Booking.com Confirms and Charges for Apartment, Then Denies Check-In in Thailand

I made a booking through Booking.com for an apartment in Jomtien, Pattaya, Thailand, from 29 December to 31 December. I booked it on the same day I was travelling and paid the full amount of 1,980 Thai baht by card. When I arrived at the property after a four‑hour drive, I called the phone number provided in my Booking.com confirmation email and was told that the room had been blocked and was not available, even though my booking had been confirmed and fully paid. No alternative accommodation or on-the-spot support was offered by either the property or Booking.com. I was left to sort everything out myself and had to spend additional time and effort driving around to look for another place to stay at the last minute. After this, I contacted Booking.com customer service. They informed me that they had tried to contact the apartment owner, but since the owner did not respond, they claimed they could not refund my money. I find this completely unacceptable, as my contract and payment were made through Booking.com, and I held a valid confirmation for accommodation that I was then denied. I request a full refund of the 1,980 Thai baht I paid, a clear apology for the inconvenience and mishandling of the situation, and additional compensation for the wasted time and stress caused, including the unnecessary driving around to find alternative accommodation after a four-hour journey.