Booking Terms

Cancellation Policy

HireALocals prioritizes mutual respect between travelers and local hosts. Hosts block dedicated personal time for confirmed experiences.

1. Cancellation Before Payment (Unpaid Bookings)

When a booking request is submitted, it begins in pending status while the local host evaluates their schedule. No payment is collected during this stage.

Instant Self-Service Cancellation: Travelers may cancel any unpaid booking (whether pending or newly confirmed) at any time directly from their booking dashboard (My Bookings) by clicking "Cancel booking".
Zero Fees: Unpaid cancellations incur no platform fee or cancellation charge.

2. Cancellation of Paid & Confirmed Bookings

Once a local host has confirmed a booking and the traveler has completed secure checkout via Safepay, the booking enters paid status, and the host reserves that specific date and time window exclusively for the traveler.

To ensure platform booking records, host compensation, and payment gateway transactions remain accurately synchronized:

Coordinated Cancellation: Paid bookings cannot be cancelled by unilateral automated click. Travelers must contact HireALocals Support or email support@hirealocals.com with the booking reference number.
Advance Notice Guidance: As an operational courtesy, travelers are encouraged to provide as much advance notice as possible (ideally 24 to 48 hours prior to the scheduled start time where practical) if their itinerary changes. This is an operational recommendation to allow the host an opportunity to adjust their calendar, not a mandatory cancellation condition or automatic refund eligibility rule.
Refund Evaluation: When a paid cancellation is requested, our support team liaises between the traveler and host. If the cancellation is approved, a refund is issued to the original payment card in accordance with our Refund Policy.

3. Host / Local Initiated Cancellation

We expect our verified hosts to honor all confirmed bookings. However, unforeseen emergencies or safety hazards (such as severe weather disruptions or illness) may occasionally require a host to cancel.

Prompt Traveler Notification: If a host must cancel, they are expected to notify the traveler and platform support promptly.
Full 100% Refund: If a host cancels a confirmed, paid booking or fails to provide the booked experience, the traveler is entitled to a 100% refund of all amounts paid (including service price and HireALocals 12% platform fee). Refunds are submitted promptly to the payment processor; posting times to your account depend on payment provider and banking processing cycles (see our Refund Policy).
Free Reschedule Option: Where practical and mutually agreed between traveler and host, a free reschedule to an alternative date or time may be offered instead of a cancellation. A reschedule is an optional coordination arrangement and not an automatic entitlement, guaranteed software feature, or host availability guarantee.

4. Schedule Modifications & Meeting Adjustments

When plans shift slightly, full cancellation may not be necessary:

Meeting Point Coordination: Travelers can update their meeting point, pickup address, or special instructions on the booking details page or via messaging prior to the trip.
Same-Day Timing Adjustments: Adjustments to meeting times or locations on the day of the trip can be coordinated directly between traveler and host via our secure in-app messaging system (Messages) where both parties mutually agree. Same-day coordination is an available option subject to host availability and does not constitute an unconditional refund or cancellation guarantee.

5. Weather & Unforeseen Circumstances

Walking tours and outdoor food experiences often continue in mild rain or seasonal weather. In the event of severe weather warnings or official local travel restrictions, travelers and hosts are encouraged to reschedule. If rescheduling is impossible, platform support will assist in processing a fair resolution or full refund.

6. How to Submit a Cancellation Request

If you need to cancel a paid booking, please reach out to our support team as soon as possible:

HireALocals Support
Email: support@hirealocals.com
Online Request: hirealocals.com/contact
Please state your Booking #{id} and the reason for cancellation.

1. Cancellation Before Payment (Unpaid Bookings)

When a booking request is submitted, it begins in pending status while the local host evaluates their schedule. No payment is collected during this stage.

Instant Self-Service Cancellation: Travelers may cancel any unpaid booking (whether pending or newly confirmed) at any time directly from their booking dashboard (My Bookings) by clicking "Cancel booking".

Zero Fees: Unpaid cancellations incur no platform fee or cancellation charge.

2. Cancellation of Paid & Confirmed Bookings

To ensure platform booking records, host compensation, and payment gateway transactions remain accurately synchronized:

Coordinated Cancellation: Paid bookings cannot be cancelled by unilateral automated click. Travelers must contact HireALocals Support or email support@hirealocals.com with the booking reference number.

Advance Notice Guidance: As an operational courtesy, travelers are encouraged to provide as much advance notice as possible (ideally 24 to 48 hours prior to the scheduled start time where practical) if their itinerary changes. This is an operational recommendation to allow the host an opportunity to adjust their calendar, not a mandatory cancellation condition or automatic refund eligibility rule.

Refund Evaluation: When a paid cancellation is requested, our support team liaises between the traveler and host. If the cancellation is approved, a refund is issued to the original payment card in accordance with our Refund Policy.

3. Host / Local Initiated Cancellation

Prompt Traveler Notification: If a host must cancel, they are expected to notify the traveler and platform support promptly.

Full 100% Refund: If a host cancels a confirmed, paid booking or fails to provide the booked experience, the traveler is entitled to a 100% refund of all amounts paid (including service price and HireALocals 12% platform fee). Refunds are submitted promptly to the payment processor; posting times to your account depend on payment provider and banking processing cycles (see our Refund Policy).

Free Reschedule Option: Where practical and mutually agreed between traveler and host, a free reschedule to an alternative date or time may be offered instead of a cancellation. A reschedule is an optional coordination arrangement and not an automatic entitlement, guaranteed software feature, or host availability guarantee.

4. Schedule Modifications & Meeting Adjustments

When plans shift slightly, full cancellation may not be necessary:

Meeting Point Coordination: Travelers can update their meeting point, pickup address, or special instructions on the booking details page or via messaging prior to the trip.

Same-Day Timing Adjustments: Adjustments to meeting times or locations on the day of the trip can be coordinated directly between traveler and host via our secure in-app messaging system (Messages) where both parties mutually agree. Same-day coordination is an available option subject to host availability and does not constitute an unconditional refund or cancellation guarantee.

5. Weather & Unforeseen Circumstances