Booking.com

[Holidaystress11]

Morning all!
Not aibu but posting for traffic. Has anyone used booking.com? We had book accomodation in Morocco via VRBO but unfortuantly the host cancelled and refunded us the full amount as there was a storm and a tree has fallen onto the property causing damage. We where supposed to be going next Thursday. He has refunded us and I feel for him. But...... the refund will take 3 to 5 working days to hit my account!!

I have found an alternative on booking.com and can pay 2 days before so I'm hoping my refund shows in time! As I won't be able to change flights. Already tried!

So I reserved the property but its still showing as available on their website. And I was planning on maybe taking some cash from a couple of credit cards and putting it into my account and pay for it today so I know its paid for and not worrying for the refund which would then be in my account for us to use when out there. But now I'm reluctant to pay for it as its still showing as available and I don't want to pay for this and get there and someone else is there or they cancel as double booked and then waiting for another refund and then it will be too late!

4 kids so not like we can just roll up and wing it!

I've never used booking.com am I looking at problems if I pay now amor should I look for something else!?

Thanks

I've never had an issue with Booking.com, I use it every time I go away, sometimes paying up front and sometimes paying on arrival. Can you email the property and ask if it's definitely booked for you, in my experience they are pretty good at responding

Oh OK thank you! That's good to know. Really I found a better property on expdeia.com but I have to pay now and im erring between the 2 and worrying about it! I suppose I could pay for the expedia one and keep the booking.com up until the cancellation time as a back up. I'm so angry about this refund! I paid way back in October and was so pleased with my organisation of things as we never go abroad. And now my anxiety is sky high!

I use it all the time, all across the world. I’ve never had any problems with them. Some properties allow you to pay upon arrival which may benefit you, though these are sometimes more difficult to find depending on country etc.

I hope you enjoy your time away :-)

Ok thank you! I'm worried about paying on arrival and my card doesn't work for whatever bizarre reason. I don't have a lot of luck 🤣

I've used Booking.com for 10+ years, for accommodation in around a dozen countries, never had an issue!

If you do decide to pay on arrival, make sure your card (whether debit or credit) isn't one that charges a fee for foreign transactions - most do.
I think (but do check yourself) that if you pay on booking.com before you go that you'll pay in £, but if you pay there you'll pay in local currency. On a hotel/accommodation bill, the fee could be quite a bit.

Have used it a lot of times, only 2 issues I would be wary of:

1. In the small print some places expect an extra deposit on check-in which gets refunded after your stay. Once it was a close call because I was not expecting it and it is usually around £100
2. Beware creative photos! Stayed in very interesting places in London and Romania - the photos were of the rooms but strategically taken. And both had unexpected steep stairs which wasn’t an issue for me but DP.

Thanks for the tips guys! All noted!

Never had a problem with Booking.com and I use it quite a bit. Enjoy your holiday!

Booking.com is my go to. Excellent customer service and fast response. My tip is to have a look at the property on Google Street View. I've avoided some rough/trafficy areas doing this.

Not always in my experience! We once got to London to find out the apartment we had booked had been sold so we had no where to stay (we were there for a gig so most places fully booked). Booking.com were not interested n the slightest and we had to find alternative accommodation ourselves. Also wouldn't refund us so we had to go through our credit card company. It was all such a faff!

Thank you. I had my heart set one epedia.prpperty but the price has gone up by £500 since last night! Surely if its empty and only a week left you would reduce the price not up it 🙄

Never mind. Went to the desktop site then clicked through to app and the original price is there! Very cheeky though! Because if you go directly via the app it's £500 more!