DEAR MISS MANNERS : I made arrangements with a couple of acquaintances for an overnight trip to celebrate one of their birthdays and to sightsee. We were to stay in a hotel.

Five weeks prior to the night, some close family friends told me they were coming to visit me that same weekend. I told the acquaintance whose birthday it was that I could not make it after all. They became upset because the hotel reservation was non-refundable.

I apologized and explained that these other friends were coming from out of state. I am honestly closer to them.

I asked the acquaintance if they could call the hotel to ask about a refund, but they refused. I called the hotel myself, and although the booking was non-refundable, it could have been rescheduled.

I tried to explain this to my acquaintance, bu

See Full Page