GetYourGuide
Travel stack
Tours and activities marketplace with supplier-specific rules.
- Planning activities before arrival
- Travelers who want tours they can cancel for a refund
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Review
Travel stack
Booking.com review: currency conversion and refunds
Booking.com review: what Pay In Your Own Currency adds at checkout, who sets refunds and deposits, and how to spot fake payment requests (26 Sep 2026).
Last checked:
Best for
- Comparing location, price and cancellation terms across many properties
- Booking refundable stays while travel plans are still open
- Planning a trip budget across several stays
Choose something else if
- You want hotel loyalty points and status handled directly by the chain
- You want one refund rule for every stay: each property sets its own
Key numbers
- Pay In Your Own Currency
- Optional; conversion charge in the rate or as a separate line
- as of 26 Sep 2026
- Card FX fee
- Your card or payment provider may add its own fee
- as of 26 Sep 2026
- Cancellation and refunds
- Set by each property’s policy on the booking
- as of 26 Sep 2026
- Deposits, taxes and city fees
- Set by each property
- as of 26 Sep 2026
- Changed payment details
- Confirm through the official app or site before paying
- as of 26 Sep 2026
- Rewards
- Genius loyalty program
- as of 26 Sep 2026
Verdict
Booking.com is an accommodation marketplace, and each property’s own rules decide the real cost: the price, taxes and city fees, deposit, payment terms and cancellation policy are set per listing (as of 26 Sep 2026). It suits travelers who want to compare location, price and free-cancellation options in one place.
At checkout, the optional Pay In Your Own Currency feature converts the price for you. Booking.com’s conversion charge is then built into the exchange rate or shown as a separate line, and your card or payment provider may add its own FX fee. Compare that total with paying in the property’s currency and pick the lower one.
Refunds follow the cancellation policy on your booking, and no-show, deposit and age rules are also set by the property. The main risk is payment fraud: if a message changes payment details or demands urgent payment, contact Booking.com support through the official app or site before paying, even when the message quotes your real reservation.
Card and payments
- Type
- Not applicable
- Custody
- Not applicable
- KYC
- Not applicable
- Apple Pay
- Not applicable
- Google Pay
- Not applicable
How it works
- Hotels, apartments and other accommodation
- Property-specific fine print and confirmation emails
- Cancellation and no-show rules shown during booking
Pros
- Large accommodation inventory
- Search filters for location and cancellation terms
Cons
- Final value depends on property-specific rules
- Taxes, deposits, supplements and cancellation windows require careful reading
Alternatives
Related next steps
FAQ
Should I pay in my own currency on Booking.com?
Pay In Your Own Currency includes Booking.com’s conversion charge, either in the exchange rate or as a separate line, and your card or payment provider may add an FX fee too (as of 26 Sep 2026). Compare that final total with paying in the property’s currency and choose the cheaper option.
When do I pay for a Booking.com reservation?
Payment timing is set by each property and shown in the payment and cancellation terms of your booking. Deposits and city fees are also property-specific (as of 26 Sep 2026).
How do Booking.com refunds work?
Refunds follow the cancellation policy attached to your booking. Each property sets its own free-cancellation deadline, no-show charge and deposit terms, so a free-cancellation booking is refundable up to the deadline shown on it.
Is a payment request from my Booking.com host safe?
Compare it with the payment policy on your original booking. If payment details change, or a message demands urgent payment or payment outside the platform, contact support through the official Booking.com app or site before paying. A fraudulent message can quote your real reservation details.
Sources
- Booking.com terms and conditions — m.booking.com
- Booking.com cancellation policy developer documentation — developers.booking.com
- Booking.com accommodation partner terms — admin.booking.com
- Booking.com current consumer terms — booking.com
- Booking.com traveler payment safety — booking.com
Fees and terms change, so check the provider’s current price page before you sign up. How we compare