Alternatives to Booking-dot-com

[littleredrooster]

Last year we arrived late one afternoon in the Dolomites to find our accommodation had been double-booked and we had nowhere to stay. We then discovered that there is no-one to actually speak to at the above-mentioned company, and that each chatbot message takes 23 hours to answer (I jest not...). We were stranded with nowhere to sleep for the night in an area which was already fully-booked because of some local festival.

After 2 frantic hours, we found somewhere, but then spent the next few days having to completely rearrange the rest of the holiday.

Due to this. I have lost complete confidence in them and refuse to use them again; what are the alternatives? Trivago? Hotels-dot-com? Laterooms? Agoda?

What do people recommend?

[Glassman]

Find what you like on said place, and then contact them directly.

[davek_964]

I always mail the hotel directly to confirm the booking has been made before the trip starts.

I doubt any of those company's have a perfect record

[ExBoringVolvoDriver]

I tend to look at Booking.com and then go to the hotel direct to book it. Price tends to be the same or if it is slightly more, then I figure that the extra cost is worth it to avoid the potential issues as you have highlighted.

For our overseas trips, I will use my Travel Agent who is a Travel Counsellor franchise. He will usually give us a few options and the prices tend to be very similar to going direct. We also have a point of contact to sort out any issues that may arise.

[shirt]

Glassman said:

Find what you like on said place, and then contact them directly.

100% this. The only reason to use booking is to see what’s available and for slightly better pricing.

Call the hotel and say you found them on booking but would prefer to book direct. They also prefer it as they don’t lose any margin. Smaller /owner operated properties will almost always match the rate, larger / managed places will throw in breakfast, use of the spa, or other add ons.

[Matt..]

I make maybe 30 bookings a year on Booking.com in many different countries and have never had an issue. I find it vastly simpler to use them than trying to decipher cancellation conditions when going direct. I will go direct if it’s cheaper though but that’s fairly rare in reality.

I sometimes use hotels.com. As others have said you can just use these to find places then book direct.

[loskie]

If in an English speaking country and for some foreign. I'll find a place on Booking.com then mostly book direct with that place. Especially small operators as I prefer the money to go into their pocket.

If there's a price difference I'll contact them.

[cliffords]

I find the property on B.c and then book direct with the hotel I have NEVER yet not got a lower price or breakfast added room upgrade etc .
I have done it for about 12 years.

[littleredrooster]

shirt said:

Glassman said:

Find what you like on said place, and then contact them directly.

100% this. The only reason to use booking is to see what s available and for slightly better pricing.

Call the hotel and say you found them on booking but would prefer to book direct. They also prefer it as they don t lose any margin. Smaller /owner operated properties will almost always match the rate, larger / managed places will throw in breakfast, use of the spa, or other add ons.

Given our recent trips, I speak rudimentary French, no Spanish, no German and no Italian. How does that work? I think I need a site which details stuff like booking terms, conditions and cancellation terms etc.

[shirt]

I can barely speak English and get by ok.

You can email or WhatsApp. Then use google translate for live translation once you’re there.

[Glassman]

Two downsides to these aggregator sites is that a) sometimes you don't get the full benefit of what's on offer compared to booking direct, and b) if something goes wrong, the third party site will wash their hands with it suggesting you take the issue up with the hotel directly.

[scot_aln]

I can only comment on UK bookings but have tried as above on various occasions and found that bar 1 time direct was not less expensive or a better package.

[worsy]

I won't use them as previously booked a hotel with a 6pm cancellation (per Ts and Cs on Booking.com). Cancelled at 5pm and billed. Turns out the Hotel Ts and Cs trumped booking.com.

Booking.com couldn't have been less interested.