Last Updated on September 6, 2024
Planning a successful trip or vacation can be a painstaking process. That’s especially true if your vacation falls around the peak seasons, where lodge facilities are usually in short supply.
Fortunately, there are numerous travel agencies that help you reserve your accommodation right from the comfort of your home or office. One such company is Booking.com.
True to its name, Booking.com has assisted thousands of travelers find the best deals on hotels. With 26 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, this sounds like the right company to match you up with a suitable accommodation facility.
But a long industry presence alone doesn’t qualify a company as credible and reliable. Which begs the question, is Booking.com legit?
Join me as I unpack the surprising benefits and hidden risks of booking your next travel accommodation via this site.
What Is Booking.com?
Booking.com is a Dutch online travel company for lodge reservations. The company was launched in 1996 by Geert-Jan Bruinsma, who was then a student at Universiteit Twente.
Booking.com was originally based in Enschede, Netherlands, before relocating to its current headquarters at Amsterdam. The travel agency is owned by Booking Holdings but also maintains Booking.com Consulting Services Pte. Ltd. as its subsidiary.
Considered one of the world’s largest lodge reservation websites, Booking.com has consistently partnered with established hotels to offer its customers safe, convenient, and affordable accommodation facilities. Besides hotels, the company also provides a slew of other travel products, including flight bookings, airport pickups, and car rentals.
Company Overview
- Company Name: Booking.com
- Industry: Tourism
- Sector: Online Travel Reservations
- Company Type: For Profit
- Founder: Geert-Jan Bruinsma
- Year Founded: 1996
- Place Founded: Enschede, Netherlands
- Current Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Owner: Booking Holdings
- Availability: Worldwide
- Operating Status: Active
- Official Website Link: https://www.booking.com/
How Did Booking.com Begin?
Booking.com was launched in 1996 by Geert-Jan Bruinsma. However, the company was officially established in 2000 following the merger between Bruinsma’s Bookings.nl and Bookings Online, another travel agency founded by Sicco and Alec Bahrens, Bas Lemmens, and Marijn Muyser. Before the merger, Bookings Online was known as Bookings.org.
In July 2005, Bookings.com was acquired by Booking Holdings (previously known as Priceline Group) for $133 million. The travel agency subsequently integrated with ActiveHotels.com, a European online accommodation reservation company that Priceline Group had purchased nine months earlier for $161 million.
Booking.com has continued to dominate the global online hotel reservations sector. The company is commonly ranked alongside other famous travel agencies, such as Expedia and Hotels.com.
Is Booking.com Available In My Country?
Booking.com is available worldwide. According to the company, its services can be accessed in over 150,000 destinations around the world.
Booking.com’s website is also available in 43 languages. So, you don’t have to worry about accessing the website in English if you’re a non-native speaker.
How Big Is Booking.com?
Booking.com is a leading online hotel reservation website. As of the time of writing, the company maintains more than 28 million listings on its platform.
Is Booking.com Legit?
Booking.com is one of the oldest online lodge reservation companies. It takes a great deal of reputation to survive that long in the ever-volatile tourism industry.
In addition to its fairly long industry presence, Booking.com also operates on a clear pricing policy. There are no hidden charges at all. In fact, the travel agency rarely charges its customers. The fees appearing on the website are payable directly to your lodge facility upon arrival. This level of transparency is usually a hallmark of reputable companies.
And as we’ve already hinted, Booking.com maintains millions of listings on its website. No matter where your wanderlust spirit takes you, you can be assured there will always be a Booking.com partner hotel nearby.
The following are other reasons that lend credence to Booking.com’s credibility;
1. Amazing Deals & Discounts
Not only does Booking.com brings thousands of potential accommodation facilities under one roof. But the company also offers the best bargains on prices through its ever-running deals and discounts.
2. Penalty-free Cancelations
Booking.com offers free cancellation on most of its rooms. The flexibility to cancel reservations is especially an advantage to travelers who make last-minute reservations.
Just be sure to read the cancelation policy carefully before opting out of a reservation. Also, remember that many independent lodge facilities will not allow you to cancel you reservation for free.
3. Fast and Efficient
The fact that Booking.com is an online travel agency means users can book their hotel facilities on the go. Even better, the company offers a user-friendly app that lets you access its services from your mobile device.
4. Millions of Reviews
Booking.com is one of the only few online travel agencies that enjoy millions of reviews across multiple platforms. And as you shall find, the feedback is generally positive.
But despite the many positive Booking.com reviews, the company has had to contend with criticism from time to time.
A good number of negative reviewers claim that Booking.com charged them twice and that they went through a lot of trouble getting the company to own up.
Other reviewers report getting checked into a different facility from the one they selected on Booking.com. It’s unclear who between Booking.com and the hotel facility should shoulder the blame here. However, such claims can still cast aspersions on Booking.com’s credibility.
Lastly, you could get scammed by fraudsters who post fake listings. The good news is that Booking.com conducts due diligence to ensure that all listings on its platform are authentic. But as the saying goes, you can never be too careful.

Do I Need an Account to Enjoy Booking.com’s Services?
The good thing about Booking.com is that you don’t need to register for an account to use its core services. However, an account is still recommended if you want to unlock all the company’s features.
To sign up for a Booking.com account,
i. Head to Booking.com’s official website and click on the ‘Register’ tab located at the top right of the homepage.
ii. Enter your email address and click ‘Continue with email.’
iii. Create and confirm your password on the next page.
How Do I Unlock Booking.com Services?
To enjoy Booking.com’s hotel booking services,
i. Head to the company’s official website and log in using your credentials.
You can also access the website by launching the app from your mobile device.
On the homepage, the website will ask you to enter your travel destination, check-in and check-out dates, and the room type.
ii. Input the required information, then click search and allow the website to load.
Booking.com will display a page detailing all the properties that match your search criteria, including its best picks.
Each property appears with a photo, plus a detailed description of its location, room type, available rooms, cancelation policy, reviews, and the price (inclusive of taxes and fees).
iii. If satisfied with the hotel, click ‘See availability’ for a detailed description.
iv. And if ready to book, click on the ‘I’ll reserve’ button located on the right column.
v. You can then fill out a few more details and pay via any of the hotel’s supported payment getaways.
Besides hotels, you can also reserve flights, car rentals, and airport transfers using Booking.com’s website. The agency also allows property owners to list their facilities on its website. In each case, you’ll be required to fill out some information before Booking.com can avail the requested service.
Conclusion
Booking.com has rightfully earned itself a spot among the world’s most reputable online travel reservation agencies. Although the company has garnered several negative reviews, it remains a go-to platform for all remote hotel bookings, as well as flight reservations, airport transfers, and car rental services.