Booking.com: 2026 Reviews, Contact, and Practical Information

I use Booking quite regularly for my trips. The platform is handy and easy to use, with a lot of choices and generally clear information. Reservations are simple and fast. However, remember to check directly on the hotel's website, because rates can sometimes be cheaper than on Booking.

Stay away
Booking doesn't check the places they list at all. A really bad experience, a super expensive rental that was unsanitary plus customer service that makes you think they are going to do something but does nothing, plus the reservation number and code stopped working so no way to contact them. At Booking, the customer is clearly not king, but the person renting out their sketchy place definitely is.

No terrace as described on the site
No decent cookware
Kitchen table barely standing
Apartment fit for a cave

FRAUD. I made a reservation on Booking for an apartment that the site rated 3 stars.
Booking kindly confirmed my reservation.
Then I received an email asking me to make a payment.
I informed the site, and they confirmed that it was normal and invited me to wait 48 hours to see or to call the establishment. I did that, and I reached a poor guy who told me in Italian that the listing is fake, that he keeps getting calls for reservations, and that Booking had removed the listing. False, it is still there.
After checking, it is definitely a scam.
I had to block my card to avoid being robbed.
Without my research, other people would still be getting robbed. Booking's reaction is completely pathetic.

Be careful not to pay directly on the site for hotel reservations, because the hotels don't have the info and so you are forced to pay a second time, and Booking customer service does nothing to refund you despite the proof.

Using Booking.com is a no-brainer when I am planning my road trips. I find my places to stay so easily and quickly, whether through the website or the smartphone app. Keeping track of reservations is very simple, and it is easy to show your booking when checking in. The activity suggestions they offer are sometimes really spot on.

It is very simple, it does not even cross my mind to use anything other than Booking for hotel reservations (short and long stays). Every time the prices are competitive, with the Genius loyalty program there are always little discounts or perks, and the interface is clear for searching: no hesitation! Honestly, I have NEVER had a problem with the platform, so I recommend it with my eyes closed.

I use Booking regularly for stays of one night or more, and I have never had any bad surprises. The site is reliable, and the descriptions always match reality. What I especially appreciate is the ability to cancel without fees, often until the day before. This provides real flexibility when plans change.

I often use Booking, especially for basic stays, like one night near the airport. I have never been disappointed. The platform is quite intuitive, and the filters work well. The discounts are attractive depending on your Genius level, for both lodging and car rentals.

It is a very well-designed site. We went as a group of 7 couples for 15 days and we used Booking, logging in all at the same time to make sure we were in the same property. It was flawless for reservations, very flexible, clear, and the customer reviews are credible.

If you need anything, the customer service is very responsive and proactive, providing good support for the traveler.

I use Booking for most of my trips, both in France and abroad, and so far, I have never had a bad experience. The platform and the app allow for efficient searching, with plenty of filters to organize your stay. Often, the prices listed are more expensive than going directly to the accommodation's website, so I use Booking primarily to scout out housing options before heading to the hotels' own pages. Managing reservations remains very simple, and it is possible to cancel with a single click. Plus, the Genius status levels offer great last-minute discounts.

I have been a Booking customer for a long time and my hotel or flight reservations have almost always gone well (one disappointment with a dishonest hotel and Booking customer service was not very helpful). The site is pretty well made, intuitive, and lets you see the availability of different properties or flights almost in real time, with quite a few explanations provided. The messaging system is also very useful for getting in touch with the property in question. On the other hand, I have had some doubts about the authenticity of the ratings for certain apartments or hotels recently added to the Booking catalog (a very good rating before starting a reservation, which suddenly changes when the booking process is initiated). It is also worth noting that as a Genius member, I have access to certain discounts, without which the Booking offer might not be more attractive than those offered by other operators or by booking directly with the hotel or company concerned.

A good site for easily finding accommodations, especially abroad. It is a plus when you are in a place you do not know. The interface and the process are simple and clear. The downside, however, is the pricing. For accommodations in France, I have always gotten cheaper rates by contacting the hotel directly.

I have had the opportunity to book many stays with Booking.com and everything has always gone very well. Do not hesitate to carefully check the reviews beforehand so you are not disappointed by your accommodation. The site is easy and convenient to use. It is also very comprehensive and allows you to save time when organizing your trips.

I have been using Booking for years and for me it is the go-to for hotel accommodations. The search system is very intuitive. You can choose your hotel based on your household size, price, location, breakfast, etc. There are regularly some very good last-minute deals. The reviews also turn out to be useful for checking on potential issues with certain accommodations. Personally, they have always been responsive whenever I needed customer service.

Even when booking at the last minute, I have always been able to find a place to stay on this site. Years ago, you could only find hotels, but now you can find everything, from vacation rentals and apartments to vacation clubs and even airline tickets.
By the way, speaking of airline tickets, I do not recommend Booking for flight reservations. They canceled my checked baggage option for no reason, and I had to pay full price for the checked bag once I was at the airport.

Easy to use app.
It lets you target hotels using customer recommendations.
The more you use the app, the more discounts and perks you get, so it is great if you travel often.
The downside: the margin is high and that comes at the expense of both the traveler and the hotel.

I used Booking.com to book a hotel in Angers recently. I really liked that:
- It was on this site that I found the cheapest price.
- You can find a huge number of hotels there. Whatever the destination or dates, I often find deals on Booking.
- I think the site is pretty clear.
- I didn't need to pay a deposit or anything like that to book.

On the other hand, I did have to leave my credit card number as a guarantee... Too bad that cancellations via Booking are only valid up to 48 hours before the stay. Beyond that, you have to contact the hotel directly. As luck would have it, I had an issue 24 hours before, and it went poorly for me (the hotel charged my credit card for the first night anyway).

So, in conclusion, a site like Booking that allowed last minute cancellations without a penalty would be perfect :)

Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

I use this site regularly for my business trips (mainly in Paris). Very good, no issues at all, even in case of cancellation. Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com

Booking.com promises to match the lowest prices. On January 10, I booked a 7-night stay in Madeira. Two days later, the same stay (same duration, same hotel, same room type, same dates) was almost 40 euros cheaper on their own site. So, I asked for an upgrade, not even a refund. I got a convoluted response, but they refused to honor it. This is the second time I have had this kind of problem with them. I do not recommend this site, which also does not answer the phone or, if they do (I got through once after dozens of attempts), you have to speak Spanish. Also, get your information from them and negotiate directly with the hotel. You will see, it works. Review imported on 11/04/2020 from our old site Voyage-Net.com