"hostels.com is a website located in London and owned by Web Reservation Intrnational, which they do not make clearly known or evident on the site. There is NO CONTACT information other than a street address in London, and they charge a 27% NON-REFUNDABLE "deposit", that gets converted to British pounds currency, so if the dollar is weaker in relation to the British Pound, you end up paying more in US dollars when your account - credit card is debited, than it shows as your total on the website when you pay, due to the currency difference. If there is a problem, THEY HAVE NO EMAIL ADRESS AND NO PHONE NUMBER TO CONTACT THEM. When you are booking your room, the advertising says there is "no booking fee" and that you "may cancel at any time up to 2 days prior to arrival, at no charge". These are both lies, since they charge the 17% "deposit" which you find out after paying is non-refundable, so you ARE paying their booking fee, which is 17% and the cost to cancel is forfeiture of the 17% deposit, which contradicts their claim that you can cancel at any time "at no charge". The cost to cancel is 17%.
They also do not disclose until after you pay, sales tax is due ON TOP of the amount shown as the room rate you *think* you are getting. BEWARE of #Hostelworld ,#Hostels. #Hostelbookers, #Scout24 ,#BedandBreakfastworld #Backpackonline owned by #WebReservationInternational )). Their website advertising practices are deceptive and if there is a problem, you can't even call or email them, you can only write a letter and MAIL it through the post office!
This is a really unethical slimy way to do business. BUYER BEWARE!"