Why Booking.com Is a Nightmare for Vacation Rental Hosts

As a vacation rental host, you’ve probably heard of or used Booking.com. It's one of the biggest players in the online travel agency (OTA) game, and for a time, it seemed like a no-brainer to list your property on this global platform. However, the honeymoon phase is over for many hosts. After years of dealing with headaches, frustrations, and questionable practices, many vacation rental hosts are starting to realize that Booking.com might not be the goldmine it once seemed to be. In fact, it might be downright detrimental to your business. Here’s why.

1. No Pre-Payments: A Recipe for Cancellations

One of the most glaring issues with Booking.com is its approach to payments. Unlike platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo, where you can take full or partial payments upfront, Booking.com operates with a "pay later" model, where guests can book your property and pay at check-in or even check-out.

This might seem appealing at first—after all, it increases the likelihood that people will book. But here's the catch: you’re left exposed. If a guest decides to cancel or simply doesn’t show up, you’re out of luck. You can try charging them a cancellation fee, but getting paid is not always a straightforward process, especially if the guest paid by a non-refundable method or doesn't comply.

This lack of financial commitment from guests puts your property at risk of last-minute cancellations, no-shows, or guests who just don't take their bookings seriously. Meanwhile, you, the host, are stuck holding the bag.

2. Duplicate and Fake Bookings: A Nightmare of Overbooking

If you think you’ve seen the worst of Booking.com’s flaws, the system's ability to generate duplicate and fake bookings will leave you shaking your head. It’s a common issue among hosts, and it’s as annoying as it sounds.

Imagine waking up to find your calendar double-booked because Booking.com’s platform has processed a guest’s reservation multiple times, or even worse—booking requests from guests who never actually intend to stay at your property. These fake bookings can tie up your availability and leave you scrambling to accommodate actual paying guests. And when you try to resolve the issue with Booking.com’s customer support? Good luck. The process can be incredibly slow, frustrating, and often results in minimal compensation for your time and trouble.

The result? You lose revenue, face negative reviews, and deal with unnecessary stress.

3. Customer Service is a Maze of Frustration

If you’ve ever tried to get assistance from Booking.com, you probably know that customer service is not exactly their strong suit. Whether it’s fixing a mistake on your listing, resolving a payment issue, or clearing up duplicate bookings, you’re in for a labyrinthine process that could take hours or even days to sort out.

Hosts frequently report being stuck in long phone queues or dealing with representatives who don’t fully understand the complexities of vacation rental management. Even more troubling is the fact that many issues seem to be brushed aside with generic responses that don’t actually address the problem. When you're facing a legitimate issue that affects your business, the last thing you want is to be handed a generic email and told to wait for a resolution.

This lack of timely, effective support only adds fuel to the fire for many hosts, who feel like they’re left to fend for themselves when things go wrong.

4. Exorbitant Commission Fees and Hidden Charges

Booking.com’s commission fees are notoriously high, with some hosts reporting paying up to 15% or more for each booking made through the platform. For many property owners, this eats into their profits and makes it harder to justify staying on the platform long-term. And the worst part? There are often hidden charges that sneak up on you after you've already agreed to list your property.

These high fees put your bottom line in jeopardy and can make it difficult to compete with other hosts who may be offering the same property at a lower rate. In fact, many hosts find themselves lowering their prices just to account for the commission cut, leading to a downward spiral of diminished profits.

5. Lack of Control Over Your Listing and Reviews

Unlike other platforms that allow hosts to maintain more control over their listings, Booking.com often dictates the terms of how you can present your property. From limited flexibility on pricing to restrictions on how you describe your property, it’s hard to fully tailor your listing to reflect what you want guests to see. This lack of autonomy can feel frustrating for those who take pride in the details and want their rental to stand out.

Even worse, Booking.com’s review system can feel like a double-edged sword. On one hand, reviews can be a valuable source of feedback and social proof for your listing. On the other hand, Booking.com allows guests to leave feedback without verifying whether the guest actually stayed at your property. In some cases, you may receive negative reviews from guests who didn’t even show up, further damaging your reputation.

6. The Platform is Dying: Hosts Are Leaving in Droves

It’s no secret that the rise of alternative platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo has put pressure on Booking.com, and many hosts are now seeing the writing on the wall. As more travelers turn to these platforms, which offer better payment protection, more host-friendly policies, and a more streamlined experience overall, Booking.com seems to be slipping in popularity.

Moreover, Booking.com’s brand has been tarnished by multiple reports of technical glitches, confusing interface changes, and poor customer relations. Hosts are increasingly abandoning the platform in favor of alternatives that offer a more seamless, rewarding experience.

The Bottom Line: Is Booking.com Worth It?

For many vacation rental hosts, the answer is increasingly no. While it was once a powerhouse in the travel industry, Booking.com’s lack of pre-payments, the constant threat of duplicate and fake bookings, poor customer support, high commission fees, and overall inflexibility have left many hosts questioning whether it's still a viable option.

While it might be tempting to keep your listing on Booking.com because of its massive reach, the reality is that it could be doing more harm than good. If you're looking for a more host-friendly experience with better customer support, lower fees, and more control over your property, it's worth exploring alternatives like Airbnb or Vrbo, where hosts are often treated as partners, not just suppliers.

Ultimately, the decision is yours, but many hosts are choosing to cut ties with Booking.com in favor of platforms that are better aligned with their needs. It's time for a change, and for many, that change means saying goodbye to Booking.com.