About Booking.com
Booking.com is the largest online travel agency in the world, selling hotel rooms, apartments, vacation homes, flights, rental cars, and attraction tickets across more than 220 countries and territories. The company was founded in 1996 in the Netherlands by Geert-Jan Bruinsma, is headquartered in Amsterdam, and has been owned by NASDAQ-listed Booking Holdings since 2005. Around 3.4 million properties are listed, from chain hotels to single apartments. Prices display in euros for European users, and depending on the listing you either pay online through Booking.com or at the property itself. Many listings offer free cancellation up to a set date, and the Genius loyalty program unlocks discounts of 10 to 20 percent after a few completed stays. Booking.com fits travelers who want the widest selection and filterable cancellation terms in one place; it fits less well when something goes wrong, which is where most of its criticism concentrates.
What are alternatives for Booking.com
Pros of using Booking.com
- Around 3.4 million listed properties: hotels, apartments, hostels, and vacation homes in more than 220 countries
- Free-cancellation filter and pay-at-property options on many listings
- Genius loyalty discounts of 10 to 20 percent after completing a few bookings
- Broad online payment support: major cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, iDEAL, Bancontact, Klarna
- 24/7 phone and live chat support in multiple languages
Cons of using Booking.com
- Trustpilot score of 1.6/5 from more than 121,000 reviews, dominated by refund and support complaints
- When a property cancels or overbooks, travelers report inconsistent rebooking help and being left to solve it themselves
- Non-refundable rates are enforced strictly, including in genuine emergencies
- Available payment methods vary per property; some only accept cards at the front desk
- Listing details such as breakfast, parking, or room type sometimes do not match reality, and disputes run through the property
