After bad experiences with Booking.com, I just use them as a search engine: call ahead to the property I want to stay in and propose a deal that we book directl

After bad experiences with Booking.com, I just use them as a search engine: call ahead to the property I want to stay in and propose a deal that we book directly with a discount (so split in half between us the Booking.com middleman commission) - it usually works! I suggest you do the same, as using Booking.com offers no protection for problems - don't give them your money! Booking.com operates like a monopoly and doesn't need to care whatsoever if the money they collect from you will correspond to a night of accomodation. Last bad experience: I successfully booked - and paid! - a room in an evening emergency (broken-down car) to find out that the hostel door was locked and no one would open. Called Booking.com customer support about them collecting money for a service they were not in a position to provide: a total back-and-forward mess and they couldn't care less. I did not get my money back.