Is Booksi legit? What you should know before booking

Traveling is expensive, so it’s tempting to jump on the best deal you can find. Websites like Booksi are popular because they advertise massive savings on luxury accommodations in top travel destinations.

But are the deals you see on Booksi really as good as they seem, or are there hidden downsides? This article will share everything you need to know about Booksi, along with tips on how to stay safe and secure when booking travel online.

What is Booksi?

Booksi is a travel website that sells discounted hotel and vacation packages. It promotes itself as a leading travel partner, claiming to help users find the lowest hotel prices in many of the top travel destinations, including the U.S, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Hawaii. The website claims you can save up to 83% on accommodation and all-inclusive deals through partnerships with major hotels and resorts.

Overview of services offered

Here’s what Booksi claims to offer. It’s important to note that many of Booksi’s offers are sponsored by partner resorts, so you may have to attend an in-person “resort preview” or timeshare presentation to qualify for the discounts.

• Discounted vacation packages: Booksi offers deeply discounted stays at luxury hotels and resorts. Some packages include extras beyond accommodation, like meals and drinks, theme park tickets, and resort credits.
• Flexible date booking: Booksi uses a “buy now, pick dates later” model where you pay the full cost upfront but don’t immediately pick the dates of your trip. You typically get up to 18 months to select your travel dates, but you’ll have to lock in dates with the hotel at least 10 days in advance.
• Customer support: You get access to customer support via phone or email. The support team is available 8 am to 12 midnight EST Monday to Friday, and 9 am to 7 pm EST on weekends to answer questions and provide guidance through the booking process.

Is Booksi legitimate? What reviews and ratings say

Booksi is a legally incorporated company, but there appears to be a high level of risk involved in using its services. For one, Booksi is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and the BBB website gives them an “F” rating.

User reviews and experiences

While some customers praise Booksi for offering impressive deals, others call it a “legal scam.” Below, you’ll find a summary of how Booksi fares on popular review sites (as of November 2025):

• Better Business Bureau: 20+ customer reviews and a rating of 1.86 out of 5 stars
• Trustpilot: 3,800+ reviews and a rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars
• Tripadvisor: 460+ reviews and a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars
• Sitejabber: 180+ reviews and a rating 1.6 out of 5 stars

Positive feedback from customers

Some customers seem to like Booksi because the process is frictionless and it offers good deals. They mostly say the website was easy to use, the prices were low, and customer support was helpful.

A significant segment of their customers say they got what they expected: a discounted stay at a resort within the timeframe stated. Many feel they got a good deal and enjoyed their vacation. Some reviews also emphasize the quality of support and describe the Booksi staff as helpful and friendly.

Areas of concern in user reviews

Most negative reviews about Booksi emphasize the “bait and switch” tactics used by the company. Reddit features a number of threads calling it “definitely a scam” or “almost legit.” Most complaints revolve around high-pressure sales tactics, hidden fees, and other dishonest tactics. Customers often say the advertised prices were misleading, and the deals became less attractive after paying all the deposits and extra fees.

Another common complaint is the lack of customer service. While many users say the staff created a smooth booking process, some found the quality of support dropped off significantly after they paid.

Who owns Booksi?

Booksi is a privately held limited liability company (LLC) owned by Monster Reservations Group (MRG). According to its listing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), it is registered as Booksi, LLC in Wyoming.

Monster Reservations Group overview

Monster Reservations Group (MRG) is a U.S.-based company founded in 2006. It offers discounted vacation packages and resort stays across the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico, and other destinations.

The company operates as a middleman between consumers and resorts, managing date selection, booking logistics, and customer support. They use platforms like Booksi to advertise steep discounts on vacation deals.

While MRG has many positive reviews praising helpful staff and booking support, numerous complaints also exist.

Risks of using Booksi

Many reviewers describe Booksi as high risk. Here are some of the common issues that customers have reported:

High-pressure sales tactics

Customers often complain about high-pressure sales tactics like the in-person “resort preview.” This is basically a timeshare presentation where you may be encouraged to upgrade your package or purchase a timeshare. The presentation can last up to 2 hours, and it’s required to get the discounted price.

Misleading pricing and hidden fees

Booksi’s entire value proposition is based on the extremely low prices it advertises. The website claims that you can save up to 83% on luxury hotels and resorts. But the advertised price doesn’t include hidden costs like deposits, taxes, and fees.

Issues with customer support

Customers often complain that phone calls have long wait times and emails or online submissions go unanswered. Escalating the issue to a higher department often results in generic responses. Resolutions can take weeks, if they ever occur at all. Many customers also feel that the support team does a poor job of clarifying the hidden fees or conditions until after payment.

Fine print conditions

Customers often complain about fine-print clauses that are buried or hard to understand. For example, your reservations may be subject to restrictions, like only certain dates being eligible, age limits, citizenship requirements, minimum income requirements, and language proficiency requirements. Make sure you understand all the conditions before making any purchases through Booksi.

Tips for booking safely with Booksi

Booksi may look risky, but reviews show that some customers have booked successful trips via the site. By taking reasonable precautions and anticipating high-pressure sales tactics, you might still be able to find a good deal and enjoy a quality vacation.

Essential steps to ensure a safe booking

Here are some steps you can take to maximize the chances of a safe booking on Booksi.

Confirm hotel reservations

Always verify that your reservation has been officially recorded by the hotel or resort. Contact the property directly to ensure the booking exists for the dates you selected. Request a confirmation number and keep a screenshot or printed copy of all correspondence.

Understand cancellation policies

Carefully review the cancellation and refund policies before you finalize your booking. Make sure you understand the deadlines, fees, and conditions under which you can make changes to your reservation.

Look out for hidden fees

Here’s how you can spot hidden fees on Booksi before making a commitment:

1. Carefully read the full terms and conditions for the property you are planning to book. Look for disclaimers about resort fees, taxes, or deposits.
2. Pay attention to phrases like “subject to availability” or “additional charges may apply.” These often indicate extra costs not included in the advertised price.
3. Be aware of extra commitments. Many Booksi deals require attending an in-person resort preview or timeshare presentation to access the advertised discounts. If you don’t meet the eligibility requirements set by your chosen hotel, you may be required to pay the full cost of your stay.

Protect your personal information

Here’s how you can protect your personal information when shopping on Booksi:

1. Make sure you are on the actual Booksi site and not a phishing page. Avoid clicking links you received through an email or ad, and check that the website is safe to use.
2. Use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards offer extra protection and easier dispute options, so they’re generally safer than debit cards, which could expose your bank account to unauthorized withdrawals.
3. Keep an eye on your statements after payment to check for suspicious activity.

Comparison with other online booking services

If you think that Booksi might not be for you, there are two different routes you can take: using a traditional travel agency for one-on-one service, or choosing a competing travel website. Both options have pros and cons. Let’s see how Booksi compares.

Booksi vs. traditional travel agencies

Using a traditional travel agency means you work with a dedicated agent to plan and book your vacation. You get a single point of contact who provides personalized service and recommendations. They can handle complex itineraries and have a network of trusted contacts they use to secure reservations.

Advantages of using a travel agency:

• A travel agent will offer one-on-one guidance, help you craft complex itineraries, and advocate for you if flights are cancelled or hotels are overbooked. With Booksi, you generally have fewer options if something goes wrong.
• Good travel agents clearly explain pricing, taxes, and cancellation policies upfront. They will help you secure the exact resort/hotel, dates, and room type at the time of booking. Booksi has less transparency and uses a “buy now, pick dates later” model that offers less security.

Advantages of using Booksi:

• You get up to 18 months to lock in your exact travel dates with Booksi.
• Booksi may offer more convenience and less friction during the booking process. A travel agency can be more complex to work with since it needs to contact multiple people to book your vacation.
• You can book online 24/7 with Booksi. A travel agent may only be available during specific business hours.

Booksi vs. similar platforms

Booksi has plenty of competition from other websites. Mainstream competitors like Priceline and Expedia also offer an easy way to find discounted rates at hotels and resorts, but discounts may not be as significant as what you’ll find on Booksi.

Advantages of using a mainstream booking site:

• Other sites may offer more transparency and don’t require you to attend a mandatory in-person sales presentation.
• You can lock in your exact dates and pick the exact hotel or resort at the time of purchase.
• Pricing may be clearer and have fewer extra fees than Booksi.
• Mainstream competitors generally offer a higher level of customer support and have quicker response times.

Advantages of using Booksi:

• Discounts can be steeper than what you’ll find on mainstream websites.
• You don’t have to lock in dates at the time of purchase. Booksi gives you up to 18 months to select your date and accommodations.

How to spot a travel booking scam

Spotting a travel booking scam requires careful attention to the details of the deal and the credibility of the source. Here are key strategies to help identify scams:

1. Verify the website or company: Cross-check the contact information, physical address, and customer service options. Look at how recently the website was created to make sure it lines up with when the company was founded.
2. Read online reviews: Look for patterns of similar complaints.
3. Compare the offer with other reputable booking sites: See if it aligns with standard rates; suspiciously low prices might indicate a scam.
4. Watch for high-pressure sales tactics: Methods that push you to book immediately to lock in the deal are a red flag.
5. Read the cancellation policies, fees, and terms carefully: Scammers may bury key information in the “fine print” where you won’t notice it.
6. Beware of unconventional payment methods: Never pay with gift cards or wire transfers, as these are difficult or impossible to trace and recover if something goes wrong.

Can a VPN help you stay safe when using Booksi?

A virtual private network (VPN) can offer some additional security when using Booksi or other online travel platforms, but it’s not a substitute for caution. It can protect your connection, but it can’t protect against scams, hidden fees, or poor customer service.

What a VPN can do (and what it can’t)

Here’s how a VPN protects your online privacy:

• Encrypts your traffic: VPNs scramble the data sent between your device and the internet, protecting sensitive details like login credentials and payment information from interception by threat actors, especially on public Wi-Fi. Note that sites like Booksi already use HTTPS encryption for their transactions, though, so a VPN is just an additional layer of security in this case.
• Hides your IP and location: By masking your IP, a VPN makes it harder for websites and advertisers to track your online activity and use this info to alter the pricing options you see or show you targeted ads.
• Other bundled protections: Some VPNs, like ExpressVPN, offer additional tools to protect you online. For example, ExpressVPN’s advanced protection can automatically detect and prevent connections to known phishing or scam domains.

However, a VPN can’t protect against:

• Misleading offers: A VPN can’t stop a company from using hidden fees, bait-and-switch tactics, or deceptive advertising.
• Customer service issues: A VPN won’t help if a company refuses refunds, ignores support requests, or changes terms after purchase.
• Misuse of data you voluntarily provide: Any information you willingly enter on a website (e.g., name, email, credit card) is visible to that company regardless of whether you’re using a VPN or not.

Additional tools to use with a VPN

A VPN is great for adding an extra layer of privacy when booking vacations online, but it’s a good idea to pair it with additional security tools for further protection. Here are some key tools often used alongside a VPN:

• Antivirus and anti-malware software: This will detect viruses, ransomware, and malicious downloads that might be hidden on fake travel sites. It can also protect against Trojans or other malware that attempt to redirect you to scam versions of Booksi or capture sensitive information.
• Password managers: Tools like ExpressVPN Keys can store and generate strong, unique passwords for every site, so you don’t have to reuse weak passwords across multiple accounts. They autofill credentials only on legitimate domains, reducing the risk of accidentally entering them on phishing sites.
• DNS filtering Tools: You can use tools like ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager to block known phishing and scam domains. These services help to prevent fake travel booking pages from loading.
• Ad and tracker blockers: ExpressVPN’s built-in ad blocker can minimize the chance of seeing malicious ads that lead to travel phishing sites, and its Threat Manager blocks trackers from third parties that are known to be malicious.