. I agree with posters who point out that it's harder on a small B&B or hotel than it is on a large hotel.

For all the armchair attorneys: One thing to note about booking.com: the hotel sets the cancellation policy, which varies from 24 hours' notice to 7 days' notice, to no cancellation refund (for the first night on lower-priced rooms). Let the double-booker beware.

The Golden Rule argument is moot because if I was a hotel manager, I would have stricter cancellation policies. The fact that some proprietors don't suggests that they must be okay with short-notice, penalty-free cancellations, or they wouldn't have agreed to it in the first place. And bringing personal character, morality, and integrity into the equation just proves that those who claim they are without flaws wish that others would have the same worldview as them, the anti-thesis of multi-culturalism and RS' philosophy, by the way. Pick a side, ethicists!

Who here has claimed to have no flaws, James? Should we just completely give up trying to do the right things cause we can't do all of them right?

Andre' is the one that asked and used the words ethical. My take is that if you have to ask about something like this, you probably already know the answer, but you are just looking for someone to tell you the answer you want to hear.

The whole thing isn't about booking and then canceling, it is about doing it with an ulterior motive.

James nailed it. It's hilarious to me that ethics, law, and even morality have somehow worked their way into discussions of a legitimate business transaction between a seller and a buyer, whereby all parties are working within the parameters of the rules set up by the sellers (hotels) themselves. And why question the ethics and morality of a single customer, Andre, anyway? Why not also question the ethics and morality of the hotel chains about, say, the environment and labor while you're at it? Are you okay with huge U.S. corporate hotel chains damaging the environment and killing off entire species to put resorts in the swamps and along the coastline in the Bahamas without the rigor of tough environmental laws like we have here? What about ignoring newer laws to protect the environment and people in Sri Lanka following the big tsunami and building huge resorts right on the beach in violation of the law? How about ignoring internationally-recognized worker rights and forcing temporarily disabled housekeepers to do heavy work in resorts in developing countries (and also in the U.S.)? Now, these are a few ideas that certainly should generate some interest among those of you with such passion regarding Andre's ethics. Some of the thought processes here are curious to say the least. BTW, what is Andre's "ulterior motive"? He hasn't concealed anything from this group as far as I can tell.

I'm enjoying this exchange, it gives me a better perspective of each of you. I see many frequent posters to this message board have weighed in.

One vote - Jo.

So, is this unethical.

I bought two dresses for a fancy NYE do.

I have them both at home, I wanted to see what each looked like with my shoes and jewerly etc..

I will wear one, and I will return one unworn, and I will return it before NYE( retailer will not take back Special Occaison dresses after NYE for obvious reasons like people who wear and return !) .

In meantime, one of those dresses I am not going to wear is not in store, and someone could have boughten it and loved it and worn it..

I am operating exactly as store clerk suggested ( she said take them both and return one early as per rules) .. but store may lose out on the sale of that one dress.

So if we apply the hotel concept to this , then both store clerk, store policy and me are all unethical.. really , how judgemental some people are..

Pat nailed it, too.

An interesting subject... Over the years I have booked and arranged many, many hotel rooms for folks. And when I am working with them, I do not allow double-booking. That's because I have developed personal relationships with representatives at that hotel – or I want to! If I was to constantly/consistently cancel just before the policy deadline... the benefits, upgrades, and amenities I can sometimes get for folks would rapidly disappear. In our relationships, it's a matter of trust. I value the service they provide – they value my clients showing up!

To that end, hotels and airlines always seem to overbook. How many times have you been bumped on a flight?" Or had to "be walked" at a hotel? Fortunately, due to the hotel relationships I have built, no one I have worked with had to be shuffled off to a "different" location. But it does happen and way too often.

Why? Because hotels and airlines KNOW there is a set amount of people that WILL cancel at the last minute and then that room/seat goes unused. That's lost revenue for them. So they overbook to compensate for that percentage of people who will cancel. And sometimes EVERYONE shows up!

Then why do hotels/B&B's have such "flexible" cancellation policies? Well, that's simple – competition! Everyone is trying to find a way to ATTRACT new customers. I prefer to work with places that want to KEEP customers. And yet, it is far more challenging for smaller venues who are trying to build their business.

I once spent a few days in Florence with a husband and wife team as they struggled to pay the bills for their 8-room hotel. Every day was a struggle and a last-minute cancellation brought tears and frustration to a couple trying to build their dream. Sadly they lost their business after three years of day-to-day financial challenges.

Who gets hurt the most? Well, the smaller, family run B&B with limited rooms, limited funds, and bills to pay. And eventually ... the customer, as service standards decline due to reduced labor costs, the inability to maintain or upgrade a facility, hotels closing so less competition, etc.

Living in Italy, many of my "agreements" with locals I met were simply a handshake. I NEVER had a written lease at any apartment during my entire stay in Italy. We simply agreed this would be the path we would take. I gave them a deposit and trusted they would return it. They trusted I would not "skip-out" without notice or steal all the furniture in the apartment. Too bad the days of those agreements – that level of trust - seem to be gone.

Is it right to take advantage of the flexible cancellation rules and double, triple, even quadruple book? (Hey, I once had a lady call me who had SIX hotels in the same city for the same period... I told I would not work with her until she cancelled all of them - today!) I suppose this is done for convenience, for cost, and for some - a sense of entitlement? Expect costs to continue to increase and services to decrease...

After five years in Europe (this time) I've been back in the States for less than 5 months. I've been appalled as I've seen/read about multiple shootings of children, movie-goers, and firefighters, talk of a financial cliff, and a general sense of apathy in (and about) Congress .... Why are we surprised when the attitude seems to be... " We're just taking the rules as far as we can." When did we start letting rules determine our personal ethics/morality?

You reap what you sow... I guess I'm just old fashioned - I miss the days of the handshake with my "friends" in Italy...

Ron I think we all agree that smaller family run places and B@Bs in particular one should take extra care. Many do not have good cancellation policies anyways ( and now we know why). I think if a hotel is big enough to be on a booking agency site its more likely to be able to reboook a room with a few weeks notice,, not perhaps a few days, I would hope/think someone cancelling on such short notice had a good reason to do so.

Like button for Mr Ron.

I agree Pat - and I'm not against cancelling a reservation - things do happen. I've had to call a few hotels and cancel reservations. I guess I'm against double and triple booking and then cancelling "for convenience." The intent is different...

With the introduction of the internet now many smaller hotels/B&B's are working through booking.com, venere.com, hotels.com, or other third-party vendors. They have no choice if they want to be "searchable" and discovered. And believe me, talking to them, they are conflicted by the cancellation policies. It's a new world for them.

But what choice do they have? The internet is the booking method of choice for most travelers today. The result, for them, is decreased profits as they have to pay those third-party vendors a percentage of each sale. Their margins get less and for many of them, only the opportunity for more-rooms-sold offsets the declining margin-per-sale-issue.

And since they make less per room, they may be inclined to raise prices - if their market will bear the increase. Thus, with less-earnings-per-room, a cancellation at the last minute becomes even a bigger issue... It's very frustrating for some of the struggling accommodations.

I was going to say exactly what Jo said. Put yourself in the place of the hotel owner and make your decision that way.

Getting out my popcorn and diet soda.

Triple like button, for Nigel, Jo, and Ron. I would never cancel my reservation at a family run B&B at the last minute. If I could cancel giving them 10 days or more notice, I would do that if an honest change of plans, illness, etc. came up. I would consider how difficult it may be for them to fill that room if I had had it reserved for two months and then canceled. Even if you follow their rules for cancellation, on short notice, it's a dirty trick to double book and cancel at the last minute.

However, I agree with Michael amd James that it is a business transaction, and I have no problem canceling with a large chain, such as Marriott or Hilton, because I know that room is available immediately to others, via their website and other internet booking sites.

It's two different things. Comparing apples to oranges. One is a large corporation, which cannot be hurt financially by your cancellation. The other (family run B&B's) can be ruined by people repeatedly canceling at the last minute. Not ethical to do something that you know hurts another person just for your convenience or on a whim.

Think of all the people, dozens maybe, who called the B&B wanting your spot the week before you canceled on short notice. The innkeeper has already lost their booking because you were taking up a space you never intended to use. How is that fair to either innkeeper or other tourists needing a place to stay?

I do not double book in the first place. I have a typed itinerary, with hotels/B&B's scheduled, and have researched the best deals and locations to death before I make my reservations.

If your plans change, do the right thing. If canceling a reservation at a B&B or small hotel, abide by their cancellation policies, yes, but also give them as much notice as soon as possible so they can fill the spot.

Team Michael, pat, amd James. If cancelling reservations within the confines of their policy is enough to drive a place out of business, they're doing something else wrong.

Well, here we go again. I really like to stay out of these arguments but sometimes I just need to put my 2 cents in.

My vote goes to whoever thinks it is not unethical as long as you follow the rules set by the hotels/B&Bs and the booking websites.

I don't see the issue. What's the difference between double booking on purpose and having to cancel one hotel and book another because you changed your itinerary or the days you wanted the hotel for? Whatever the reason the hotel room was booked and then canceled and if it's done according to their requirements and if penalties are paid if not done properly the results are the same.

I've never actually double booked but I have canceled because of change of plans or just because I later found a better deal at another hotel. I did it within their timeframe for cancelation so never felt guilty about it.