Booked in January for an October stay. While booking, it advised that I was expected to pay by September. As soon as I had booked they wanted me to pay ASAP, and by a bank transfer not through the booking.com system - this wasn't made clear in advance. If I didn't pay by April, they threatened to cancel the booking. Even to get the information on where I was supposed to pay required multiple telephone calls in a language I don't speak. I couldn't pay so far in advance but they didn't cancel the booking, and then by August (when I had made other plans) they threatened that I still owed them the whole amount. The booking was over Essen Spiel Messe - it would definitely have been possible to find replacement guests. Ended up sharing the booking with some folks I knew, who report that every part of the stay was less than ideal: - mould all through wardrobes and bedroom so that they had to sleep on the uncomfortable fold-out sofa not in the bedroom due to the unhealthy smell - staff just removed some mouldy coat-hangers and claimed the problem was solved - toxic oven cleaner spray left in the oven so when they cooked in it the food was ruined - shower didn't drain and staff was unable or unwilling to fix the problem - dirty laundry from previous guests left in the top of the wardrobe (not entirely sure the bedsheets were clean either) - grits of glass shards or something left on the dishes that were supposedly clean in the dishwasher - heaters not working until the third night (again, it's October) Staff were at all points difficult to contact and unwilling to provide support. The place was so bad that everyone checked out early, leaving the keys in the flat as repeated requests of where to leave them were met with no reply. Upon the staff being informed of this arrangement, they became verbally hostile. In the end everything was so bad that I got a partial refund from booking.com for the experience.