Whether it is for business of pleasure many of us use online booking platforms when we are looking for a hotel room or self-catering accommodation for a stay away from home. But do booking platforms offer us the best deal or is it better to book direct with the hotel or owner of the accommodation you wish to stay in?
Is it cheaper to book a hotel room direct or through an online booking platform?
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The VRT’s consumer affairs team ‘WinWin’ put this to the test and discovered that in 80% of the hotels that it contacted directly were able to give a better price than the price quoted for their accommodation on sites such as Booking.com and Expedia.
The VRT’s consumer affairs team ‘WinWin’ looked up 30 hotels, large and small. These included hotels owned by large international chains, small boutique hotels and accommodation at luxury resorts. They compared the prices listed on well-known booking platforms such as Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda, Hotels and Trip.com.
These were hotels in 30 big cities the world over. From Beijing to Sydney and from New Delhi to New York. After having found quotes for a stay at the hotels on the online platforms, WinWin’ contacted the hotels directly and asked how much it would cost to book a room. In most cases, it was cheaper to book direct than through a booking platform website.
Just 7 of the 30 hotels contacted didn’t quote a price that was less than via the booking platforms. On average it turned out to be 13.09% cheaper to book a room directly rather than through a booking platform. The greatest price differences were for hotels in Tokyo (23%), Brasilia (26%) and Jakarta (27%).
Some hotels require you to register via their website and to leave your e-mail address on their website.
Extras
A little negotiation can yield additional benefits. From four different hotels, the ‘WinWin’ team obtained free day passes for the gym and spa, an upgrade to a better room and/or a complimentary breakfast.
A hotel in Casablanca takes the crown for the extra benefits offered. On top of a discount of more than 18% per cent, they also offer an upgrade (worth 87 euro/night) and a free breakfast for two (worth 56 euro). So, if you are going to book a hotel, it is definitely worth contacting the hotel itself first.