Booking agents

andyrules

Should it be more expensive to use an agent claiming cheap prices than to go direct to the hotel?

jaycube

This is for sure if you have middleman in the deal it always cost to you, Its good to go directly to the hotel to get cheap deal.

balletshoes

andyrules wrote: »

Should it be more expensive to use an agent claiming cheap prices than to go direct to the hotel?

I'd guess from an agents point of view, yes it should - the agent has to earn their money somewhere.

I never book with an agent without checking the same hotel direct.

hcb42

most reputable hotel chains will have some kind of best rate online guarantee for their own website.

the online travel agents (OTAS) have rate parity agreements as well i.e. laterooms.com; holiday extras; lastminute.com; expedia etc all have clauses in their contracts to state they cannot be undercut by giving another agent a better rate, or a better rate on the hotel website.

Of course it does happen that rates are not the same, usually due to the labour intensive manual processes and human error, or occasionally due to different types of rates/rate buckets which might conflict with the public rates.

Agent commission is a necessary cost of selling rooms, and it can be significant, up to 30% in a few cases. I always use OTA sites to research but then book direct, that way I have a direct relationship with the hotel and I know they have received my booking (and handy if I want to blag an upgrade!)

andyrules

Interesting. Normally I book directly through hotels' own websites, except Premier Inn as they don't specify twin rooms. However, on this occasion I was wooed by an apparent bargain - through an affiliate of Priceline - so I thought there was a bargain to be had. There wasn't. Won't bother again.