What should I do if Booking.com cannot charge my foreign bank card for a hotel booking in India?

For Booking.com reservations, the property may attempt to charge the card at any time before arrival. If verification fails, it can ask you to provide a working replacement card.

If no valid replacement card is provided, a booking may be cancelled within 24 hours of the request. A confirmed reservation is not necessarily protected until arrival.

A practical option is to message the hotel directly and arrange cash payment at check-in. Ask explicitly whether they can keep the reservation without an advance card charge.

Not every property accepts cash; some hotels take only cashless payments. Check the rate conditions in Booking.com and obtain confirmation from the property before travelling.