Gulf hotels offer guarantees and grace periods

The oil well in the Gulf of Mexico was plugged last week, but oil still threatens the coast in some areas. Gulf Coast hotels and travel sites are waiving cancellation fees, extending grace periods and offering refunds for travelers, making a trip to the area less of a commitment in the face of uncertainty. Most offers are for limited time periods.

Marriott Beach Guarantee, effective through Labor Day, covers stays affected by an official beach closure. Fifteen Marriott hotels (the majority of which are in Florida) will offer a credit good for 50 percent of the room rate. Guests may also cancel beforehand and receive a full refund if the beach is closed. Groups with scheduled events will receive even more compensations such as credits, discounts and services.

Orbitz Open Beach Guarantee, available through July 31, guards against a beach closure. If a government agency closes a beach within 20 miles of a property or declares a beach dangerous, customers are eligible for a full refund on any unused nights. Participating hotels will notify guests of closures and health advisories.

Hotels.com is waiving cancellation fees until 5 p.m. on check-in day for nearly 50 hotels in Florida. Full refunds also will be made on any unused nights. The offer is good for bookings made Sept. 6 through Sept. 30 using the code OILFLEX for travel.