Originally Dutch, Booking.com is now owned by a US holding and has a 45% market share. Book directly through the hotel, it's generally cheaper

The commissions Booking.com and AirBnB take from the hotels are about 15-20%, fyi.

Booking directly with the hotel usually also makes it easier to resolve problems when things go wrong, rather than the hotel telling you (correctly) that you have to contact booking.com about it, and then booking.com trying to refuse any liability while you get bounced from pillar to post.

This is why I stopped using sites like Agoda for over a decade. Only time I don't book direct is when its through my credit card rewards portal, redeeming points for nights.

My wife has a friend who works as a hotel receptionist. She said they often give guests free upgrades when they book directly through the hotel website. I still use booking.com to get an overview of available hotels in an area. But once I've decided on a hotel, I'll try to go to their own website.

I was going to say, it's more of a discovery tool

Hotel? Trivago (it's a travel agency from Düsseldorf, Germany)

This ad became such a good meme

Try getting a refund from this company, even if you depart the most ghetto, moldy place in existence and directly purchase another stay. I took pictures of the filth and it did not matter. You also can’t photograph a moldy smell.

We went in circles with these guys for 2 weeks. Basically, they called the place, the place said it was fine, therefore, it’s fine.

Pay direct. Pictures and reviews lie and Booking did not honor cancellation with 15% penalty. They kept it all. I’m still annoyed.

I went to Oslo once and when I checked I found a cheap stay like 25€/night. But apparently it was a scam and the listing doesn't exists, and many have fall for it and reported it and wrote about it in the reviews. Booking still keeps it and refuse to refund.

I normally use booking.com for about 3 times a year or so. Now just using it to browse and will book directly.