Booking – Hotel comparison
Whether it’s for a few days or one night, booking accommodation is not always an easy task. Faced with an abundance of supply, and to alleviate a real source of stress for travelers, hotel comparisons (and other types of accommodation/activities in the travel sector) occupy a prominent place on the market. As true guides, they enlighten consumers with the best offers available on the market. The Dutch market leader Booking is the pioneer who revolutionized the market, much to the chagrin of some hoteliers.
Who is Booking? How does it work and, above all, what do you need to know before you book? An overview of the small start-up that has become a heavyweight in the travel industry.
What is Booking?
Booking is a story that began in Amsterdam. In 1996, Geert-Jan Bruinsma, a web developer, founded Booking.com, a website with its own technology, which compares the best booking offers to find the accommodation of one’s dreams:
« Through the « www.booking.com » website, Booking.com provides an online booking service through which all accommodation providers, including hoteliers, and other providers, can offer their products and services for booking, and through which visitors to the site can make a reservation. »
An intermediary between hoteliers and travelers, Booking soon enjoyed a meteoric rise. In 2005, the company was acquired by Priceline for 133 million dollars. Since then, the parent company, the American group, has made its living from the business generated by Booking. The figures speak for themselves…
More than 20 years old, the website boasts more than 1 billion users since its creation. Available in 40 languages, it offers nearly 30 million accommodations in 230 different countries. Its 198 offices are located in 70 countries and employ 170,000 people worldwide. A plethoric offer, a DNA that today alone weighs in at nearly 64 billion dollars.
How does it work?
First, visit the Booking.com website or download the app onto your mobile. The rest is as easy as 1-2-3: just enter the destination of your choice, select the desired dates and enter the number of travelers. Booking then compares the offers of a large number of merchant sites/establishments and draws up a list of establishments available for booking. The results are ranked by default (recommendations), but you can opt for other types of ranking: rates, review ratings and number of stars. For a more detailed search, don’t hesitate to use the many filters offered by the site, which enable you to refine the results according to budget, booking conditions or equipment.
Once you’ve chosen your establishment, take the time to read through the entire offer page, especially the three most important points: the room description and the options it includes, and the « Important to read » and « To know » boxes at the very bottom of the page.
Once you’ve selected your room, all that’s left to do is make your reservation. For this last step, please check all the information before proceeding to payment. A confirmation e-mail will then be sent to you, so all you have to do is wait for your stay!
Good to know:
– From the outset, professionals can tick the box « I’m traveling for work » to enable Booking to target its search more effectively.
– Booking offers a wide range of accommodation types, including apartments, youth hostels, aparthotels, villas, guest houses, houseboats and other unusual accommodations.
Advantages and disadvantages of Booking
Benefits
– Free access
– Time-saving
– Wide range of products
– Targeted search options
– Great flexibility
– Real user reviews
– Free cancellation
– Genius » member badge: after 5 bookings, receive an additional 10% off the posted price
Disadvantages
– Some options not included in the price
– Less availability in high season
– Variable prices
Booking: the editor’s opinion
With a more extensive range and an almost unbeatable number of establishments, Booking remains the benchmark if you’re looking for a hotel. Without a doubt, its advantage lies above all in its simple, efficient principle, which spares you the thankless task of searching. In just a few clicks, you can access a whole list of establishments. A wide choice, real reviews, customizable offers, regular discounts and certified expertise make Booking one of our travel essentials.