Booking Direct with Hotels.

MoodyMel

Hello.

I was just wandering around and reading various threads, I have seen numerous references to booking your hotel directly with the hotel...

Silly question time: How do you do that?

Do you have to actually phone the hotel or is there an online way of doing it, or would it vary hotel to hotel?

MM xx

mcfisco

You could phone or more likely, just go to their website and book through that.
It isn't always cheaper though

MoodyMel

Thank you.
I was just curious really:)

Now i'm curious as to it not being cheaper. I assumed as so many posts on here suggest it that it must work out a lot cheaper??

MM xx

mcfisco

Sometimes it is, sometimes the agencies have better rates and sometimes you get a better deal direct as extras are included.

Doshwaster

mcfisco wrote: »

You could phone or more likely, just go to their website and book through that.
It isn't always cheaper though

In my experience, booking direct with the hotel is usually the best way for the big international chains (Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn) and they will often have a lowest price guarantee but with independents the 3rd party sites (Expedia, LateRooms, LastMinute.com, Hotels.com etc) are usually more competitive due to their purchasing power. There are exceptions on both sides though.

Always check the booking terms though - the cheaper deals will usually be non-refundable, non-changeable and may not include breakfast.

Bob_the_Saver

Doshwaster wrote: »

In my experience, booking direct with the hotel is usually the best way for the big international chains (Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn) and they will often have a lowest price guarantee but with independents the 3rd party sites (Expedia, LateRooms, LastMinute.com, Hotels.com etc) are usually more competitive due to their purchasing power. There are exceptions on both sides though.

Always check the booking terms though - the cheaper deals will usually be non-refundable, non-changeable and may not include breakfast.

Don't forget you can get cashback though, often 10-15% if you go through some of the booking agents via TCB etc. Just confirm booking with hotel though.

'Guaranteed the best rates by booking direct' doesn't seem to apply if you include cashback.

jpsartre

MoodyMel wrote: »

Now i'm curious as to it not being cheaper. I assumed as so many posts on here suggest it that it must work out a lot cheaper??

Not everything is about price. One of the reasons to book direct is to cut of the middle-man. A lot easier to deal with any problems if you can talk to hotel directly rather than having to negotiate through a 3rd party.

zagfles

Also if you go direct you can often negotiate a discount (particularly with independant hotels). They won't generally advertise rates which undercut the agents, for obvious reasons, but by going direct you can often negotiate a discount or freebie because you've saved them the agent's fee. Doesn't always work but worth a try...

Cancellation terms are often better going direct.

zagfles

MoodyMel wrote: »

Thank you.
I was just curious really:)

Now i'm curious as to it not being cheaper. I assumed as so many posts on here suggest it that it must work out a lot cheaper??

MM xx

Do you mean cheaper than a package or cheaper than using a hotel booking agent (eg booking.com, expedia etc)?

maman

mcfisco wrote: »

You could phone or more likely, just go to their website and book through that.
It isn't always cheaper though

If you have the time then it can be worth it. I stayed in 4 hotels a couple of weeks ago. One wasn't interested in negotiating just said book with website. Another said if we wanted to stay there again then please call directly for a better price. I think it's because the first was a chain with bored staff. The latter a family run business.

richardw

Bed banks can sometimes have unsold allocations that they offload at bargain prices.