Booking.com no cancellation fee?!

Jandan131

Have found a good deal for the hotel we want to book for a family holiday in July via booking.com. However don't really get how they can offer a no charge cancellation policy up to 24 hours prior to arrival! We need 5 rooms and according to their cancellation policy can cancel with no charge the day before travel and don't have to pay anything till we are there. Surely people just hold loads of rooms on this basis and then release at the last minute- and therefore my concern is that they substantially overbook and we therefore risk not getting into our hotel of choice. Anyone had any experience they can share - just reluctant to book because can't quite understand how they can fulfill everything they promise

sgun

I have often used them and cancelled but I would always cancel well in advance, my husband worked away so I might book three or four places and give him the final choice at the weekend and cancel the rest. I never hold onto a booking for more than a few days.

I do think that some people misuse it, for example trying to book an apartment in Berlin even 7 months in advance was nearly impossible but bit by bit places became available again. I had already used Homeaway by then but was a bit cross that people are "hedging their bets" for months.

Booking.com are a good company and their customer services are very helpful. I can't imagine you would have any problems with them but I couldn't say if the hotels overbook through other websites.

ScarletBea

I've also used Booking.com several times and never had problems with them.
I like their "no cancellation fee policy", as it's some reassurance in case something happens (and can't be reclaimed through insurance).

Andypandyboy

I use them twice a week on average and I have never had a problem with them.

ferf1223

out of curiosity, are they cheaper than booking direct with the hotel? and does the hotel not offer similar cancellation options?

I only ask as depending on where you are going, hotels may offer similar without going through a 3rd party. Many hotels in the US, for example, offer a cancellation policy that allows cancellation up to 6pm on the day of arrival without penalty.

If I could get the same or similar direct with the hotel, I would always do that, personally.

SW17

Jandan131 wrote: »

Have found a good deal for the hotel we want to book for a family holiday in July via booking.com. However don't really get how they can offer a no charge cancellation policy up to 24 hours prior to arrival! We need 5 rooms and according to their cancellation policy can cancel with no charge the day before travel and don't have to pay anything till we are there. Surely people just hold loads of rooms on this basis and then release at the last minute- and therefore my concern is that they substantially overbook and we therefore risk not getting into our hotel of choice. Anyone had any experience they can share - just reluctant to book because can't quite understand how they can fulfill everything they promise

When you book with Booking.com you are booking direct with the hotel, they are an agent. You will pay the hotel directly. The cancellation policy is from the hotel, not from them. Overbooking is not necessarily any more likely with them than with others, but it can happen. FWIW, they are the world's biggest accommodation booking site, you can book with them with as much confidence as anyone else.

ferf1223 wrote: »

out of curiosity, are they cheaper than booking direct with the hotel? and does the hotel not offer similar cancellation options?

I only ask as depending on where you are going, hotels may offer similar without going through a 3rd party. Many hotels in the US, for example, offer a cancellation policy that allows cancellation up to 6pm on the day of arrival without penalty.

If I could get the same or similar direct with the hotel, I would always do that, personally.

They will usually have rate and availability parity with the hotel's direct site (which they force contractually), but they are better at acquiring and retaining customers than the hotels themselves. The hotels control the rates, though they are under extreme pressure from Booking.com and Expedia to offer special rates. The rate parity issue is currrently under investigation by various competition authorities, especially in Europe. In reality nothing is likely to change significantly.

jpsartre

Jandan131 wrote: »

Surely people just hold loads of rooms on this basis and then release at the last minute

Why would people do that? I have to cancel hotel bookings from time to time and I will do so as soon as I know I won't be needing the room which is usually well in advance.

ferf1223

SW17 wrote: »

They will usually have rate and availability parity with the hotel's direct site (which they force contractually), but they are better at acquiring and retaining customers than the hotels themselves. The hotels control the rates, though they are under extreme pressure from Booking.com and Expedia to offer special rates. The rate parity issue is currrently under investigation by various competition authorities, especially in Europe. In reality nothing is likely to change significantly.

I'm missing something - why go via a 3rd party if you can get the same thing booking direct with the hotel?

SW17

ferf1223 wrote: »

I'm missing something - why go via a 3rd party if you can get the same thing booking direct with the hotel?

You're looking at it that way as a true MSEer and nothing wrong with that, you would get the same rate online.

Look at it the other way round, why bother shopping around online when the likes of Booking.com will guarantee the lowest available online rate (as good as anything you will get direct), and in fact you are booking direct with the hotel in the end.

They have better marketing and better technology than the hotels, and can be used repeatedly for multiple destinations. The average punter shops on Google and comparison sites, and doesn't then try and go direct. That's why people use them and why hotels have become dependent on them, and cannot give lower public rates direct online in most cases. At best you might get a slightly better cancellation deadline.

[Deleted User]

SW17 wrote: »

You're looking at it that way as a true MSEer and nothing wrong with that, you would get the same rate online.

Look at it the other way round, why bother shopping around online when the likes of Booking.com will guarantee the lowest available online rate (as good as anything you will get direct), and in fact you are booking direct with the hotel in the end.

They have better marketing and better technology than the hotels, and can be used repeatedly for multiple destinations. The average punter shops on Google and comparison sites, and doesn't then try and go direct. That's why people use them and why hotels have become dependent on them, and cannot give lower public rates direct online in most cases. At best you might get a slightly better cancellation deadline.

Correct.
I've used Booking.Com for years and saved a fortune.
First of all get your booking in early and the monitor the site on a weekly or even daily basis as hotel and resort costs fluctuate massively.
I booked a resort hotel in Florida for April months ago and have cancelled and re-booked the same room four times and saved myself $300 over a three-night stay.
The hotel doesn't give a toss because it's all automated and at the end of the day they just want full occupancy.
Why anyone would commit to a price months in advance is beyond me.

[Deleted User]

ferf1223 wrote: »

I'm missing something - why go via a 3rd party if you can get the same thing booking direct with the hotel?

Because Booking.Com offers multiple numbers of hotels all with varying and fluctuating room rates.
Book early and then watch the site to see if another hotel coughs up a better rate which they very often do.