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Seven things you didn’t know about Booking.com
1. Instantly Bookable There’s nothing worse than finding that perfect place for your next holiday, only to find it’s not actually available when you click ‘Book’. Booking.com have sorted this out by listing all of its properties in real time. So if it says it’s available, it’s available. Hooray! The booking process itself is instant, so there’s no back and forth with the property manager, either. Just search, book and get excited! Booking.com will also price match any lower price on other accommodation websites. 2. free cancellation on Most properties If you want accommodation at a good price, it’s usually at the expense of flexibility, right? Wrong! Life isn’t black and white and circumstances can change, so most properties on Booking.com allow cancellations free of charge. And it’s easy to do, too – just jump online and cancel or
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change your booking easily, no questions asked. (Every room has a different policy, so be sure to check the details before you book.) 3. pay when you Stay Still saving your holiday loot and not ready to pay? That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll miss out on the accommodation you want – unlike many other accommodation booking websites, most properties on Booking.com don’t require any payment or deposit in advance. Simply secure the booking with a credit card and pay when you check-in. In fact, increasingly properties are allowing customers to book without a credit card! 4. no Booking feeS No, really. Booking. com offers a completely fee-free experience. No hidden fees or last-minute charges to your credit card. Completely. Fee. Free. 5. not just hotels You’re never short of choice on booking.com with more than 820,000 properties, of which more than 70 per cent are from the categories beyond the traditional hotel. Think farmstays, boats, ryokans, riads, rustic tents, castles, and more. Plus, of course, there’s traditional guest houses, B&Bs, holiday homes and hotels. See opposite page for our top picks for unique stays in Australia. 6. 24/7 customer Service in any time Zone Booking.com has a team of more than 10,000 employees worldwide who speak more than 40 languages and its in-house customer service team is available 24/7. So if you desperately need to ask a question about that fabulous igloo in Lapland you want to snuggle in, help is easy to come by. Booking.com promises calls are answered within seconds and most emails are answered within one day. 7. millions of verified reviews Still not convinced? Jump online and check out the more than 67 million verified reviews written by guests after their stay. Are they all genuine? Absolutely – reviews on Booking.com can only be written by the person who made the booking and stayed at the property. That’s a whole lot of inside intelligence, so you feel assured your expectations are met every time.
3. Sleep in a yurt on the Murray river Fitted with a hot tub, bathroom, parquet floor, electric fireplace, and canvas walls lined with Australian wool to keep you cosy, these circular tents at Talo Retreat are a far-cry from the simple yurts traditionally used by Mongolian nomads. Located on the edge of the Murray River, surrounded by red gums, this accommodation experience allows you to sleep among nature while only being eight minutes from the town centre of Echuca. booking.com/hotel/au/talo-retreat 5. Stay among the treetops of an ancient rainforest Not the kind you might remember from your childhood, these eco-friendly treehouses come with kitchens, fireplaces, hammocks and hot tubs. Set among 40 hectares of rainforest, it’s the perfect spot to immerse yourself in nature, with cassowaries, tree kangaroos, and rare green possums calling this place home. booking.com/hotel/au/the-canopyrainforest-treehouses-wildlife-sanctuary 1. enjoy never-ending views on kangaroo island Life-Time Private Retreat is a collection of luxurious beach houses with spectacular views over Snellings Beach. Set among a variety of hiking trails, guests have all the things they need for an easy beach getaway including a fully-equipped kitchen, patio with barbecue and free wi-fi. booking.com /hotel/au/life-time-private-retreats 4. listen to the waves from your Beach hut Stay in one of these iconic, candy-striped beach huts, located in the township of Middleton between Goolwa and Port Elliot. Inside, they’re fancy huts indeed, with a kitchenette, spa bath and private deck, on which to enjoy your complimentary bottle of bubbly with frontrow seats to the crashing waves. booking.com/hotel/ au/beach-huts-middleton 2. relax with the locals on phillip island Holmwood Guesthouse is a cosy little B&B just five minutes from Phillip Island’s town centre. It has three guesthouse rooms and two self-contained spa cottages, with kitchens, spa baths and gas log fireplaces. Breakfast is served in the dining room near the open fire or on the sunny verandah with the idyllic gardens surrounding you. booking.com/ hotel/au/holmwood-guesthouse 6. live like a Sydney-Sider in the Big smoke In the heart of Newtown and only a short train trip into the CBD, The Urban Newtown has contemporary industrialstyle studios with all the mod-cons, rain showers, coffee machines, free wi-fi, and a discount to the nearby Fitness First… but the best part? A free mini bar with locally brewed craft beer and fine Australian wines. booking.com/hotel/au/the-urban Book your stay today with