I'm still puzzled by what happened here.

Hotels.com is a very well known booking site. The final price is fully and prominently displayed throughout the booking process. Maybe the OP simply mis-read the information?

"Taxes and other fees"

Other fees being dearest children.

Beginning to sound like Ryanair, who once charged my 1 year old as excess baggage.

I was quite happy for my wife to be charged as such but not my son.

Annhig, yes... I paid up front. The free cancellation is great, which is what I finally used, but it's problematic if rooms are booking fast and your options are becoming more and more limited. Good to know about Agoda...

BBV - i agree that it can be difficult when you are under pressure to book.

one of the things that I don't like about booking.com is that they put "only 2 rooms left" in red - very often is you check with the hotel they have more rooms than are on the hotel booking sites.

annhig..my understanding of the "two rooms" thing, is that they have only that number left from their allocation from the hotel. It's very misleading and I always check direct with the hotel.