← All comparisons
Hotels.com vs Booking.com Refund Process
Side-by-side comparison of refund processs, conditions, and refund timelines.·Last updated: 2026-03-19
Refund Conditions
Hotels.com
- Policies, restrictions, and fees are applied before cancellation.
- Cancellation policies vary by hotel, some require more than 24 hours notice before check-in.
- Details on specific cancellation requirements are available on site.
- Not all bookings may offer a cancellation option.
Booking.com
- Booking is free cancellation
- Cancellation fees are determined by the property and listed in your cancellation policy
- For car rentals, cancellation more than 48 hours before rental begins for full refund
- For car rentals, cancellation less than 48 hours before rental begins results in partial refund
- Car rental cancellation for unavailability results in full refund regardless of timing
Refund Steps
Hotels.com
- Go to Trips.
- Select the booking (stay or flight) you wish to cancel.
- Select 'Change or cancel' (for stays) or 'Manage booking' (for flights).
- Follow the instructions provided.
- Review policies, restrictions, and fees.
- Confirm cancellation.
- Receive a refund summary.
Booking.com
- If using the app for car rentals, click ‘Bookings’ at the bottom of the screen
- If using the website for car rentals, sign in on Booking.com
- Navigate to the ‘Car rentals’ page
- Then click ‘Manage booking’
Refund Methods
Hotels.com
- Credit to original card
- Refund summary provided
Booking.com
- Original payment method
- Virtual Credit Card (VCC) reversal (if property charged VCC)
Partial Refunds
Hotels.com
Not available
Booking.com
- For car rentals, if you cancel less than 48 hours before your rental begins, you’ll receive a refund what you paid minus three days’ rental cost.
Dispute Process
Hotels.com
Not available
Booking.com
- Customers can contact the Customer Service team at booking.com/help for assistance with payment issues.
Additional Notes
Hotels.com
- Hotels.com processes refunds internally within 24 hours.
- Bank processing time will vary after Hotels.com's initial processing.
- Specific hotel cancellation details are found on site.
Booking.com
- Cancellation fees are determined by the property and listed in your cancellation policy
- If Booking.com has already paid the property, they will deduct the refund amount from the next payout or require payment from the property
- Booking.com may cover a portion of the price if a guest uses a Booking Sponsored Benefit
- For car rentals, reservations of three days or less canceled less than 48 hours before rental will not receive a refund