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Looking at booking a family holiday next summer, found somewhere that looks really nice but you have to pay the whole cost now, 50% fee if you cancel for any reason from that point. Is that usual? Deposit, fine, but the whole lot? Not sure how comfortable I am with this so far in advance, even paying on a credit card. What say hive mind?
I wouldn't be worrying about it from a fraud point of view as it's booking.com and I assume you're paying them and not the accomodation provider but surely there is something else with more flexibility out there?
Having found the place on booking.com, can you find it directly with a bit of googling?
Generally better to book direct if possible, lots of stories of bookings going tits up when booked through third parties such as Airbnb and booking.com.
Can’t you find the same place on another site? Travel Republic typically very good with deposits and cancellation clauses but that’s assuming it’s a hotel/resort and not an Air BB type setup.
Ignore
we look for places on booking.com then try and find their own website and ask if theyd prefer private to save the commission and make it cheaper both ways. most prefer that and we've never had a problem, both over here and abroad.
id still be happy using the site for our bookings (and indeed have done a few times) but would personally only book places with full cancellation refunds up to a couple of weeks before due date (or no pay up front).
I would book direct, whole up front is a bit mean. 50% cancellation, anything can change. It's pretty easy to find the owner, book direct and save the fees.
The cancellation policy is usually set by the owner of the property and not the booking agent. If you can go direct, as others have said, most will be cheaper and better for both parties. I used to own properties on Airbnb / booking.com. Also watch how the fees are added and when as they both do it in different ways
I used them last year to book accommodation in Majorca. It was pay in full at the property. Just checked and that’s not changed, nothing up front
It isn't a booking.com stipulation, it is the hotels. Possible that they get so many cancelations on bdotc that they only make that stipulation there, but likely that is just the hotels policy. Some hotels have an option to pay a higher price for more flexible bookings.