Latest news with #BookingCom
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Edinburgh home owner fumes after 'party Airbnb' reappears on platform
Edinburgh residents say they feel furious after noticing a previously suspended Airbnb return to the platform. Located in Faulburn, the flat is the only known short term let (STL) in the block, with neighbours complaining of problem parties and loud guests wreaking havoc on their peaceful suburban lives. Edinburgh Live spoke to business owner Fraser Ramsay in February 2025 after a late night party saw youths falling around the street, acting aggressively with one another and consuming alcohol at the Airbnb property. READ MORE: Edinburgh fans left soaking as heavy downpours hit before Robbie Williams appearance READ MORE: Huge Edinburgh crowds gather as famous actor spotted filming in city centre Fraser said neighbours of the short term let have faced regular disturbances with guests coming and going at all hours of the night, parties being thrown from the flat and general noise being caused by certain guests when they are trying to sleep. Following the report by Live and complaints from residents, the property was suspended from the Airbnb site for 30 days. But locals were enraged when they discovered the flat had been listed on for several months before it reappeared on Airbnb in May 2025 when its suspension ended. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. 'I had to go down there as there last night (Tuesday May 27) is a man staying in the flat and I could not sleep from the noise,' Fraser said. 'I told him to keep the noise down or I would phone the police and he agreed to do so but then I heard him through the night again. 'It ruins your next day, I'm a business owner, and going out to working not having a good sleep isn't great. The owner of this Airbnb needs to sell up to someone who will live here long term or rent out the flat to a proper resident. 'At least if it is a permanent neighbour in the block we will be able to build relationships and have common courtesy. At the moment there is a security issue as well because these are strangers. 'People are going at all hours of the night and there is no real soundproofing despite the owner making modifications. It is ridiculous. He cannot get away with this. 'End of the day it is important this comes to an end. When it all kicks off it is horrible.' Fraser has been in regular contact with Edinburgh Council to try to get answers as to how the owner was able to re-list the property for short term rentals on Airbnb. Correspondence between the home owner and the council stated a notice had been given to the STL landlord ordering them to cease operating the Airbnb unless they are able to lodge an appeal by late June 2025. It is understood Airbnb suspended the property originally due to a party taking place at the property which is a breach of the platforms rules. However the property owner is understood to have carried out 'sound proofing' alterations to the property, which led to the ban being lifted. Airbnb protocol states the company will potentially deactivate a property if they are contacted by a relevant local authority which believes the listing is operating illegally. It is understood the council have not made contact with Airbnb regarding the above property. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox In a message seen by Edinburgh Live, council officials told Fraser: 'Just a quick e-mail to advise that enforcement notices were served on the property on Wednesday 21 May 2025. The property owner has until 25 June 2025 to appeal the notice. 'If he fails to do so by this date, then he would require to comply with its requirements i.e. cease the use of the property as a short term let by 25 July 2025.' Councillor Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: 'We have issued an enforcement notice requesting that the owner of this property ceases to use it as a short term let. They have until 24 July 2025 to comply with this notice unless they appeal.' An Airbnb spokesperson said: 'We take feedback from local residents seriously, and this listing was temporarily suspended in line with our policies and the host has since taken steps to address this issue. Parties are banned on Airbnb and we may remove this listing if further policy violations occur. "While issues on Airbnb are exceptionally rare, residents can contact us 24/7 via our neighbourhood support line and we investigate all reports received through this channel.'
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Travel + Leisure
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
Australia Is Even Better After Dark—From Torchlit Tours and Open-air Theater to Rooftop Climbs Under the Stars
As far as travel trends go, none are making a splash in 2025 quite as hard as "noctourism." In fact, named it the No. 1 travel trend of the year. And yes, it's exactly what it sounds like: nocturnal tourism, ensuring people don't just see their favorite destinations in the daylight. This trend is all about what happens in these spots after dark. And few spots are as spectacular after the sun goes down as Australia. "We're seeing an increase in visitors coming specifically for the night sky, but also for our nocturnal wildlife tours and dark-sky experiences," Sarah Clark, the chief executive of Tourism Tasmania, recently shared with ABC. "Tourists are coming for the natural beauty during the day, but staying for the nighttime spectacles like the aurora. It's a major driver for visitors, particularly from international markets." And while certainly gorgeous, travelers should stay up late for far more than the aurora. From torchlit prison tours and twilight roof climbs, to artistic illuminations and private after-hours museum access, these seven nighttime experiences from Cultural Attractions of Australia members will make your next night visit to Australia all the more memorable. Badu Gili projections depicting Celestial Navigation are seen on the Opera House sails. Every evening, the Sydney Opera House transforms into a glowing canvas as Badu Gili , which translates to 'water light' in Gadigal language, illuminates the eastern Bennelong sails with spectacular First Nations art. The free art exhibit runs multiple times each evening after sunset, so check here for the full schedule. Visit Western Australia's only UNESCO World Heritage site after dark with a spooky and educational nighttime tour. The Torchlight Tour at Fremantle Prison takes visitors into the cells, tunnels, and courtyards of the prison, all by handheld light, with guides recounting the stories of those imprisoned in the 19th-century penitentiary. Book a tour here. Live out a real-life "Night at the Museum" experience at Canberra's National Gallery, which opens its doors after hours for select Night at the Gallery events. Get access to marquee exhibitions, performances by local creatives, food and drink pop-ups, and a more intimate vibe than your average daytime visit. See exhibition dates here. Visitors climb the roof of the Adelaide Oval. Get a bird's-eye view of South Australia's capital by signing up for the RoofClimb Twilight experience. As the sun sets, guests will strap in and ascend the curved rooftop of the Adelaide Oval, a historic sports arena, taking them all the way to the top. There, guests can gaze upon the twinkling city lights and the River Torrens below. Book your climb here. Aura is far from your average historic reenactment. This immersive nighttime show at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat includes projection mapping, storytelling, and sound design to help guests more deeply understand the impact of the discovery of gold in the area. Learn about the chapters of Australia's history by booking the experience here. The company of Carmen during a media preview of Handa Opera's production of Carmen at Sydney Harbour. James D. Morgan/Getty Images Experience the magic of live theater under the stars with open-air productions at the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbor. With seats over the water, the stars above, and the Sydney skyline behind you, it certainly has cinematic appeal. See what's coming to the stage for your next visit here. Travelers can sit down for one of the most exclusive meals in the world with Dinner With David at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). The event, hosted by MONA founder David Walsh, is a rare experience that brings each guest into his orbit for an evening of food, wine, and unforgettable conversation. Get a seat at the table here.
Skift
3 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Why Booking.com Cut 'Thousands' of Affiliate Partners – and What Comes Next
purge of affiliates is about cutting costs and reducing fraud, but it's created a lot of confusion in the process. has abruptly ended its affiliate partnerships with travel bloggers and other content creators, giving just 30 days' notice and offering no explanation for the decision. The move has sparked confusion and frustration among affiliates – they face lost income and work to update or remove affiliate links. declined to say how many partners were affected, but the travel networking platform Travel Massive called the cuts 'Bookinggeddon,' and estimated that 'thousands' of affiliates were dropped. website says it has more than 17,500 affiliate partners. But the cuts are believed to be aimed at smaller partners without substantial scale. What Are Affiliate Partnerships? affiliate program is essentially a marketing channel for the company; it's a way to get the brand in front of new customers and attract bookings. Travel blogs and other small travel businesses could sign up directly with to become affiliate partners. They could add links and banners to their websites and be able to sell hotels and other travel products via In return, affiliates would receive a share of 25% to 40% of commiss
Reuters
5 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Booking.com targeted as hotels plan Dutch damages claims over price clauses
BRUSSELS, May 28 (Reuters) - could face Dutch damages claims running into millions of euros after 26 hotel associations across Europe teamed up to sue the company following an EU court judgment last year over its price curbs on hotels. Europe's top court ruled that restrictions against hotels offering lower rates on their websites or on rival sites are unnecessary and could reduce competition, but also that such clauses are not anti-competitive under EU laws. Such parity clauses, which are included in contracts between online booking sites and hotels, have triggered complaints from competitors and scrutiny from regulators across Europe concerned about fewer choices for consumers. The case came before the European Court of Justice after applied for a declaration in a Dutch court on whether parity clauses are valid, prompting the latter to seek guidance from the top court. HOTREC, which represents 47 member associations in the hospitality sector in 36 European countries, said it was backing the hotel associations' damages claims. "European hoteliers have long endured unfair conditions and inflated costs. Now is the time to stand together and seek redress," HOTREC president Alexandros Vassilikos said in a statement. said it had not been informed of any European-wide legal action taken by the hotels and that their conclusions about the court ruling are incorrect. "The ECJ judgement relates specifically to questions asked by the Amsterdam District Court in relation to litigation between and some German hotels disputing the legality of price parity clauses in Germany between 2006 and 2016," a spokesperson said. "The court did not conclude that German parity price clauses were anti-competitive or had an effect on competition. The Amsterdam Court will now need to make a decision specifically on German parity clauses only." Hotels have until July 31 to sign up to the damages litigation. The hotel associations endorsing the action are in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Times
My hotel booking was a scam — and I can't get my money back
✉ On March 1, I tried to book a stay at the Connemara Lake Hotel in Ireland through but somehow, just before payment, was redirected to a different site and, instead of paying the quoted price of about £400 for three nights, was charged extra fees and paid a total of £710.82. The confirmation email looked legitimate and even the hotel thought it was real at first, but later confirmed it wasn't and cancelled the booking. What's really worrying is I never actually swiped to approve the payment in my Revolut app — as I normally do for all transactions — because the cost had shot up, yet it still went through. Revolut has raised a dispute but it could take 50 days. Can you help me get my money back?Caitriona McCulla Unfortunately, you've fallen victim to an online agent that mimics official hotel and booking sites and charges huge non-refundable service fees on top of the room rate. which is not responsible in any way, suggested you work with your bank to resolve the dispute, but Revolut has now declined to refund you, citing 'compelling evidence' of the transaction from 'the merchant'. The lesson here is that it's essential to double-check the URL when you reach the payment page of any website. A spokesperson said: 'We always advise customers to book directly through the official website or mobile app, and to be cautious when clicking on unfamiliar links. To help, we advise that customers check the destination of the link they are sent, which can usually be seen by hovering over the link with a mouse or by pressing and holding it on a mobile device. Importantly, will never ask customers to provide credit card details via text, messaging apps or email, only requesting payments via our platform.' You are now planning to take your case to the Financial Ombudsman. • The nine ways our Travel Doctor has learnt to avoid holiday scams ✉ I'd like to take my daughter on holiday after her A-levels. We want a hotel by the beach, with a good-sized pool and a bar, within walking distance of restaurants and night markets/shops. The dealbreaker would be having to get up early to reserve sunbeds, so could you suggest somewhere that has a policy of not allowing guests to reserve them? Our budget is £4,000 and we'd like a flight time of less than three hours from Kitching A lovely reward for all that hard work would be a trip to Spain and a stay at the Hotel Alga on the northeastern coast of Catalonia, known for its gorgeous rocky coves and sandy beaches. The Alga has a large, almost Olympic-sized pool, with 30 sunloungers that can't be reserved (it's really not a beach-towels-at-dawn sort of place), and is a short stroll from the beach via a gate in the gardens. It's also just 250m from the little town of Calella, where you'll have a huge choice of restaurants. A week's B&B in a superior balcony room would cost £1,761pp, including flights (and hold luggage) from Stansted to Girona, plus private transfers ( • 17 of the best places to visit in June 2025 ✉ I have the month of July free because my husband is away and I'd like to go somewhere on my own. I prefer sun to snow, spa to yoga, enjoy learning and don't want to be the only single in a group of couples. Finally, I have a Morton's neuroma, which makes walking huge distances painful, but I do enjoy some walking. I'm not particularly cost conscious and enjoy a bit of luxury. Any thoughts?Debra Wood If you have the funds, a solo July trip to Schloss Elmau, in Germany's Bavarian Alps, would be a treat. It's an extraordinary five-star hideaway with a choice of six fabulous spas, and also stages events with a stellar line-up of musicians, artists and writers. Spend your days enjoying indulgent treatments, short nature walks (ideal if you have a Morton's neuroma), author readings, chamber music concerts and excursions to nearby castles and lakes, and look forward to taking your pick of eight restaurants, where there are plenty of comfortable spots for solo diners. A small double room plus breakfast starts at £358 a night in July if you book a week's stay, including access to the spas, daily fitness activities, and excursions and admission to cultural events ( Fly to Innsbruck or Munich. • 10 of the best places to visit in Germany ✉ I'm learning Korean and hoping to take my grandson on a trip to Seoul for an 18th birthday present. Do you have any recommendations for reasonably priced accommodation and any must-sees? We'd like to go for about ten days next year. When would be the best time for us to visit?Diana Nelson This sounds like a brilliant adventure, but as first-timers I'd suggest you go with some back-up and book Inside Asia's Essential South Korea seven-night holiday, using public transport and staying in three-star hotels. It includes a Korean barbecue tour in Seoul; a day exploring Gyeongju, the capital of Korea's ancient Silla Kingdom; a sunset cruise on the Han River; and some time to relax on Busan's white sand Haeundae beach. Seven nights' B&B starts from £1,143pp including two evening tours, airport transfers and train tickets as well as detailed destination guides, and you could tailor-make the trip to add some extra nights. Flights to Seoul are extra ( Spring or autumn are the best times to go. • Read our guide to South Korea ✉ Following the untimely death of my husband I decided to take a short break with a friend to the south of France. I booked a return flight to Marseilles with British Airways for £273, departing May 13, and received what I thought was confirmation. But when I was looking to upgrade my outbound flight at the end of April, I was told there was a problem with my booking, which had been suspended. No reason could be given. BA then told me over the phone that it was cancelling my flight and would refund me in a few days. I said this was unsatisfactory and I wanted my existing booking reinstated. It refused and told me to rebook, but the same flight would now cost me £640. This was an important trip for me (my friend booked separately, fortunately), and I have no idea what the reasoning behind this suspension is. Surely I have the right to claim my existing flight and at the price I originally paid?Victoria Hunt I was sorry to hear that your restorative break was on the verge of collapse. It seems there was a technical glitch (something BA is not a stranger to) and the email you received after your booking wasn't, in fact, a confirmation. But you had no reason to believe otherwise because you continued to receive flight reminders. Fortunately, after I got involved, BA reinstated your flight (at the original price) and gave you some Avios (the airline's reward points) as an apology. Have you got a holiday dilemma? Email traveldoctor@
