Booking.com review

Booking.com is the safest default for a hotel search because it covers almost every kind of stay and makes changing your mind cheap. The app lists millions of hotels, apartments and B&Bs, and Booking.com says free cancellation is available at most properties, with cancellation taking a few taps. Its Genius loyalty program is free: you get 10% off select stays as soon as you sign in, 10 to 15% plus free breakfasts and room upgrades at select stays after 5 bookings in 2 years, and up to 20% with priority support at Level 3. Booking.com says Genius levels are yours for life once unlocked, which is rarer than it sounds. There are no booking or credit card fees, you can message the property in the app, and support runs 24/7 in more than 40 languages. The limits: Genius discounts apply before taxes and fees, they only cover participating properties, and the cheapest rates are often the non-cancellable ones, so check the conditions before you pay.

Who it is for

Most travelers who want the widest choice of stays, easy free cancellation and loyalty discounts that never expire.

Price

Free app and website; Genius loyalty program is free to join.

Booking.com: Hotels & Travel Hotels, flights & car rentals Free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Free cancellation at most properties, cancelled in a few taps in the app
• Genius discounts of 10% at Level 1, up to 20% at Level 3, at 850,000 participating properties
• Free breakfasts and room upgrades at select stays from Genius Level 2
• No booking or credit card fees, per Booking.com
• Chat with the property and 24/7 support in more than 40 languages

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Genius levels are kept for life once unlocked
• Strength: Filters for price, review score, WiFi quality and pet-friendly stays
• Strength: Mobile-only discounts of 10% or more on select properties
• Weakness: Genius discounts apply to the price before taxes and fees
• Weakness: Level 2 needs 5 bookings in 2 years
• Weakness: Free cancellation depends on the property and rate you pick

Key facts

• Loyalty program: Genius, free, 3 levels
• Genius stay discounts: 10% to 20%
• Participating Genius properties: 850,000
• Booking or card fees: None, per Booking.com
• App Store rating: 4.8 from 2.2M ratings

Where it ranks

Booking.com is No. 1 in our Best Hotel Booking Sites verdict.