Booking.com Downgraded My Hotel & Ruined My Northern Lights Experience

I booked a luxury stay at Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara in Rovaniemi, Finland for my family (4 adults, 2 rooms) on January 28-29, 2025, specifically to experience the Northern Lights away from city lights. However, when we arrived, the hotel refused to accommodate us, claiming a technical issue and forcing us into a completely different hotel—Santa Claus Hotel in the city center.

This was a massive downgrade. The new hotel was cheaper, surrounded by city lights, and ruined our chances of seeing the Northern Lights. On top of that, we were crammed into a single room with terrible beds, completely different from our original booking. To make matters worse, I had to pay extra for parking at the new hotel.

When I demanded a partial refund, Booking.com refused to take responsibility. This is unacceptable. I paid for a premium experience and was forced into an inferior hotel that did not meet my expectations.

I demand compensation for the inconvenience and false booking. Booking.com is a disappointment, and I will never use their service again unless they resolve this issue properly.