Cancellation and refunds
Last updated 15 November 2026
What you get back, and when. Every listing shows its policy before you book.
The advance
You pay an advance to book, 30% of the total unless the listing states another percentage. The amount is rounded up to a whole rupee and is never more than the total. The balance is paid at the property. Refunds below apply to the advance you paid online.
Before the host confirms
- You do not pay within 15 minutes. The hold on the rooms is released. Nothing is charged.
- You paid and the host has not answered yet. The host has 2 hours. You can cancel in that time and get the advance back in full.
- The host declines, or does not answer in 2 hours. The request ends and the advance is refunded in full. You do not need to ask.
After the host confirms
Each stay has one of three policies, set by the host and shown on the listing. The time counted is the time left before check-in (the first day of your stay, at the property's check-in time, India time).
| Policy | Cancel early enough | Cancel later |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible | Full advance back, up to 24 hours before check-in | No refund |
| Moderate | Full advance back, up to 5 days before check-in | Half of the advance back, from 5 days down to check-in |
| Strict | Half of the advance back, up to 7 days before check-in | No refund |
Half amounts are rounded down to the paisa. The policy applies to the advance only; you never pay more than the advance online.
Trips with more than one stay
If your trip has several stays, the strictest of their policies applies to the whole trip, counted from the check-in of the first stay. Cancelling cancels every stay in the trip together.
When the host cancels
If a host cancels a confirmed booking, you get the advance back in full, whatever the policy. If one host in a trip cancels, the whole trip is cancelled and the advance is refunded in full.
Transport and other services
Vehicle transport and other services arranged by Bula are confirmed with you directly and may carry their own terms. TODO: cancellation rules for vehicle transport and activities
How and when you are paid back
Refunds go back to the method you paid with. You will see the refunded amount on your booking and in an email. TODO: typical refund time with the payment partner, for example 5 to 7 working days
No-shows and early departure
If you do not arrive, or leave early, the advance is not refunded. Tell the host as early as you can; they may agree to something fair, but they do not have to.
How to cancel
Open your booking from your trips and choose Cancel. It shows how much you would get back before you confirm. If you cannot cancel online, use the contact page.