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I was booking a place in Budapest this summer on Booking.com, and there was a specific area I wanted to be in. I searched for that area and found a place that was marked as having a certain location that was perfect for me. Upon arriving, it turns out this was just where their "main office" was, and the specific apartment I was renting was situated in a different area, several tram rides away. I tried to get my money back for this clear deception but to no avail.

Their excuse? The real address was available to me in my confirmation email, i.e. after I had already paid. If you can't trust their map, it serves no purpose whatsoever. A few weeks later I was trying to find the listing but it appears to have been removed.

I'd switch in an instant if someone built a useful alternative to Booking. Agoda is the same deal as far as I can tell, and it is owned by the same parent company.

EDIT: Airbnb is great - I use it a lot, more than Booking - but sometimes you just want a more professionally run hotel, hostel or apartment. In fact, after cancelling that place I ended up booking a studio with Airbnb at the last minute.



I don't think booking is at fault here, they just list the hotels they don't make sure that they are hotels are honest or whatever, it's like renting on airbnb on a room with no reviews


When you reserve with Booking.com, they don't even charge your credit card. At least that's how it has been the last 100 times when I used them. How come it was different this time?


They offer both types of bookings. Some are paid online immediately, others are paid at the hotel in checkout.

Generally speaking if it's not a flexible/refundable rate you will probably pay online from what i noticed but don't quote me on that.


Did you initiate a chargeback?


No. Booked with debit card, not credit card, which as far as I know makes the requirements for chargebacks higher.


This is why us Americans always use credit. So much protection.


Airbnb?




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