🏨 Booking.com for Travel Families

What You Need to Know!

When it comes to booking accommodation as a full-time travelling family, convenience is key. You’re juggling school, work, content creation, and the occasional "Mum, where's my sock?" — so having a platform that lets you book fast, compare prices, and find places around the world is a big win.

That’s where Booking.com often comes in.

✅ Why Families Choose Booking.com

We’ll be honest — Booking.com has a lot going for it, especially when you’re moving fast and need short-term stays that suit a family lifestyle.

💡 The Positives:

1. It’s Convenient & Worldwide

Booking.com covers nearly every destination you could think of. Whether you're in Bali, Barcelona, or Belize — you can quickly search and book on the go.

2. Great for Short-Term Stays

Unlike Airbnb, where longer bookings often make more sense, Booking.com is fantastic for 1–7 night stays — especially in cities where you just need a crash pad.

3. Wide Range of Property Types

You can choose from:

• Hotels

• Hostels

• Apartments

• Guesthouses

• Luxury villas

• Even boutique homestays

There’s something for every family size and budget.

4. Competitive Prices

You’ll often find last-minute deals and budget-friendly options that beat other platforms. Perfect if you’re managing a tight family travel budget.

5. You Can Book Flights and Car Rentals Too

This is a bonus — having your transport and accommodation sorted in one place makes planning smoother.

⚠️ But It’s Not All Smooth Sailing...

While Booking.com is popular, we’ve had some seriously rough experiences — and if you're travelling as a family, your margin for error is much smaller.

We always aim to be honest with you, so here’s what we wish we knew before using it.

😬 Scams on Booking.com (Yes, They Happen)

Unfortunately, scams are very real on Booking.com — and we’ve been burned. Here’s what happened to us in Kuala Lumpur, which we now jokingly call Scam City:

• We booked a place online that looked great.

• We were told last minute that it was pay on arrival by a random man who met us at reception door, which seemed dodgy!

• When we got there, they demanded upfront cash, saying we had to pay “additional fees” of £150+ that were buried in the fine print.

• The host refused to accept card, demanded a deposit there and then (I didn’t give him one ad I knew we would never see it again), and the place wasn’t even like the photos — it was run-down, dirty, and not in the right location.

Spoiler: We walked away and found a better place down the road. But it could’ve been much worse!

This isn’t an isolated case — we found loads of similar stories happening across Malaysia, Thailand, and Central America. It’s not just Booking.com either — it’s been reported on Agoda and Trip too.

Scammers Alert on Booking.com

Be cautious of additional charges, upfront fees and cash only requests! Also, check the reviews thoroughly…. yes keep scrolling down!

⚠️ Booking.com Scams to Watch Out For (and Our Experience in Kuala Lumpur)

Unfortunately, scams are very real on Booking.com — and we’ve had firsthand experience with them.

When we booked a place in Kuala Lumpur, the photos looked lovely, the reviews were glowing, and it seemed like a safe bet. But when we arrived, the host hit us with unexpected fees, demanded cash, and the place was nothing like what was advertised.

We did some digging afterward and realised…

🚨 Scammers Have Clever Tricks

These shady tactics are becoming more common:

• They manipulate reviews. You'll see lots of 5-star reviews up top, but scroll further down and the bad ones start appearing — often mentioning the exact issues we faced.

• They shut down listings. If too many negative reviews pile up, some hosts will simply close the listing and open a new one, sometimes transferring the positive reviews from their old property to make it look legit again. It’s sneaky — and sadly, it works.

Honestly, it's shady and incredibly misleading for travellers — especially families relying on honest reviews for safety and peace of mind.🛑 Booking.com’s Weaknesses for Families

1. No Real Quality Control

Anyone can list a property, and once it's live, it's up to the host to stay honest. We’ve stayed at places that looked nothing like the photos — no recourse, no refund.

2. Poor Customer Support

Trying to contact Booking.com when something goes wrong is a mission in itself. You end up getting generic responses, or none at all.

3. Hidden Fees Galore

A common scam is to list a cheap nightly rate, then tack on fees in the “fine print” — taxes, cleaning, extra guest charges, etc. You only find out when you arrive, and by then, you're stuck.

4. Cash-Only Requests

Some properties demand cash to avoid credit card fees — but that’s bad news for families like us.
ATM fees, currency conversion rates, and cash withdrawal limits (like our £400/day cap) can make it really expensive. And handing over your only safety net — cash — in a foreign country is risky.

💳 Top Tips for Booking with Booking.com as a Family

Let’s make sure you don’t end up in the same boat! Here are our tried-and-tested tips for booking smart:

✅ 1. Always Pay by Card or Credit Card Online

Never pay cash on arrival. Use a card so you can dispute charges or get a refund if needed. Credit cards also offer extra protection.

✅ 2. Avoid “Pay at Property” Listings Where Possible

Choose places that let you pay in advance online. It’s safer and reduces the chance of sudden “fee surprises.”

✅ 3. Dig Deep into the Reviews

Don’t just look at star ratings — read the latest reviews for signs of scams, dirty rooms, poor communication, or extra charges. If there’s not many reviews then do not stay!

✅ 4. Double-Check the Location

Some listings aren’t where they say they are. Use Google Maps and Street View to verify!

✅ 5. Take Screenshots

Before booking, screenshot the price breakdown, listing details, and host terms. If anything changes later, you have proof.

✅ 6. Trust Your Gut

If something feels off — it probably is. Always have a backup option saved in case a booking falls through.

🙋‍♀️ Why We Use Airbnb More Now

After a few too many Booking.com disasters, we’ve shifted back to Airbnb for most of our family stays — especially for longer-term accommodation (but still be cautious, scams are everywhere).
Airbnb accept card payments, we’ve had refunds processed when needed, and we feel more secure booking entire homes where we can actually live, work, and learn together.

🎒 Final Thoughts from the Road

Booking.com has its place in our toolkit — especially for short, budget-friendly city stays — but we book with caution. As a full-time travelling family, getting scammed isn’t just annoying… it’s a major financial and emotional hit when you’re living from your savings.

So if you're planning to use it, go in with your eyes wide open, read everything, and never hand over cash just because someone asks nicely.

Want to hear more real stories and tips?
🎥 Check out our [YouTube channel] for behind-the-scenes vlogs from the road — and subscribe so you never miss a lesson we’ve learned the hard way!

🎒 Full-Time Family Travel

Top Tips for Staying Sane (and Finding the Right Place to Stay!)

Keywords: full-time travel with kids, digital nomad family, family travel planning, accommodation tips for travelling families, travelling with teens, remote working families, worldschooling on the road

Ever felt like you're juggling 4 jobs while planning a "simple" family getaway? Now imagine doing it every single week— welcome to the world of full-time family travel! 🌍

If you're dreaming of life on the road with your kids, laptops, and laundry bags in tow, let us be real with you: it’s incredible, but it ain’t always Instagram-pretty.

💭 Thinking of becoming a digital nomad family? Here’s what you really need to know before hitting “Book Now” on that Airbnb.

Us working on the road (struggling to upload with the WIFI 😅), nomadic life!

1. 🎯 Travel Planning = A Full-Time Job (and Then Some)

It’s easy to assume that booking accommodation as a family is just a couple of clicks online. Spoiler alert: it’s not. Unless you like to all share one room, with dodgy Wi-Fi, next to a 24/7 construction site. (Ask us how we know! 😅)

Here’s who I become each time we move:

• Travel Agent 🧳

• Finance Queen 👑

• Negotiator Extraordinaire 💬

• Transport & Logistics Boss 🚐

• Peacekeeper 🧘‍♀️

Sounds familiar? Welcome to the club.

2. 🏡 Accommodation: What We’ve Learned (The Hard Way)

Booking as a family isn’t as carefree as it is to be solo backpackers. Hostels and shared dorms? Not quite the vibe with a teenager and two remote jobs to juggle.

Here’s our must-have list for family stays:

✅ Two separate rooms (minimum!)
✅ Strong Wi-Fi for remote work & worldschooling
✅ Quiet(er) neighbourhoods — no train or horns nearby, please!
✅ Walking distance to shops & food (hauling water uphill is no joke!)
✅ Green space nearby for sanity walks (its needed)
✅ Affordable, but not soul-destroying

🧐 Would you rather have a fancy apartment with no peace, or a simple hut with serenity? We’ve had both — and let’s just say silence is golden.

3. 🧩 Short-Term vs Long-Term Stays: Why Flexibility Is Key

We’ve learned to book short at first — 5 - 7 days — and only extend if the area suits us. We’ve stayed in beautiful towns with zero vibe, and rougher-looking spots that became our favourites.

But heads-up: short stays = higher costs. It's a juggle between flexibility and budget... and yep, sometimes it burns through our travel funds faster than planned. If you book a monthly stay and slow travel the costs decrease massively… for us, it’s better to know the location before booking longer term.

4. 💬 Mastering the Art of Negotiation

I spend hours trawling Booking.com and Airbnb, reading reviews, mapping out neighbourhoods (yes, I’m that person zooming into Street View to avoid late-night bars), and messaging hosts for deals.

Sometimes I go off-platform to dodge extra fees. Is it a bit risky? Sure. But when it works? Magic. ✨

💡 Top tip: Always ask if there’s a weekly or monthly discount. Many hosts are happy to cut deals if you’re respectful and upfront.

5. 🧠 Keeping Everyone Sane: Space, Routine & Wi-Fi

Being in the same room for weeks? Hard pass. We’ve done it, and while we survived, we learned quickly that space is key to happy relationships on the road.

We all work — blogging, editing, planning, worldschooling — so we treat our accommodation as a home and an office. It’s worth investing in a space where everyone can breathe, create, and take solo time.

6. ☕ Adaptability: The Secret Sauce to Nomadic Life

Whether it’s uploading videos before heading off-grid, or using cafes as makeshift offices, adapting is everything. Earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, offline maps, pre-downloaded lessons — it all helps.

✨ What’s in your “sanity travel kit”? Ours includes headphones, a foldable yoga mat, a buddha statue, and some cozy cushions!

7. 🧳 Budget Travel Reality: Splurges & Sacrifices

Yes, we’ve slept in some “meh” places to keep costs low. But after a week of no privacy and lukewarm showers, we now sprinkle in luxury when possible — a pool, a view, a peaceful vibe. Yes, it costs more but it's all a balancing act, it’s our life savings after all so we want to enjoy it!

It makes a world of difference, and the appreciation? Tenfold.

If you didn’t already know — we’re not living this full-time travel lifestyle on a steady income (yet!). We’re fully committed to building a life around creative freedom, trusting in our skills and passions. We pour our energy into creating travel vlogs for families, social media content, and family travel blog posts in the hope of turning our journey into a sustainable online income.

Some people call us crazy for chasing the dream of being a digital nomad family… and hey, maybe they’re right! 😄 But we’d rather live a life of freedom, adventure, and intentional living than be stuck in a 9–5, drowning in bills, or tied to decades of debt.

Yes, it’s a risk — but it’s one we’re willing to take for the chance to live life on our own terms. And we’re so grateful to have you here, following our journey as a traveling family sharing real-life experiences on the road! 🚐🌍✨

Still exploring sights whilst we search for a better lifestyle…. somewhere in the world 🌍!

Ready to Start Your Journey?

Travelling full-time with kids isn’t just a lifestyle; it’s a full-on adventure, complete with life lessons, logistical puzzles, and moments of pure magic.

Whether you're dreaming of becoming a digital nomad family or already deep in the worldschooling lifestyle, we’re here to share the real, unfiltered journey — the good, the bad, and the hilariously chaotic.

Yes, it’s a risk — but it’s one we’re willing to take for the chance to live life on our own terms. And we’re so grateful to have you here, following our journey as a traveling family sharing real-life experiences on the road! 🚐🌍💡

✈️ Got questions about planning, negotiating, or surviving on the road with kids? Send us a message or come say hi on [our YouTube channel] — we’d love to chat and learn from your experiences too!

And if you're booking accommodation soon, check out the next pages of pros and cons on platforms:
👉 Airbnb Tips & Tricks
👉 Booking.com Strategies for Families

💡 Top Tips for Full-Time Travel Families:

• Start slow. Give yourself time to adapt — don’t try to see the whole world in a month.

• Prioritize Wi-Fi. If you work remotely or worldschool, strong internet is a must.

• Book short stays first. Get a feel for the area before committing to longer rentals.

• Plan space for everyone. You’ll need time apart just as much as time together.

• Stick to a loose routine. It helps kids (and parents) stay grounded while everything around you changes.

• Travel light. Seriously, you don’t need all that stuff. And carrying it gets old — fast!

• Budget for the unexpected. From last-minute transport to medical costs, life on the road throws curveballs.

• Stay flexible. The magic of this lifestyle is in going with the flow… even when the plan changes.