Booking Direct with Hotels.

no1wf

photome wrote: »

Sounds good but paying on departure makes more sense, incase anything goes wrong between now and when you arrive, unless there is good cancellation terms

True, but even when holidaying with parents as a child, when I helped them look when they went by themselves it was just never done that way. And even when the OH and I go away for a weekend to Manchester or something it's done the same too. I've never had the opportunity to pay for anything afterwards

ferf1223

jpsartre wrote: »

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.

also a lot less likely to get the dreaded email shortly before departure telling you the hotel is oversold and instead you'll be put somewhere you don't want or can have your money back (at a time it's too late to get decent deal on a place you do want)...I can't recall ever seeing that from someone who has booked direct, it's always bookings via agents (be they proper travel agents or online). I have and will continue to book direct even when I know I could get it a bit cheaper using a 3rd party. Maybe not very MSE but it's worth a bit extra to me.

photome

no1wf wrote: »

True, but even when holidaying with parents as a child, when I helped them look when they went by themselves it was just never done that way. And even when the OH and I go away for a weekend to Manchester or something it's done the same too. I've never had the opportunity to pay for anything afterwards

Most hotels I use, in the UK and abroad I pay on departure. I will sometimes pay upfront if its a really good deal but then it usually isn't cancellable/refundable