Cancellation policy text can look intimidating, but it almost always answers the same three questions, and finding those three answers is enough to understand your actual position: what's the exact cutoff date and time, what timezone does that cutoff use, and what happens if you cancel after it.
The cutoff date and time matters more than travelers usually assume — a policy that says "free cancellation until 24 hours before check-in" isn't the same as "free cancellation until midnight the day before," and the difference can be several hours depending on your check-in time. Read the specific time, not just the day.
Timezone is the detail most often missed entirely. A cutoff is usually set in the hotel's local time, not yours. For a booking in a different timezone from where you're sitting when you check the policy, it's worth converting the deadline into your own local time to avoid cancelling a few hours later than you meant to.
What happens after the cutoff is usually one of two things: a flat cancellation fee (often the first night's rate) or forfeiture of the full amount. Both are stated explicitly in the policy text, even when it's buried in smaller print — it's worth the thirty seconds to find it before you rely on being able to change plans later.
