Genius 3 loyalty program on Booking.com: how to register for the Genius program, how to accumulate discounts, which hotels participate in the program and why, what are the requirements for users to receive the first, second and third Genius levels.
At the end of December, Booking introduced a new type of bonuses – Genius 3. I checked for myself – I was automatically enrolled in the third level. Let’s figure out why I have such a privilege and what are its advantages, how to get the first, second and third Genius 3 levels and how to use the discounts.
What is the Booking.com Genius Level bonus program?
The Booking.com Genius rewards program was made for independent travelers who frequently book accommodation through Booking.com. To retain its loyal users, Booking decided to offer discounts on stays at hotels that participate in the Booking.com Genius program.
The loyalty program offers discounts of up to 20% on hotel or apartment stays and offers nice perks. For example, such as free breakfast, early check-in at the hotel or free room upgrades.
Not all hotels and apartments participate in the rewards program. But those that offer special conditions for Genius users often offer very favorable prices.
Important! If you have already received Genius 3 status, and the hotel you are interested in is still participating in the Genius 1 or Genius 2 loyalty program, you will be able to receive 10-15% discounts provided by the specific accommodation facility you have selected.
How many Genius levels are there on Booking.com?
On the booking.com there are three Genius levels.
- Genius Level 1 – 10% discount on hotel accommodation.
- Genius Level 2 -15% discount on hotel stays, as well as FREE breakfast and FREE room upgrades at select hotels, including well-known chains.
- Genius Level 3 – up to 20% plus free breakfast and free room category upgrades at hotels that are willing to cooperate with this loyalty program.
Which hotels participate in Genius 3?
Why are hotels so generous with discounts? They are interested in frequent travelers, who are considered the most sought-after customers in the hotel business. Frequent travelers, of course, are looking for an opportunity to save money. But they also know how to be a hotelier.
Therefore, Booking has set a fairly high bar for places to stay – to participate in Genius 3, you need to have a score of at least 7.5 points. I consider this selection fair.
For me, as a user of the Booking reservation system, this is a good idea, because I try not to choose accommodation below this score. That is, when choosing a hotel or apartment using Genius preferential offers, I am immediately offered the level that suits me.
However, I still read reviews, because the opinion of other users according to various criteria can also be important when choosing a place to stay.
Comparison of Booking offers with and without the Genius discount
For the sake of the experiment, I compared offers with and without a discount. It was interesting to analyze how hotels play with discounts in relation to program participants and regular Booking users.
Here is the hotel I am interested in, without a discount:
But here is the same offer with a Genius discount – the difference in price for a room for two is 27%. This is even more than the loyalty program offers. But note that breakfast is not included in the price in both cases. If you add it to the price of the discounted offer, you will still get the promised 20% discount.
How to register for the Genius privilege program
- first register on the website Booking.com. Even if you have previously made reservations without registering an account, it is better to create your own account, where all your previous reservations will be displayed.
- After you register in your Booking account, make sure that you are logged in to the system under your own account when booking.
- Before going on a trip, book the appropriate type of hotel (or apartment, B&B, hostel, house – whatever suits you according to your travel style).
- After departure, your reservation will be automatically credited to the Genius program.
- Once you have access to the loyalty program, use the Genius filter – Booking will sort all discounted offers and show them to you first.
How do I get the first and second Genius levels on Booking.com?
How to gain access to Genius Level 1. You need to make two bookings through Booking (it means: live on these hotel bookings) within two calendar years. After that, you will receive a lifetime membership in the Genius program. And without any additional requirements for the first level support (-10% discount).
To gain access to Genius Level 2, you need to make 5 bookings within two years. The second Genius level (-15% discount) also remains for life without additional requirements.
How do I get Genius level 3 on Booking.com?
To qualify for Genius Level 3, you need to make at least 15 reservations in the last 2 years. Of course, without cancellation. You need to stay in the booked hotels, stay the specified number of nights (as in the reservation). And after that they will be credited to your overall score.
I book almost all hotels, apartments and hostels through the Booking.com website or program, so I got this 3rd level very quickly.
Cons of the Genius Rewards Program
- Free breakfast is often not offered (hotels sell breakfast for an additional fee).
- Free room upgrade – hotels do not always move a Genius 2 level user to a better room. Do not hesitate to ask at the reception about this possibility.
- Often there is no difference between Genius 1 and Genius 3. Most likely, this is because hotels are in no hurry to join the level 3 program and give a 20% discount.
- Many European hotels give big discounts on non-refundable rates. If you cancel your trip for reasons beyond your control, the money may not be returned.
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Useful links for travelers:
Car rental – cheap car rental options in Ukraine Rentalcars.com
Hotels – traditionally booked through Booking
Insurance can be purchased on the website Hotline.Finance
