Booking hotels with flexible cancellation policies is crucial for dealing with unexpected changes in travel plans.Platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Airbnb offer various levels of flexibility in terms of cancellation policies.Understanding hotel cancellation policies such as fully refundable, partially refundable, non-refundable, and pay at the property is important.Use filters on booking platforms to easily find hotels with free cancellation options.Avoid prepaid deals unless you are certain about your plans, as flexibility is worth the extra cost.Look for 'pay later' options that offer free cancellation and payment closer to check-in date.Confirm cancellation policies directly with the hotel after booking through a third-party site.Setting calendar reminders for cancellation deadlines can help you manage your bookings effectively.Reading reviews about cancellation experiences can provide insights into how accommodating hotels are.Consider booking multiple hotels with free cancellation and narrowing down your choices later for peak travel times.