Booking with HRS: cancellation times, payment, currency abroad and cashback
HRS is a Cologne-based hotel booking portal with a strong focus on business travel. For a service like this, shipping rules do not apply. What matters is which rate you book, when you can cancel, when and how you pay, and what happens with prices and currency when the hotel is abroad. We read the HRS FAQ, the terms and conditions and the direct-payment page in October 2026.
How a booking works
You search by place, hotel, region or address, set dates and guests, and filter by price, distance, rating, facilities or cancellation terms. Only hotels that are available and bookable for your dates are shown, so the number of results changes with dates and filters. After booking, the reservation is passed to the hotel automatically and you receive a confirmation email with hotel name, dates, rate, payment information, cancellation terms and the hotel's contact details. The site is also available in several languages, including English.
Prices, currency and taxes abroad
Room prices shown are usually per room and per night. Breakfast, parking and similar services are included or charged extra depending on hotel and rate. For hotels abroad, HRS says taxes and surcharges follow local rules, and it gives no guarantee for the amount. If the currency you chose differs from the one the hotel charges, results are displayed in your currency for orientation only, and the hotel currency on the rate conditions is binding, so exchange-rate differences can occur. In Germany, the prices include service charge and statutory VAT.
Cancelling and changing
Whether you can cancel for free depends on the rate. A standard booking can often be cancelled free until a set time on the day of arrival, for example 6 pm local hotel time. Time limits always refer to local time at the destination. Some special rates need prepayment or can only be cancelled with restrictions, and this is shown before you confirm. If you arrive after 6 pm on a standard booking, tell the hotel directly. A guaranteed booking holds the room for a late arrival, but costs can arise if you do not cancel in time or do not turn up. Changes depend on hotel and rate; flexible bookings can be changed under "My bookings" in your myHRS account.
Payment
Many bookings are paid at the hotel. Certain rates need prepayment, and a credit card can be required to secure a booking. The newer "pay directly" option charges your card when you book, in many hotels, with credit card, Google Pay and Apple Pay named as methods. HRS acts as the payment gateway, so card details are not shared with the hotel. You receive a digital invoice as a PDF within 24 hours after check-out.
| At a glance | HRS |
|---|---|
| Price basis | Per room and night |
| Free cancellation | Depends on rate, often until 6 pm on arrival day |
| Payment | At the hotel or in advance, by card, Google Pay, Apple Pay |
| Times | Local hotel time |
Using cashback
Open the HRS page at daily cashback to see the current rate (up to 3%). Press the shop button and book as usual. In your free account the cashback shows as pending and becomes confirmed after HRS has reported the booking. Bookings that are cancelled do not count.
Practical tips
- Read the cancellation line of the rate before you click. The cheapest rate is often the one with prepayment.
- Check the hotel's local currency on abroad bookings.
- Finish the booking in one visit and avoid clicking other cashback or voucher sites on the way.