Le côte d'azur

At around 5pm, I got an email saying my reservation hadn't gone through because there was a problem with my card. I spent an hour trying to sort it out, then finally updated the card details and told the hotel we'd arrive around 19:30. They replied that check-in was only from 3pm to 5pm and said we wouldn't be staying. They could have told me that in the 5pm email about the failed payment. Instead, they fooled me, kept my money, and left us without a hotel. Such a scam of a place. Stay away.

My booking was through Booking.com and had no free cancellation. Check-in was allowed for just two hours, with absolutely no exceptions. I could have arrived on time, but I cancelled because they promised free cancellation over the phone, so I could enjoy my only holiday this year. I was also confused about the 500 EUR cash deposit. They lied and charged me in full.

They accepted my reservation knowing I would arrive at night, then called at 5pm, when it was too late to make it. They asked me to cancel, never approved the cancellation, and charged me for a no-show. They took my money even though they weren't ready to receive me. It felt like a scam, so stay away. There aren't even photos on Booking, for a reason.

If you paid instantly by credit card, block the card right away to stop the transaction. There may not be much you can do afterward. You can also ask the credit card company to cancel the transaction. I ordered a new credit or bank card for $10 rather than pay a cancellation fee at Booking.com. Please also write a complaint to the website you ordered through. People like this shouldn't be allowed to carry on for long.