To warn you about booking.com

[AnotherDayAnotherIdea]

I have used airbnb quite a bit in the past, and once went into a property (in london) that was so bad that I had to call airbnb. They issued an immediate refund and helped me find an alternative.

I have also stayed in hotels plenty of times, often via booking.com. And if I had a problem, it was sorted out directly by the hotel.

But now booking.com are offering airbnb style properties owned by individuals.

We booked one about a week ago, and were sent the address and details of a key box promptly.

However once inside, it was clear that the cleaner hadn't been. A simple oversight. The bed hadn't been changed, the kitchenette and shower were dirty, and the towels very dirty indeed. It was 7pm, and we briefly considered just making do, but the towels were covered in something ... marital, so we decided we didn't want to have our children (or us!) stay there.

This is where it all started to unravel, because despite appealing to the owner directly, who promised she had approved a refund, and contacting booking.com, and PayPal, we are still in dispute over this. Booking.com is saying they can do nothing because the owner is unreachable. How is that my problem though?! She says she has approved the request. PayPal has not responded at all.

Basically, if you want an airbnb appartment, use airbnb. Your money is not protected in case of dispute if you book via booking.com.

I know someone whose credit card refunded the money when booking.com would not. The card company took the money back from booking.com

I’ve never had a problem with booking.com. I’ve booked some lovely apartments on there. Always been clean on arrival and I leave them clean as well. I always get insurance just in case we have to cancel at last minute.

I think it has changed recently I have noticed a whole lot of frankly suspect listings recently. Also had a couple of experiences last year one was fine (just moved accommodation but wasn’t an issue) second the villa owner accused us of damage we didn’t do and charged us money

I also have compared it and it is often more expensive than going to the source (although does allow to pay when you get there which can help) and have been booking directly a lot more

Customer service is non existent - but they must be awareness I haven’t booked once a month I get a cash back of up to £85 if I make a booking I have not had before!

I booked a stay with them in July 2023 for a glamping experience at the Silverstone formula 1. Turned up and there were no glamping facilities at all.
Turns out it was a scam hundreds of people left in a field with no place to stay , no facilities at all. Made contact with booking.com who could not have been less interested.
managed to get a refund from my credit card company.
havent booked with booking.com since

TBF, I have been refunded quite quickly for cancelled bookings on Booking despite all the complaints I have read about the site online. These were not non-refundable bookings however. My last "iffy" experience renting an apartment in Budapest with a washing machine that didnt work - I was warned about this on the day of check in, the agent arrived with an electrician the next day, they offered to do take my washing to their home when the machine couldnt be repaired (I refused!) and looked up a nearby laundromat and offered to pay for my washing (again I refused). I really couldnt complain about a small matter like that when the property agents were so helpful.

I love the Copthorne Tara. In the '80s it was a more luxurious hotel (when it the Aer Lingus Tara), and some bits are a bit '80s still, but it's still very good.

I usually have a look on booking.com and Airbnb. Then Google the name of the place and book direct with the property owner or independent agent. The price usually works out cheaper and much better service.

I have not used booking.com in a while. There are issues with them paying some owners.

I've got more cautious recently now that it is flooded with apartments. It seems flimsier somehow and I don't feel very safe on it. I avoid Airbnb to try and reduce the negative impact of my travel but it's now quite hard to avoid apartment stuff on booking.com as well.

Absolutely, always book directly with airlines. I rarely book tours or cars through booking.com, only accomodation and I havent encountered major issues because I exercise due caution.

2 years ago Booking.com offered me a refund for one night in a dreadful hotel. I accepted that offer, STFU & got on with my holiday.

Booking.com never sent me that refund, I never recieved it. I chased them up - crickets.

I won't use them again.

They're both crap really aren't they, Airbnb and booking.com.
Both have a habit of cancelling at short notice (6 days before in my case, with 3 toddlers 🤨) or selling non existent properties: Airbnb with the added bonus of being complicit in social housing subletting and turning family homes and neighbourhoods into holiday parks.

Just book a hotel, man. Houses are for housing.

I've literally just now had a phone call direct from the owner saying it's available to book direct through themselves just not booking.com

Needless to say I declined!

I have never booked via booking.com. Or Expedia or lastminute.com etc.

I always book hotels and flights directly. I just don’t see what the advantage is of using third parties?

This happened to me and I did a chargeback on my debit card which the bank approved and booking.com did not dispute.

I booked once through booking website - during the 6 months prior to the final payment I have my bank card reissued, so I turned out Booking could take the final payment the week before - rather than contact me they cancelled the hotel.

Obviously prices increase close to the date and Iw as out of pocket and nowhere to stay.

Never again.

Well who is so dumb to listen to influencers let alone those creeps that are only up for making money and usually are super tacky anyway. I wouldn’t even bother to give them more breathing space but mentioning their existence.

I never, ever use Booking.com for anything other than hotels. AirBnB type places are a massive risk no matter what the platform and I've had real problems with AirBnB.

They are great for hotel bookings as you can get a good price with fully refundable cancellations up to a few days before you travel. I often make a back up booking with them and cancel if I find anything better.

@XWKD for the money I think it's unbeatable if you get it at a great price which is mainly in the week !! Yes it's a bit dated ( mainly the rooms) but still smart public areas and very very clean. Annoyingly the bar shuts very early like 10pm early - however we just nip to holiday inn right next door- bar open till 12 and having the parking for us is really handy as we usually stay post a trip to London for work ( which is every 3 weeks or so)

It can definitely be cheaper to book direct but might not have the same cancellation policies.

Interesting, booking.com is definitely similar in operational terms to a comparisons website platform. I think they have always had independent owners on there. If you want more secure then go to a holiday cottages website, maybe.

The problem you describe is a common one via Airbnb. Although they have tightened up their processes recently.

I will never ever book through booking.com again after turning up to an apartment that had cum stains all over the sofa. I’m not even joking. It was truly the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. The beds had horrible brown stairs all over them too. Called booking.com and they could not have given less of crap. Ended up leaving and requesting a refund and again, booking.com had zero interest in assisting, said that it was down to the landlord not them and wiped their hands. I had photos and videos proving what I said was true. Currently in a long winded credit card dispute to try and get the money back. They are total scum.

I’ve used Booking.com for years and never had a problem. I’ve booked hotels and apartments (though not airbnbs).

As with comparison websites, your rights are better served booking outside of any website acting as a platform.

I use them but I've only booked hotels. No problems.
Oddly enough I have started a holiday let through Airbnb but find there's so much anti them because of add ons like cleaning fees (I don't charge an extra cleaning fee myself) that bookings are down and am thinking of using booking.com!