I Lost My Money After Rodos Booking Was Canceled Due to Ferry Cancellation

I booked a 2-night stay in Rhodes from March 30 to April 1, 2025, through Booking.com, but due to the ferry cancellation, I was unable to reach the island and therefore couldn’t stay at the hotel. I immediately contacted Booking customer service several times asking for a refund or even a date change, but all I got was the same answer: “The reservation was made through a partner offer, and we cannot issue a refund.”

Since a refund was not possible, I kindly requested a simple date modification. The hotel agreed to it as long as Booking sent them a confirmation email, which they never did—despite my persistent requests. Only on the last day, one representative, Ms. N*****, made an effort to help, but by the time she acted, the hotel informed me that Booking had already canceled my reservation.

Why would I cancel a booking when I knew I’d lose the full amount? Why would I go through so much trouble just to cancel it myself? It makes no sense. My friends, who booked the exact same trip through other platforms, received immediate refunds. I trusted Booking.com, and now I feel completely betrayed and disappointed.