Is Booking.com a good platform to use for hosts?

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Is Booking.com a good platform to use for hosts?

Julie Chai
Investor · La Palma, CA · Member since 2021 · 71 posts · 19 votes

I just signed up for Booking.com and got my first reservation within a week and turned out they were a bad guest.  The guest had brought additional guests than they listed on the reservation, doesn't respond to my messages/concerns, left my front door wide open when they left.  I was trying to find host reviews about booking.com but couldn't find any. I guess only guests can leave reviews for the property but there's no option (that I see) for hosts to leave guest reviews like AirBnB.  It also takes longer for me to receive my payment where AirBnb and Vrbo payout almost immediately.

Any pros/cons or advise/suggestions on booking.com???  Should I keep my listing on there?  Or is this a bad platform for hosts?


Thanks!

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Leslie Anne Morris
Real Estate Agent · Smoky Mountains, TN · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 984 votes
3y

I was on booking.com a few years ago and didn't book much through there.  Then I started to hear horror stories such as yours and pulled my listings off the platform.  I focus on VRBO/Expedia Group, Airbnb and direct bookings.

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  • Luke CarlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Tennessee Florida · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    3y
    Yes. It's fantastic. In Europe. I'm kidding!!!

    Podcast Guest on Show From Surviving on $30/Day to 30+ Properties Thanks to Blue-Collar Skills
    2Reply
  • Dave StokleyBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 699 posts · 799 votes
    3y
    Hated it. Bad guests, difficult to get paid. 
    2Reply
  • Julie Chai
    OP
    Investor · La Palma, CA · Member since 2021 · 71 posts · 19 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Dave Stokley:
    Hated it. Bad guests, difficult to get paid. 

     My exact first experience with booking.com!  I'm assuming you don't use them anymore?

    1Reply
  • Julie Chai
    OP
    Investor · La Palma, CA · Member since 2021 · 71 posts · 19 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Luke Carl:
    Yes. It's fantastic. In Europe. I'm kidding!!!

    I'm going to take this as a "NO!" response to use booking.com as a platform lol
    1Reply
  • Dave StokleyBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 699 posts · 799 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Julie Chai:
    Quote from @Dave Stokley:
    Hated it. Bad guests, difficult to get paid. 

     My exact first experience with booking.com!  I'm assuming you don't use them anymore?


    Absolutely not.
    2Reply
  • Leslie Anne Morris
    Real Estate Agent · Smoky Mountains, TN · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 984 votes
    3y

    I was on booking.com a few years ago and didn't book much through there.  Then I started to hear horror stories such as yours and pulled my listings off the platform.  I focus on VRBO/Expedia Group, Airbnb and direct bookings.

    3Reply
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y

    We use them and they are not my favorite at all but they do book a lot of our more urban units and they do help fill some last minute space

    [email protected]813-563-0877
    Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
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    0Reply
  • Ryan MoyerBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Orlando Kissimmee Davenport Salt Lake City, Park City · Member since 2019 · 991 posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    Been on there about 6 months, not one single booking.  On properties that stay pretty booked up too.  Maybe that's why, but surprising they're always booking elsewhere first.

    I do price a little higher on booking.com to account for the fee, but it sounds like most people do that too, so not sure why my places are an afterthought there.

    Cosmic Vacations4.9174 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    3y

    I have heard they have been revamping their STR section but it appears that it is a long way off.

    VRBO and AirBNB are what we use and that is it. I don't want any hassles.

    I will say that guests like you had @Julie Chai aren't endemic to booking.com. You can get those from any platform.

    2Reply
  • Eliott Elias
    Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2021 · 9k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    3y

    You should have your property up on all platforms. 

    0Reply
  • Jon Martin
    Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Michael Baum:

    I have heard they have been revamping their STR section but it appears that it is a long way off.


     I heard this too but their platform is still just as clunky as it was 10 years ago when I first used it, and the design looks just how I remembered it . . . 

    0Reply
  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Jon Martin:
    Quote from @Michael Baum:

    I have heard they have been revamping their STR section but it appears that it is a long way off.


     I heard this too but their platform is still just as clunky as it was 10 years ago when I first used it, and the design looks just how I remembered it . . . 

    I know! It's weird. There have been several articles and the big ad during the Superbowl and it still isn't really going anywhere.
    1Reply
  • Brooklyn McCarty
    Investor · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 754 votes
    3y

    I have not heard very many hood things about this platform yet for the US. 

    0Reply
  • Allen L.
    Rental Property Investor · Chicago and mainly invests in KS remotely · Member since 2018 · 360 posts · 314 votes
    3y

    They don’t verify guests properly; screening is weak because they’re mainly focused on hotels/flights/car rentals. I’ve heard of stories where people verified with fake IDs and stolen credit cards and went into homes and stole appliances and furniture. 

    1Reply
  • Jay ThomasPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Houston, TX · Member since 2021 · 1k+ posts · 715 votes
    3y

    It’s worth mentioning that while many people prefer Booking.com for its convenience and reliability, this doesn’t mean that other platforms cannot offer the same level of service. Real estate is an unpredictable industry, so it pays to be flexible with your search and keep exploring other options if one platform doesn’t quite fit the bill. Hopefully you find what you're looking for soon! All the best!

    [email protected]832-889-5607
    0Reply
  • Cathleen Ohannigan
    Investor · cary, NC · Member since 2008 · 27 posts · 7 votes
    3y

    Stay away

    0Reply
  • Joel Case
    Rental Property Investor · Ocean Springs, MS · Member since 2022 · 349 posts · 301 votes
    3y

    I have been online with my STR for seven months and have had 2 or 3 bookings come from Booking.com. The guests seem to expect a hotel like experience as far as communication goes, but the guests I have had have been great from Booking.com. My crappy guests (but also the majority of my revenue) have all come from AirBnB.

    1Reply
  • Julie Chai
    OP
    Investor · La Palma, CA · Member since 2021 · 71 posts · 19 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Michael Baum:
    Quote from @Jon Martin:
    Quote from @Michael Baum:

    I have heard they have been revamping their STR section but it appears that it is a long way off.


     I heard this too but their platform is still just as clunky as it was 10 years ago when I first used it, and the design looks just how I remembered it . . . 

    I know! It's weird. There have been several articles and the big ad during the Superbowl and it still isn't really going anywhere.

     yes, I don't like their website layout.  Not user friendly.

    0Reply
  • Julie Chai
    OP
    Investor · La Palma, CA · Member since 2021 · 71 posts · 19 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Joel Case:

    I have been online with my STR for seven months and have had 2 or 3 bookings come from Booking.com. The guests seem to expect a hotel like experience as far as communication goes, but the guests I have had have been great from Booking.com. My crappy guests (but also the majority of my revenue) have all come from AirBnB.

    I'm going to hang in there for a few more weeks and see what happens. I just received my 2nd booking on booking.com yesterday for a one nighter (2 adults, 4 kids)....hopefully they'll be ok.  Since Booking.com now has an option to discount rates depending on how many guests stay...I realized that's what happened with my first guest (that left my door wide open after checking out)!  They only listed 2 guests to get the cheaper rate. So I've opted out of that option now and even raised my prices $10 more a night compared to my AirBnb rates.  I'm hoping this will help filter out the bad ghetto guests.
    0Reply
  • Julie Chai
    OP
    Investor · La Palma, CA · Member since 2021 · 71 posts · 19 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Eliott Elias:

    You should have your property up on all platforms.

     What other platforms have you had good experiences with or recommend?

    0Reply
  • Joel Case
    Rental Property Investor · Ocean Springs, MS · Member since 2022 · 349 posts · 301 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Julie Chai:
    Quote from @Joel Case:

    I have been online with my STR for seven months and have had 2 or 3 bookings come from Booking.com. The guests seem to expect a hotel like experience as far as communication goes, but the guests I have had have been great from Booking.com. My crappy guests (but also the majority of my revenue) have all come from AirBnB.

    I'm going to hang in there for a few more weeks and see what happens. I just received my 2nd booking on booking.com yesterday for a one nighter (2 adults, 4 kids)....hopefully they'll be ok.  Since Booking.com now has an option to discount rates depending on how many guests stay...I realized that's what happened with my first guest (that left my door wide open after checking out)!  They only listed 2 guests to get the cheaper rate. So I've opted out of that option now and even raised my prices $10 more a night compared to my AirBnb rates.  I'm hoping this will help filter out the bad ghetto guests.

     I have also learned through experience not to be the bargain option among comparable homes. Now I regularly review my prices among my 3-4 direct competitors and adjust my prices to ensure that I am not the lowest priced option whenever I can prevent it. But I also make sure that my property has the most amenities as well, so it's not targeted at the budget shoppers. 

    I use Hospitable for a channel manager and it supports AirBnB, VRBO, and Booking.com so I have listed on all three. It also allows you to set a percentage differential for pricing between platforms. 

    0Reply
  • Bud Gaffney
    Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    It's awful.

    0Reply
  • Bud Gaffney
    Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    Stay away from this website. Trust me.

    1Reply
  • Julie Chai
    OP
    Investor · La Palma, CA · Member since 2021 · 71 posts · 19 votes
    3y

    man! all these " dont do it".... I think I should listen to my fellow investors lol.  

    0Reply
  • Joel Case
    Rental Property Investor · Ocean Springs, MS · Member since 2022 · 349 posts · 301 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Julie Chai:

    man! all these " dont do it".... I think I should listen to my fellow investors lol.  


     You have to do what's right for you. 

    0Reply
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