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Original poster

My solo trips are doomed

35 replies

idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 12:08

Partially posting as a whinge, but also tongue in cheek and a little upset.

I have two solo trips planned for next year.

firstly, one of them was affected by a hotel chain going under. Fine, I’ve found an Airbnb for that portion of the trip.

today, I’ve logged into my booking.com account to check the status of my other bookings and I’ve been locked out due to “suspicious activity”. Upon further investigation they’ve banned my account because I had four hotels reserved (2 per trip, each trip involves travelling from one location to another), and it is now showing me that 3/4 of the hotels have been cancelled.

I’ve reached out to each hotel to confirm with them direct whether the bookings stand or not but at this point I feel like all of my accommodation for both trips falling through is a sign that I shouldn’t be going. What do I do????

OP posts:
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Thecows · 11/11/2025 14:31

Relying on 'it' really isn't a strategy for living ..

Original poster
idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 14:16

ImaginaryAilments · 11/11/2025 14:09

Oh, OP, are you the person who has posted a number of times about a trip next year which includes going to F1 in Monza, but who has posted detailed itineraries, down to the minute and scheduling in your showers, for the whole trip, for people to critique? If so, you seem like an anxious, vulnerable person. Which may go some way to explaining your response the this.

No?

OP posts:
wantam · 11/11/2025 14:12

I don't understand your method. Unless you are going at a time when accommodation will usually be full, could you not save the money yourself anyway, and book the hotel direct say a month or so before travelling. That's usually what I do. I'm flexible and will go for whatever accommodation suits me, not necessarily one particular place. Once it's in the location I want, it has a private bathroom and breakfast included, that's it.

I use Booking.com all the time, never had a problem. Occasionally I'll try for a better deal direct also.

ImaginaryAilments · 11/11/2025 14:09

Oh, OP, are you the person who has posted a number of times about a trip next year which includes going to F1 in Monza, but who has posted detailed itineraries, down to the minute and scheduling in your showers, for the whole trip, for people to critique? If so, you seem like an anxious, vulnerable person. Which may go some way to explaining your response the this.

Rollercoaster1920 · 11/11/2025 14:04

I always go direct these days. So I tend to go for boring, corporate hotels that will actually have a booking and backup if things go wrong 9or at least an entity I have a contract with and can claim against). I want a holiday not a cyber crime / systems incompetence themed escape room experience!

The internet was supposed to make things better. Booking flights or hotels these days is hours of avoiding scams looking at screens as prices go up.

Maybe travel agents will make a comeback?

IwishIcouldconfess · 11/11/2025 13:47

idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 13:46

Don’t be rude. It’s not bloody difficult!

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Don't be so dramatic, Its not bloody difficult

Original poster
idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 13:46

IwishIcouldconfess · 11/11/2025 13:43

well book direct, its not bloody difficult

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Don’t be rude. It’s not bloody difficult!

OP posts:
IwishIcouldconfess · 11/11/2025 13:43

idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 13:41

I have travel insurance through my bank. I just feel like I can’t trust these third party sites

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well book direct, its not bloody difficult

Original poster
idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 13:41

Ohmygodthepain · 11/11/2025 13:36

Meh. My NYC hotel cancelled with me whilst I was flying at 37000ft over the Atlantic, it all got sorted when I arrived a few hours later.

Come on girl, if you're resilient enough to travel solo you can sort out hotel accommodation! Some might still be able to pay closer to the time!

And get travel insurance NOW so that if anything happens you can reclaim your costs!

I have travel insurance through my bank. I just feel like I can’t trust these third party sites

OP posts:
Ohmygodthepain · 11/11/2025 13:36

Meh. My NYC hotel cancelled with me whilst I was flying at 37000ft over the Atlantic, it all got sorted when I arrived a few hours later.

Come on girl, if you're resilient enough to travel solo you can sort out hotel accommodation! Some might still be able to pay closer to the time!

And get travel insurance NOW so that if anything happens you can reclaim your costs!

Original poster
idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 13:33

Brefugee · 11/11/2025 13:13

but you were blocking the hotels from being booked by other people so - meh.

Huh? I had one room reserved in one city, then a day later another room in another city (I’m travelling down overnight on the night in between), and then for the other trip one was an airport hotel for one night and then a two night stop in Italy before moving down to Croatia?

OP posts:
Original poster
idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 13:32

lostintranslation148 · 11/11/2025 13:19

Are you saying they cancelled because you had 4 hotels booked over two trips? I doubt that's the reason they suspended it. We've had 4 hotels booked for one trip and 3 for another and it's not been a problem. We had 8 different hotels booked for one holiday a few years ago.

I don't think it's wise to go on holidays that you can't currently afford though. Have you pulled out of a lot of bookings? That might become an issue I'd imagine.

They’ve said it’s because of the four.

I’ll be able to pay at the hotels. I just want the money to sit in my savings as opposed to being paid to the hotel at this point.

OP posts:
Misla · 11/11/2025 13:25

Berlinlover · 11/11/2025 13:18

What happened?

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We booked into a serviced studio apartment in London. Arrived in the block, to be told at reception that they knew nothing about our booking. Called the number on the booking, to be told it was booked up for weeks and she hadn't taken our booking. A scammer had managed to insert themselves into Booking dot com, create a fake entry based on a real entry, took our money, and disappeared. Booking dot com refused to reimburse us. I got our money back via a charge back through our bank.

Will never use Booking dot com again!

lostintranslation148 · 11/11/2025 13:19

Are you saying they cancelled because you had 4 hotels booked over two trips? I doubt that's the reason they suspended it. We've had 4 hotels booked for one trip and 3 for another and it's not been a problem. We had 8 different hotels booked for one holiday a few years ago.

I don't think it's wise to go on holidays that you can't currently afford though. Have you pulled out of a lot of bookings? That might become an issue I'd imagine.

Berlinlover · 11/11/2025 13:18

Misla · 11/11/2025 12:57

I've been scammed on Booking dot com. I'll never use it again.

What happened?

Misla · 11/11/2025 13:14

On the contrary OP, you should be thanking the universe for stopping you relying on Booking dot com. Now find another way to book, and enjoy your trips!

Brefugee · 11/11/2025 13:13

but you were blocking the hotels from being booked by other people so - meh.

IwishIcouldconfess · 11/11/2025 13:13

I hate to say it, are you normally so bloody dramatic?

Book the bloody hotel direct and grow up

IwishIcouldconfess · 11/11/2025 13:12

idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 12:53

I’m a really big believer in it and it all feels like a sign m!

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Well grab your foil hat and sit at home for the rest of your life!

Sidebeforeself · 11/11/2025 13:11

idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 12:53

I’m a really big believer in it and it all feels like a sign m!

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Well “it” let you down at the point when you made the booking…surely “it” would have sent you a sign then?!

Original poster
idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 13:08

Claricecannotsleep · 11/11/2025 13:06

There have been some issues with Booking.com - fraudulent calls and emails - so be v careful.

I’ve DMed them on Twitter and emailed the hotels direct to confirm and they’ve all been cancelled

OP posts:
Claricecannotsleep · 11/11/2025 13:06

There have been some issues with Booking.com - fraudulent calls and emails - so be v careful.

RubySquid · 11/11/2025 13:04

I wouldn't let that sort of thing bother me. Usea different card and see if agoda works for you( i know they are connected) Or Expedia hotels.com etc, whoever has the fre cancellation.

I've had upcoming flights cancelled and altered so many times now I'm now travelling from a different country, c' est la vie. Shit happens. If you often travel alone you get used to sorting it

TheBirches · 11/11/2025 13:04

idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 13:00

Have you heard of the burnt toast theory?

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Sure, but that's just an attempt to reframe minor inconveniences as good things! Looking on the bright side, not deciding that burning your toast is a sign that you should never leave the house again because the burnt toast is signalling that you would have died in a twenty-car pile up had you left the house at your usual time because you didn't burn the toast.

Do you actually want to go on these trips?

Original poster
idontthinkishouldgo · 11/11/2025 13:00

WonderlandWasAllAHoax · 11/11/2025 12:59

A sign not to use booking.com maybe, but you can’t honestly believe the universe is somehow telling you not to go? 🫣

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Have you heard of the burnt toast theory?

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