Booking.com is one of the largest travel sites for hotels, apartments, flights, car rentals, and attractions. Booking.com's Genius loyalty program allows users to get instant discounts upon registration and get even more discounts and bonuses by reaching higher levels. Over 850 000 properties participate in Booking.com's Genius program. Once a user unlocks a level, he or she receives rewards for life.
The Genius program is Booking.com's loyalty program with three different levels. To unlock the first level a user needs to sign up for a free account – and then get instant 10% off select stays and rental cars worldwide. To unlock the second level a user needs to make five bookings in two years – and get 10-15% off, free breakfast, and room upgrade at the properties participating in the program. To unlock the third level a user needs to make 15 bookings in two years – and get up to 20% off and priority customer support. As soon as a user reaches a level, he or she cannot lose it.
Cancellations can be made by all properties with different conditions and rates. Usually, there is a free cancellation option offered together with a cheaper non-refundable rate. The deadline for free cancellation is stated clearly before booking and usually lasts for 24-48 hours prior to check-in. While choosing the non-refundable rate, you get a cheaper price but lose the opportunity to cancel. It is important to check the specific terms stated in the listing.
Unlike other travel websites, Booking.com does not charge guests with any service fee for booking a property. What you see is what you pay (and additional taxes if there are). The platform gets its commission directly from the property side.
Genius discounts are represented as a percentage off the property's rate. They can be applied on top of the sale or special pricing offered by the property. One can also filter the search results and see only those listings that provide a discount to the Genius members. In case of high hotel competition in the city, the Genius badge can appear in a lot of listings, which means that the savings can be pretty consistent.
Booking.com regularly provides guests with mobile exclusive rates, which can be 10-15% cheaper than regular rates. Mobile exclusive rates can combine with Genius discounts – meaning that a guest who is a member of the third or the second level and booking using an app can receive 20-30% off the standard rate. These rates are marked as "Mobile-only price".
If you have found a lower price on the same property with the same terms (the same cancellation policy, meal plan, and room type) on another website after booking, Booking.com will match this price or, in some cases, refund the difference. The price match guarantee should be claimed before check-in.
Most of the Booking.com listings provide guests with an option to pay in advance (with Booking.com) or pay at the property. By paying at the property, the user gets an advantage of paying nothing upfront and having the possibility to cancel for free before the deadline. Sometimes prepaying can unlock a lower rate but in this case it becomes non-refundable. The payment type is shown before the confirmation.
No. Signing up for the account is free and it immediately unlocks Level 1 of the Genius program with 10% off on select properties and rental cars worldwide. There is no subscription or annual fee.
No. Booking.com's FAQ says that members are not demoted. Once a guest unlocks a level, he or she gets rewards for lifetime. There are no requirements for maintenance and no expiration date for levels.
Completed stays count. In some markets flights, car rentals, taxi, and attraction tickets also count. Five completed bookings within a rolling two-year period unlock the second level, fifteen bookings unlock the third level.
Usually, yes. Booking.com offers guests mobile-only rates, which can be 10-15% cheaper than rates on the desktop. These rates can be combined with Genius discounts, so using an app and being logged in the Genius account can bring the most benefits to a guest.
No. Booking.com does not charge guests with any service fees or booking fees. The price guests see is the price they will pay (plus applicable taxes).
It depends on the rate you've chosen. Usually, the most properties offer both free cancellation rate and a cheaper non-refundable rate. The deadline for free cancellation (usually 24-48 hours before check-in) is shown before the booking and in the confirmation. Booking the non-refundable rate means that guests will not be able to cancel their bookings.
Yes. Booking.com matches the price of the same property with the same terms (the same cancellation policy, meal plan, and room type) and in some cases refunds the difference.
By paying at the property guests get more flexibility – no charges upfront and the possibility of free cancellation before the deadline. Prepaying can lock in a lower rate but become non-refundable.