Your Experience With Booking Dot Com

[-Talbot-]

Looking to book a villa on Booking. com
Sending money to a chap overseas makes me itchy. Had any experience with them?

In other words is my wonga safe?

[Samuraisan]

I have used Booking.com hundreds of times, but for hotels not villas. I have always paid Booking.com.

[Smowball]

I use them all the time. Never ever had a problem.

[Prudie]

I have used them a lot for both UK hotels and several foreign villas and apartments. Touch wood have never had a problem so far. Where are you going (hopefully)?

[-Talbot-]

Looked up ... How does Booking.com work?

In a video it says
'you will collect payments directly from guests'

Makes me nervous. I would rather Booking.c collect the money.

[-Talbot-]

Villa Marbella Beach 7 grand.

[naomi24]

Sending £7,000 to someone I don't know would make me nervous too. I wouldn't do it.

[-Talbot-]

I don't know how it works, naomi. I am assuming if it is on Booking.com it must be cushty.

[naomi24]

Talbot, have you looked at Owners Abroad? I've booked through them without a problem. You deal with the owners directly but you're told on the site how long they have been members - so that gives a little more security.

An example:

https://www.clickstay.com/spain/alcaucin/spain-villa-178380

[-Talbot-]

How does it work, Prudie ... deposit and full payment a few week before travel?

[naomi24]

I meant to add I think most of the owners on there live in this country.

[Prudie]

To be honest it varies. When I've booked it's always says pay when you get there but have to enter credit card to 'hold' the booking. I've then found either you do pay hotel/villa on arrival or just as often they take the money almost straightaway. I think booking.com are fine however £7K for a villa is loads and well above the average, you should be able to contact the owner/manager first to re-assure yourself it's the real deal.

[-Talbot-]

£7K for a villa is loads and well above the average


Tell me about it (I'm happy camping 25euro per night)
It works out about £500 per person and I am only paying 4 of those places (well assuming my two adults kids can find their purse/wallet, so possibly 6)

[Prudie]

I've done a fake booking for next July in Marbella and actually £7K+ is not at all unusual - well if you will go to these jet-set places!

[Islay]

Use your credit card it gives you extra protection

[gulliver1]

Have a look at "Owners Direct"

[Prudie]

I've also used ownersdirect a lot (now called homeandaway) and never had a problem but that is the site that has hit the news occasionally with people arriving to find their villa was someone's private home and had never been up for rent in the first place. Not heard of that with booking.com.

[jno]

are there no regular package deals you could look at, at least for comparison?

[-Talbot-]

I left the missus and kids in charge of choosing the villa and they have found a bargain :0/

The wife rang Booking.c and the chap says 'he thinks' you pay the owner on arrival. That would be great if true, she will be ringing again in the morning to see if chap was correct.
The villa isn't for me, Prudie ... I will much prefer the journey of getting there using 25 euro campsites.

[Prudie]

Lucky wife, lucky family. I am now getting emails from booking.com with "XXX, Marbella is calling your name"

[old_labour]

Be careful, we booked a place in Sospel, France with booking.com. On their site. The apartment was listed as having 'city views' 'mini bar' and on the ground floor. There was only one tiny widow with only the view of a wall, the mini bar was a blatent lie and being on the ground floor was misleading as there was a walk up a steep narrow street with no vehicular access and then steps to get to the front door. We have stayed in hundreds of places and this was the worst we have ever experienced. When we complained to booking.com about the misleading information I was told that the person letting the property writes it. I have just checked and the apartment is still listed on their site with the same lies. We have recently tried Airbnb and it was great. Booking.com -never again!