P.C. C
Google
A memorable experience — just not in the way we hoped.
We booked Villa Dianella in mid-April for a stay in June and were genuinely excited. The property looked beautiful, and the location seemed ideal for a tranquil Tuscan escape.
Then, starting May 1st, the magic began: we received WhatsApp messages from multiple unfamiliar Indian and Brazilian phone numbers claiming to represent the villa. These “helpful” messages included suspicious-looking links directing us to phishing-style websites, asking for personal information such as full names and booking details — information only someone with access to our reservation would likely have.
Naturally concerned, we tried contacting both the hotel and Booking.com. Booking.com, in a “stellar” display of customer care, ignored our messages entirely. Truly remarkable.
The villa’s manager, Simona, was at least responsive. She confidently assured us that the data breach came from Booking.com’s side. It was oddly reassuring to hear such certainty about where the issue definitely didn’t originate.
Then, just 48 hours before our trip, the scammers struck again — this time through Booking.com’s official messaging platform. We reached out to Simona once more. To her credit, she acknowledged our concerns and kindly allowed us to cancel our stay. That gesture was appreciated.
By then, I had already spent 2–3 frustrating hours calling Booking.com while abroad (thank you, international roaming), being disconnected multiple times and starting from scratch with each call — a truly unforgettable travel memory. Fortunately, Simona at least picked up the phone when they wouldn’t.
In the end, we never made it to Villa Dianella. It might be lovely — we’ll never know. But we did walk away with a different kind of Tuscan experience: one involving data breaches, phishing attempts, and a customer service adventure we won’t soon forget.