Booking.com It's Bait and Switch!

I've used Booking.com for years, things have changed lately...When you book, they offer amenities: free cancelation, swimming pool, free breakfast, airport transfer...Once you get there, you are charged for the breakfast, the swimming pool is empty (and has been for quite a while...), there is no aiport transfer and when you try to cancel, they tell you you had such a good deal, there will be no refund...

Examples:

Peacock hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, no airport transfer, but they'll arrange for a taxi ("minimal" fee!! $25 each way...)

The Chief's Guesthouse, Maun, Botswana, no airport transfer, but will arrange for a taxi (no idea how much...)

Lal hotel in Lalbela, Ethiopia: swimming pool very empty, and has been that way for a loooong time, because of water shortages due to local construction.

Sora hotel, Lalibela, Ethiopia: cancellation not valid

Hotel de la Parra, Oaxaca, Mexico: breakfast not included...

And the list goes on and on! I travel a lot.

Booking.com tells you it's between you and the hotel. The hotel says "Booking.com" charges us for this! So do yourself a favor: eliminate the middle man, deal with the hotel directly, make sure you have all you need before you agree to pay, and don't allow this cr**py service mess with your trip!