Booking .com

[viking11]

Looking to rent an apartment via booking.com, when a friend said you can't trust this sight or Airbnb. Anyone had trouble with these sight?

Booking.com: I haven't, personally, and I last used it last month, but I have a friend who's had a bad experience this year (can't remember what) and has sworn off them

Airbnb: used once, never again

Ive used them several times, never had a problem. I wouldn't touch Airbnb tho!

I have used booking.com literally hundreds of times (for work) absolutely fine.

Airbnb largely ok, but I’d be more wary.

I’m comfortable using both providing l can find reviews and details of the place to be booked elsewhere.

Most of the time booking.com have been fine- and I use them quite a lot (and if you use them a lot you start to get discounts on places, which is nice).

However, I did book one place in Rome through them a couple of years ago- it was supposed to be pay on arrival, but a few weeks before our trip the owner started hassling me, repeatedly and aggressively, for my CVC number (she had the rest of my debit card details). I said I would only pay in advance through booking.com, but the finance department were really really hopeless and vague. It was only when I called another department that they said "Hey, no that doesn't sound right!" I was able to cancel and no harm done, but yes- I hear they can be a bit careless with customer service and scammers.

It was partially my fault for not checking reviews- turns out this place only had one review, and it was a suspiciously good one 🙄. 99% of booking.com stays go without a hitch- just make sure that you read the property description and reviews carefully!

I find that recently, AirBnB always seems to be more expensive than booking.com- they've really hiked their fees up. I hear they have a good reputation for dealing with customer disputes though, which I've never had to test because all my bookings with them have been fine.

Never had a problem with either. But I always look at reviews, photos, never go with anything dodgy looking.

yes Booking.com refused to refund a taxi that never showed up, although taxi driver said they did, they came to airport but never actually came inside with a sign like they were meant to. so because their sat nav said they were at airport, it was our tough luck.

Put the name of the place into Google and book direct much cheaper that's what I do. Airbnb and Booking.com are just advertising platforms.

I booked my holiday through booking.com last year to coincide with a specific event. The property emailed me three weeks before to say they could no longer accommodate us. Booking.com were utterly useless and effectively my holiday is cancelled as we no longer have any accommodation. So I’m sceptical now.

I've used booking.com lots of times and never had a problem.

I've used Air bnb quite a few times in the past and generally they have been fine. One place wasn't as advertised, and sir bnb found in our favour when we complained, and awarded us money back.

However I tend not to use them now gor anything other than a uk night or 2, as concerned landlords can cancel so easily.

I’ve had similar happen with a direct booking as well, so neither is a cast iron guarantee.

Booking.com have had well documented security issues for years, which I only found out about last year when our details were compromised. Here . I’ve just linked one article but if you search you will find loads . The worrying thing is that booking.com have know that these scam messages come through within their app/messaging service but have done nothing to change it . Personally I try to avoid them now.

Been subject to attempted scams on booking.com and the customer service is nigh on impossible to get through to . Dreadful company - I won’t use again.

never had an air bnb issue.

Use them to find out your options and then book direct with the property if at all possible.

I've used booking.com for years with no issues, in the UK, Europe and Aus...the last booking being last month. Apart from occasionally on here I've never heard of anyone having issues either.

I like the fact that you don't have to pay straightaway, it's free cancellation and contact/instructions from the owners has been spot on...every time

Hi @viking11
I used to use regularly but then read that they dont pay the accommodation providers for months or that owners have to chase invoices and some smaller places locally have gone out of business due to relying on their bookings and cashflow issues with payment delays.

I also think what they do reserve on behalf of guests, they pay way under market value/price displayed to public but these are more ethical or process issues.

On a sidenote, I have never had them cancel on me etc. I did not use Aygo or however it is spelt more than once. Terrible experience. Hilton offered (didnt ask) refund due to a fight outside my room 2am in a city. Scary and woke me. Security came up twice to those guests. Upon check out, I didnt mention anything but they offered 50% refund. Aygo tried thei hardest to keep it as refund went back to my booking, not my card. Where you can, book direct with hotel - peace of mind you have the booking and ask them to matxh Booking.com rate as they wouls have to pay the platform commissikn or handling fee.

Enjoy your time away 😃

I only book with Superhosts on Airbnb with no problems. Booking is always with well known hotels or places with listings on other sites with lots of top reviews.
Never had a problem.

I used a fantastic property from Booking.com several times. The owner suggested we book direct with her the next time which we did almost a year in advance. No she didn't want a deposit and would be on touch nearer the time. Fast forward to a couple of months before our stay, I messaged her. Oh I'm really sorry she said. My dates from last year didn't carry over and someone else is booked in on your dates! Not sure how they were more important than us, but presumably they used Booking.com!

I had a bad experience with booking.com. I once booked and paid for an “entire luxury apartment” and when we got there it was actually one room in what looked like a crack house. We walked straight out. Tried to contact the owner (unsuccessfully) and put in numerous complaints to booking.com. They never responded and I lost the money as I don’t have a credit card so paid for it on my debit card.

I was also almost scammed via booking. I had a message on the app from a hotel telling me they’d tried to take payment and needed my credit card details again. Tbh I’d have thought it was genuine only I’d paid the balance in full already on my debit card. I contacted the hotel directly and they told me it’s a scam. Because it was contacted through the app I would have thought that it was safe.

Ive had no problems with AirBnB other than that awful anxiety you get when you’re five minutes away from your destination and they still haven’t sent you the code for the key safe.

I use booking and Airbnb loads and never had any issues. You have to really do your research and sort of know what you need to look out for I think.

I’ve used them loads. I did have one scamming attempt - it’s been well reported that you can be illicitly messaged from inside their own app. So I treat messages from them with caution. I did book somewhere that didn’t exist as well but they noticed that and sorted it!

Thank you for all replies and some great advice!

ive used booking.com for years and never had a problem

I’ve used both quite a few times and never had an issue yet! In fact, we travelled around Canada on our honeymoon and and used booking.com for everything due to being able to book free cancellation rates until arrival (as we weren’t sure how long we wanted to stay in each place) and everything went without a hitch.

If I'm booking in the uk though I tend to use booking.com to find places and then book directly through the hotel itself as it’s usually a little cheaper or you get things included for free.