How to Book Accommodation Using Booking.com [16 Proven Tips]

Booking.com is a service for booking apartments, hotels and other accommodation via the Internet. Vacation rental is an important part of every trip. When it comes to booking a hotel room, apartment or other type of accommodation on a self-made trip, booking.com is the first website that comes to mind (hereinafter – Booking). So, let’s find out how it is profitable to book a hotel on booking.com.

To put it simply, Booking company is an intermediary between hotels, apartment owners and those who want to rent accommodation. The website contains a variety of vacation rental options, from which everyone can choose the most suitable one for themselves according to the desired amenities and cost of the accommodation. In their turn, hotels and apartment owners set on Booking.com their conditions for making a booking, payment and charging fines. In this article we will describe how to choose and step by step book a suitable hotel or apartments on booking.com website, as well as the methods of booking payments and resolving conflicts with technical support of the service.

The several reasons why it is convenient to book accommodation for trips with the help of Booking.com company are:

• The website contains the largest base of accommodation for rent
• The interface of the website is easy to understand
• Booking.com has 24/7 customer service

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

How to Choose and Book a Hotel on Booking.com Website?
How to Choose The Best Accommodation by The Reviews of Other Users?
How to Make a Reservation of a Hotel on Booking.com
Entering Your Credit Card Data on Booking.com
How to Solve Problems Concerning Accommodation
How to Cancel a Non-Refundable Reservation of a Hotel on Booking.com
Best Price Guaranteed from Booking.com (A Refund for the Difference)
Booking.com App
Genius-Program
FAQ – Most Popular Questions About Accommodation and Answers to Them

• How to Find Out if My Reservation on Booking is Confirmed or Not?
• Should I Make a Prepayment When Booking?
• How to Book a Hotel at The Lowest Price?
• Is Booking.com a Reliable and Secure Website?
• Can Booking Cancel My Reservation?
• What Does a Non-Refundable Booking Mean?
• How Can I Cancel My Reservation on Booking.com?

How to Get a Reward From Booking.com?

• Refer Friends & Earn

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How to Choose and Book a Hotel on Booking.com Website?

As we mentioned above – one of the indisputable advantages of Booking is clear interface with tips. The first thing you need to do to search for accommodation for rent is to enter the city or region where you are going, the dates of your trip and the number of people for whom you make a booking.

What you need to pay attention to when choosing a hotel or apartment on Booking:

• Price – the lower the price, the more pleasant for you it is, of course
• Rate from previous guests – the higher the score on a 10-point scale, the better it is
• Location of accommodation – depending on the purpose of your trip, you need a different location.

For example, if your goal is to get to know the city, it is better to choose accommodation in the city center so as not to waste your time getting there on taxi or public transport. And if you are in the city only for an overnight stay when traveling by car, rent accommodation on the outskirts, as in this case it makes no sense to go to the city center.

#1. On the left side of the page there are other search options (“Filter by”), which you can set, thereby narrowing the number of options offered to you. Here you can choose your desired type of accommodation (hotel, apartment, hostel and etc.), parking, breakfast, 24-hour reception, free cancellation and much more. As you add each filter, the list of search options will be updated automatically, and by the time you add the last filter, you will have a final accommodation list on the page that matches your specified parameters.

After it you only have to choose the most suitable accommodation from the final list.

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How to choose the best accommodation by the reviews of other users?

#2. To make it, analyze the hotels you like according to several parameters: rating and reviews from other users (in the reviews we first of all pay attention to the disadvantages while staying), room category and location of the accommodation. Sometimes it happens that the ratings of several accommodation are about the same, in this case, the more people put the assessment, the better it is. It means that rating from 271 reviews is better than rating from 54 reviews. If among the accommodation you choose a hotel – immediately go to viewing photos of the rooms – it often happens that you like the hotel and you absolutely do not like the room inside.

Before completing the reservation of a suitable accommodation on Booking.com, read the details of the reservation. Pay special attention to what is included and what is not included into the reservation price, the booking conditions and amenities for an additional fee.

#3. If you want to book a hotel in a specific city area, you can navigate through the search on the map – you need to open a map with all accommodation and put the cursor on the options in the area you are interested in – then you will see the name of the accommodation, its rating and the cost of staying. This feature is very convenient if you spontaneously decide to stay in the city and want to find accommodation in a certain place.

Check FOR FREE the cost of vacation rental in the city you are traveling to

Booking.com




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How to Make a Reservation of a Hotel on Booking.com

When booking, you must fill in the information in the designated fields. Personal data must be entered in Latin, as they are indicated in passport. Do not forget to enter your e-mail.

After filling in your personal information, enter your address and card details (Visa or MasterCard). There must be an embossed card number, otherwise it will not be suitable for making a reservation on Booking.com website.

Card details are a kind of guarantee for Booking.com – in case of a no-show or cancellation of a non-refundable reservation, a fine will be charged from the card. We recommend to read all the information about the fines in the accommodation facility before you complete the reservation.

Booking.com service is a reliable website and you shouldn’t be afraid to enter your card details here. In any case, you can use a separate card, special one for purchases on the Internet.

After completing the reservation, you will receive a confirmation email with the number and pin code of the reservation. You will need this information if for any reason you want to contact the booking.com support service.

In confirmation of the reservation you can see the payment deadlines – often the hotel or the owner of the apartment can charge the amount from the card before your arrival. In the statement of payment, there can be both the name of the hotel or “NL – a combination of numbers and letters – Amsterdam” – the second means that your card data were not given to the hotel and the payment was made by Booking.com.

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Entering Your Credit Card Data on Booking.com

#4. Many users worry about entering card data and especially the CVV code when making reservation of accommodation on Booking.com. In fact, this procedure is no different from other purchases on the Internet, when you must enter the CVV code. And in case of suspicious transactions, contact your bank and discuss them. Another way to protect yourself is to select the option “Pay now” at the last stage of making reservation – in this case, the service will immediately process your payment and transfer the payment to the hotel without your card data.

And if you don’t want to enter the card data at all when making reservation of accommodation – select the “booking without credit card” filter on the left side of the search page. There are not so many such options, but they exist. If you want to book a hotel on Booking.com with no credit card and prepayment, this search filter is for you.

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How to Solve Problems Concerning Accommodation

Discuss all the questions regarding the booked accommodation with the owner through Booking.com – by means of messages.

And if you have problems with an unscrupulous owner of the apartment or a hotel, or if for example the accommodation does not correspond to the declared one, do not hesitate to contact the technical support of Booking.com service (Customer Service Help). The contact number of Booking.com depends on the country you are in. The list of the offices and the phone numbers of Booking.com.

If there is no Booking office in the country you are in – to make complaints you may use the contact number of the neighbouring country or the phone number of the main office of Booking.com in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Once we had a situation in the Philippines: having made a non-refundable reservation, we arrived at the hotel that was being renovated, it was noisy there, the room smelled of paint and wasn’t cleaned. After the first troublesome night we wanted to change the hotel and asked the owner to return us the money for the next 2 days, which we were not going to spend at the hotel.

The owner refused to return the money, but we left, moved in another hotel and sent a letter to Customer Service Help of Booking com with complaints, where we described the situation in details and attached photos of the dirty room. After about a week we received money back on the card for the days that we did not stay in the first hotel, despite the fact that the reservation was non-refundable. Booking.com respects its customers and goes to concessions if the accommodation does not match its description.

#5. If you have a problem that requires an immediate solution, it is better to call to technical support (the phone number is indicated in the confirmation of each reservation). And in case the question is not urgent – you can contact technical support via email. You can also attach photos, checks and proofs of additional expenses that you had because of a problem (a check for a taxi, etc.).

Rate the Hotel After Your Stay

After your stay, do not forget to rate the accommodation and write a review about it – this will help other travelers to make the right choice. Rating from other users is an important criterion that many rely on when choosing vacation rental, because all reviews on booking.com are reliable.

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How to Cancel a Non-Refundable Reservation of a Hotel on Booking.com

Unpredictable circumstances sometimes happen to everyone. And it may happen that you make a non-refundable reservation (which is usually lower than the usual cost, with the possibility of free cancellation), but you can not go on a trip. In this case, usually you get a fine from Booking. Anyway, there is a chance to avoid it.

So, how to cancel reservation on Booking without penalty?

#6. If you need to cancel a non-refundable reservation – go to the confirmation, under the “cancel booking” button there is a tab “Can I cancel for less?”. Clicking on it will take you to a window where you can write an appeal to the hotel asking not to charge you a fine. Describe in detail the reasons for your no-show, and perhaps the hotel will make concessions, reducing the amount of the fine or canceling it completely.

It is a personal matter wether to make a non-refundable booking or a booking with free cancellation, but in any case, it is useful to know how to reduce the amount of fine in unforeseen circumstances.

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Best Price Guaranteed from Booking.com (A Refund for the Difference)

#7. Do not forget that Booking has a good additional option – you can claim a refund for the difference if you find your reservation cheaper on another website. If, after making a hotel reservation, you find the same accommodation at a lower price on another website (Airbnb) or hotel website, you can claim a refund for the difference. For it you need to send a request to booking.com with a link to this offer.

Important conditions: the offer must apply to the same type of accommodation and type of the room as you have in your booking, the dates and conditions of cancellation must also be the same. It does not make sense to apply for the return of the price difference if the offer you found at a lower cost is a promotion offer, as well as the price is built on a loyalty or rewards program.

Booking.com App

#8. If you travel a lot, download Booking app. Using the app, it’s even easier to see reviews from other travelers, find the right hotel or apartment and book them. The scheme of searching and booking hotels and apartments on Booking app is similar to the version of the official website, and it’s only adapted to a mobile phone. This creates additional convenience when you need to book a room if you are on the way or if you don’t have a laptop.

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Genius-Program

#9. Remember that before making a reservation of a hotel, resort or apartment on Booking.com for the first time, you need to register on the website. Recently, the service has set 2 levels of genius status for travelers.

Genius Level 1 is given after 2 completed bookings within 2 years. This status offers you a 10% discount on the cost of staying in some properties for all following reservations on Booking.com.

After 5 completed bookings within 2 years, you will be given Genius Level 2 status, which offers a 15% discount in some accommodation facilities on Booking.com, as well as a free breakfast. It’s quite convenient that the benefits from Genius statuses do not disappear in any period of time, they are lifelong.

Other genius-bonuses from hotels and apartments on Booking.com may vary, but for example it can be:

• Priority early check-in and late check-out
• Free airport transfer
• Free welcome drink, etc.

You can find out the information about the availability of bonuses for Genius travelers in a particular Booking accommodation when making a reservation.

Booking.com is one of our favorite hotel reservation websites for travel. We hope this article was useful to you, and you have become one step closer to self-made trips!

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FAQ – Most Popular Questions About Accommodation and Answers to Them

How to Find Out if My Reservation on Booking is Confirmed or Not?

#10. If the hotel or the owner of the apartment confirms the reservation, you will receive a confirmation by email. To clarify the information you need, go to “Manage booking” section or contact the owner of the apartment or the hotel.

Should I Make a Prepayment When Booking?

#11. Booking never charges prepayment from your credit card. Payment for your stay is processed by the hotel while check-in or during your stay, unless otherwise indicated in the Hotel Rules section, in the room description in the Conditions section or in booking confirmation via email. Yes, in the high season, hotels often charge accommodation payment in advance, but the date of charging is always indicated in the booking confirmation.

Does Booking Charge Percentage for Making Reservations on the Website?

No. The service does not charge you any fees. You just pay for your stay at the hotel.

How to Book a Hotel at The Lowest Price?

#12. Book your stay either well in advance (three months before the trip and more) or on the eve of your arrival (day to day). Use promotional codes or links that can be found in mailing, social networks, groups, travel blogs or given for participating in activities and contests. Do not forget to ask if the booking service or hotel has a loyalty program. In case of Booking, this is Genius + program. Sometimes the company does a promotion, when they return up to 50% of the cost of staying.

Is Booking.com a Reliable and Secure Website?

#13. Yes, this is a safe, secure and reliable website. Moreover, this is one of the largest booking sites you can truly trust. In case of any problems and suspicious transactions, we recommend to contact the 24-hour Customer Service Help immediately.

Can Booking Cancel My Reservation?

#14. You can cancel or change your reservation in your account. Check the hotel’s cancellation policy before making any changes to your reservation. Non-refundable rooms and other special offers may have a strict cancellation policy. Booking itself cannot cancel your reservation, however it can be done by the hotel or the owner of the apartment for some reasons. For example, if booking conditions specify the date of payment before your arrival, but the hotel could not charge it from your card in time. In this case, you will receive a confirmation of the cancellation by email.

What Does a Non-Refundable Booking Mean?

#15. Non-refundable reservations have a lower cost compared to options with free cancellation, but they can’t be cancelled or changed on Booking.com. If you choose a non-refundable hotel room, be prepared for a fine in case of a no-show or reservation change. Above in the article we described the situation, how you can try to avoid the fine. However, we recommend to book non-refundable accommodation only if you are 100% sure of your plans.

How Can I Cancel My Reservation on Booking.com?

#16. To cancel a reservation, log in on the website and go to “Bookings” section. You will see a list of your upcoming and past reservations. Select the required upcoming one and click “view booking”, then a window with booking details will open. Below there will be the information about the possibility of cancellation of the reservation and the “cancel booking” button directly.

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How to Get a Reward From Booking.com?

Any registered user of Booking.com website may receive a reward. For these purposes, the service has a program “Invite a friend”.

Every user of Booking.com has a personal referral link. You can find yours by clicking on “Refer Friends & Earn” on the main page.

To find your referral link you can also log in on Booking.com website and follow the link.

To receive a reward, the user should send a link to his friend, and a friend in his turn must book an accommodation by this link. After staying in a booked accommodation, the user who sent the link will be paid $15, and his friend will receive a reward of 10% of the total reservation. In order to receive reward both the user who sent the referral link and his friend who completed the reservation must save credit card data in their profiles. The reward will be paid to it.

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Refer Friends & Earn

• You can send the refferal link to any of your friends, no matter whether it is a new Booking user or the one who has already made reservations on the website
• By the link that you send to a friend, he can book the accommodation only once, if your friend books several accommodation with your link, he will receive a reward only for one booking (which comes the first)
• After your friend’s reservation is completed, you will receive an email with information that the reward is on the way, and at this moment we recommend to make sure once again that you have registered and saved your credit card data on which you’ll receive the reward
• If you do not want to save credit card data, you can get a reward on the Wallet. To do this, in your personal account, register the email address you used for reservations. After your friend’s reservation is complete, you will receive a reward on your Wallet. You will also receive detailed information by e-mail
• You and your friend get a reward only after he completes a reservation and Booking checks it
• If your friend cancels the reservation made through your referral link, neither you nor he will receive a reward. But if your friend makes a new reservation on your link and completes it – the rewards will be valid
• Your referral link does not have an expiration date, at any time you can send it to your friends who have not made a reservation via your link
• Remember that the maximum number of your invited friends via the referral link is 10

Booking.com FAQ

Is booking.com safe?

Yes, the website is safe and reliable. It’s one of the biggest travel-booking websites in the world. Booking.com has 24/7 Customer Service help, so you can completely trust them.

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