Will I lose my initial payment if I delay my holiday dates?

Delaying your holiday instead of cancelling outright usually lets you keep your initial deposit, as long as you message the agency well before the cancellation penalty periods start. The operator tends to hold the money as credit for later travel dates.

Most agencies are quite helpful about shifting dates; they see that real-life events pop up. Still, if your rescheduled dates land in a pricier peak season, you have to cover the gap between hotel rates. And if you push it to the final minute, some hotels may keep the deposit, which then means the agency cannot move that credit to the new booking.