Booking.com Listed a Misleading Abu Dhabi Property and I Want a Refund
My wife joined me in the UAE for a vacation, and I booked a 2-night stay at New Luxurious Abu Dhabi on your website. The confirmation email stated that the location was Airport Street, Al Dana Area, Abu Dhabi. I initially struggled to reach the property by phone but eventually managed to get in contact with someone who had a weak command of English and preferred to communicate via WhatsApp. He sent me coordinates to a hotel in Ajman opposite Al Wahda Mall; from there I had to drive to a different location in the Khalida area, in the same building as the Golden Curtains shop, which turned out to be a complete dump. The accommodation looked nothing like what was shown online. There was water leaking from the bathroom ceiling, the bathroom area was dirty, and there was a strong, foul smell. The lady at the accommodation insisted on taking my ID, photographed it, confirmed my booking, and then disappeared, leaving us in these unacceptable conditions. I contacted Booking by telephone and clearly expressed my disapproval. I insisted on being provided with the accommodation I had originally booked or a similar and suitable accommodation in Abu Dhabi. Instead, the agent offered me accommodation in Dubai, which was completely unreasonable, as I had already driven from Ras Al Khaimah for this advanced booking and there was no way I was going to drive all the way to Dubai. I felt scammed and given the run-around, with no idea where we might end up next. I therefore request a full refund of the AED 246.08 I paid online and of all other subsequent bookings I have made with this company. I also expect Booking.com to remove this property from the platform, as it is clearly misleading in terms of location, appearance, and conditions.
