Booking.com Terms of Service Review

"Booking.com's 'free cancellation' marketing is, in my view, borderline deceptive. Yes, you can cancel for free—but often only up to a week before your stay, and the deadline is buried in fine print. Many travelers don't realize they've passed the deadline until it's too late.

The platform's intermediary positioning is legally clever but frustrating for consumers. When something goes wrong, Booking.com often points to the property, and the property points back to Booking.com. You're caught in the middle.

My recommendation: Always click through to read the specific cancellation terms before booking. Set a calendar reminder before the free cancellation deadline. For non-refundable rates (which are often significantly cheaper), only book if you're certain about your travel plans."