Booking.com Review: Is it Worth the Hype?
Is Booking.com legit and worth the hype?
As you plan your trip, chances are you’ve come across Booking.com as an option for booking your accommodations and travel arrangements This popular platform offers a wide range of options, from hotels and resorts to vacation rentals, and claims to offer the best deals on hotels. But is Booking.com truly a reliable and trustworthy choice for booking your travel?
Having used the site for many years myself, I have had both positive and negative experiences with Booking.com. In this review, I will share my personal experiences and delve into the pros and cons of using the platform to help you decide it’s the right choice for you.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or new to the world of online booking, this review will provide valuable insights to help you make the best decision for your travel needs.
Luxury under Budget aims at helping you get the best deals by maximizing the value of your time and money. My recommendations are based on first-hand experiences and a full analysis of costs vs. benefits. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may get a small commission when you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. This helps support my blog and enables me to provide more free and helpful content. Now, let’s go get you that luxury travel while staying under the budget!
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What is Booking.com?
Booking.com is an online travel platform that allows travelers to search and compare prices for a wide range of accommodations, from budget-friendly hostels to luxury resorts. It functions as a third-party site/middleman for those seeking to book hotels and other travel arrangements.
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Is Booking.com Legit?
Yes, Booking.com is a legitimate travel booking platform with over 20 million accommodation listings. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Booking.com is owned by Booking Holdings, a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq that also owns other well-known travel brands such as Priceline and Agoda.
After over 25 years in business, Booking.com has established itself as one of the top travel booking sites, thanks to its user-friendly interface and wide range of accommodations.
While Booking.com is generally a reliable platform, it doesn’t guarantee a completely smooth and issue-free experience. As a seasoned traveler with over a decade of experience using Booking.com, I can attest to the fact that even with a legit site like Booking.com, there may be occasional negative experiences – which I will share in more detail below.
Generally, this should not deter you from considering the platform for your travel needs. With a little bit of research and due diligence, you may find that Booking.com is a reliable and trustworthy choice for booking your travel.
How Does Booking.com Work?
Booking.com is an online travel booking platform that allows you to search and compare prices for a wide range of accommodations and travel options. To use the platform, you can easily find your desired accommodations and travel arrangements through the search bar.
To search for accommodations, you can enter your desired location, dates of travel and any other preferences such as the type of accommodations or the number of guests. Booking.com will then display a list of available options that match your search criteria, along with the prices and any available discounts. You can then compare the options and choose the one that best fits your needs.
If you check the box to say “I’m traveling for work”, Booking.com will show you more hotel options with business centers, printers, and free Wifi.
Once you’ve found your desired accommodations or travel arrangements, you can book them directly on the Booking.com website or app. Payment can be made using a credit card, debit card, or other payment methods accepted by Booking.com. After the booking is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email with the details of your reservation.
Booking.com also offers a loyalty program, which allows you to earn rewards and benefits for booking through the platform. Members of the Genius program receive special discounts, flexible cancellation policies, and other perks.
How Does Booking.com’s Loyalty Program Work?
Booking.com’s loyalty program, called Genius, rewards frequent users of the platform with discounts and other perks. There are three tiers of the Genius program: Genius Level I, II, and III.
If you complete 5 stays within 2 years with Booking.com, you will reach Genius Level 2 and unlock exclusive perks such as a 10 to 15% discount on hotel rates, free breakfasts on select stays, and free room upgrades on select stays.
By continuing to be a loyal guest and reaching Genius Level 3, you will unlock even more benefits such as a 20% discount on hotel rates, free breakfast on all stays, free room upgrades on all stays, and priority support on all bookings.
To join the Genius program, simply create a Booking.com account and start booking through the platform. As you make more bookings and reach higher spending thresholds, you will automatically move up through the tiers and unlock additional discounts and perks.
How Does Booking.com Make Money?
Booking.com is known for offering a wide range of accommodation options at competitive prices. However, some travelers may question the legitimacy of the platform due to its seemingly low prices. To understand why Booking.com is a legitimate choice for booking travel, it is important to understand how the company makes money.
Booking.com obtains discounted rates for purchasing hotel rooms in bulk, which allows it to offer competitive prices to its customers. The company uses its own algorithms to determine the selling price of these rooms, balancing the need to offer attractive prices with the need to earn a profit.
In addition to its bulk purchasing strategy, Booking.com also operates on a commission-based model through partnerships with various accommodation providers. When a customer books a hotel through the platform, Booking.com earns a commission from the property owner for referring the customer. This commission is a percentage of the booking price and varies depending on the type of property and location.
Finally, Booking.com generates revenue through advertising and the sale of travel-related products and services. It may display ads on its website and app and offer additional services such as car rentals and airport transfers through partnerships and affiliate programs with other companies in the travel industry.
Booking.com Review
As someone who has used Booking.com for over 10 years and reached the highest level of the platform’s loyalty program, Genius Level 3, I have had a mix of positive and negative experiences.
One instance that stands out was when I booked a 4-star beach hotel in Playa del Carmen on Booking.com based on its great reviews, only to arrive and find that the room was moldy and had a disgusting smell. It was far from the 4-star quality that I had expected, and I would not even consider it a 2-star hotel.
Another time, I arrived at a hotel on a road trip in California and was told that the hotel is completely booked and my reservation is not in the system. This was a frustrating and inconvenient experience that could have been avoided if the booking had been properly managed.
I also had a negative experience with Booking.com in Vietnam when I arrived at a hotel after 5 PM and was told that my booking had been canceled because it was only held until 5 PM. I had not been made aware of this time limitation on the Booking.com platform, and it was frustrating to have to find last-minute accommodations.
While I have found some great deals with Booking.com over the years and can confirm Booking.com is legit, these negative instances have led me to switch to other platforms such as Priceline and Agoda for cheaper prices and better services.
Booking.com Pros and Cons
One of the main advantages of using Booking.com is its user-friendly interface. The website is easy to navigate and allows users to search for accommodations based on their location, budget, and desired amenities.
Another pro of Booking.com is its wide selection of accommodations. The platform partners with a large number of hotels, vacation rentals, and other types of accommodations, so users have plenty of options to choose from. This can be especially helpful for travelers who are looking for specific types of accommodations or who are trying to book a stay in a particular location.
Booking.com also offers a rewards program for frequent users. Members of the program can earn points for every booking they make, which can then be redeemed for discounts on future bookings or other perks.
The platform also offers a best price guarantee policy, which means that if you find a lower price, Booking.com will match the price and give you a discount. In addition, the platform has a 24/7 customer service team that can assist with any questions or issues you may have.
However, there are also some cons to using Booking.com. One issue is that refunds can be delayed. If you need to cancel a booking or make changes to your reservation, it may take some time to process your request and receive a refund.
I have also found that customer reviews on Booking.com may not always be reliable. It’s possible that some reviews may be fake or biased, so I’d recommend you double-check with TripAdvisor.
Another con of Booking.com is that the price you first see is not the final price of the booking. There will be taxes and fees, making a hotel that originally seems to be $230 suddenly go up to like $300. These can add up and increase the overall cost of your stay. And even after you have paid that, you may still have resort fees or environmental fees that will be collected at check-in.
Overall, it’s important to carefully review the terms and conditions of your booking to understand any additional charges that may apply.
Booking.com Pros
Booking.com Cons
What You Should Do Before Using Booking.com
Before using Booking.com, there are several things you should consider to ensure a smooth and successful booking experience.
1. Read the cancellation and refund policies carefully
These policies can vary depending on the hotel and the terms of your reservation. Many hotels allow you to cancel free of charge at least 24 hours before your stay, but Booking.com also offers non-refundable hotel options at a discounted price. Make sure you understand your rights and obligations in case you need to cancel or change your booking.
2. Check the hotel’s location and amenities
Research the safety of the area in which the hotel is located, and consider the additional safety measures offered by high-end and all-inclusive resorts.
3. Cross-check the hotel reviews
I have had a fair share of negative experiences with Booking.com because the reviews do not reflect the current conditions of the hotel. Before you book the hotel, I’d recommend you double the check the reviews on TripAdvisor.
These reviews can provide valuable insights into the hotels. By reading reviews, you can get a sense of the level of service, the quality of the accommodations, and any potential issues or concerns that other travelers have experienced.
And a lot of the time, if you click the “View Deal” through TripAdvisor, it will show you better prices available, not only on Booking.com but also on other trusted travel booking websites.
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Conclusion: Is Booking.com Legit & Worth It?
Although I have had some negative experiences with the platform, I can confirm that Booking.com is legit. It offers a wide range of accommodations at competitive prices. With its easy-to-use interface, reliable customer reviews, and various payment options, Booking.com can be a convenient choice for many travelers.
However, it is important to carefully read the cancellation and refund policies, check the location and amenities of the hotel, and read reviews from other travelers before making a booking. It is also a good idea to use TripAdvisor to cross-check reviews and compare prices with other travel booking sites.
Whether Booking.com is worth it or not ultimately depends on your personal preferences and needs. If you are careful and do your research, Booking.com can be a valuable resource for finding and booking travel accommodations. Alternatively, Priceline and Agoda are also good options to consider for booking travel accommodations.
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