Ringing a Motel/Hotel Direct - Is It Cheaper?

[Deactivated] on 31/08/2019 - 09:56
Last edited 31/08/2019 - 10:30 by 1 other user

Last year I drove out to the NSW Country areas with a international friend

I was a frequent user of the app Hotels and after I think after 10 nights I received a usually half price discount, anyway because we decided to go on the spur of the moment, and we didn't know where we would end up I hadn't booked any motels along the way.

On getting towards evening we decided to ring a few motels and get prices, unfortunately they all ended up more expensive than the Hotels app., even though I told the lady receptionist she wouldn't budge on price.

So I used the Hotels booking app and got the same country motel for about $10 less than she quoted over the phone.

The lady motel owner, after I paid, was obviously not happy that I used the hotels app and started giving us a lecture on how hotels booking service take a large percentage etc. I told her I would have offered her cash if she had gave me a discount but anyway she ended up being a nasty old hag, knocking on our motel door at midnight to say turn the lights off.

Do any of you find the booking apps much cheaper?

I have in the past on planning a trip emailed the hotel to ask about discounts and some won't budge.

Another negative about booking thru the apps is if you have complaints. About 3 years ago I went to Bali and booked thru I think it was Trivago, on seeing my dirty room I complained to the hotel manager who insisted I was not the hotels customer but Trivago’s!

I prefer to give my money to hotels motels directly than hotel booking services (especially if they are small operators) but I'm not going to pay more than the booking services.

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Comments

  • MrHyde on 31/08/2019 - 10:17
    +2

    I always check direct and then book through whichever channel is cheaper. Sometimes it is direct, most times it is through online third party site.

  • leiiv on 31/08/2019 - 10:40
    +5

    I have never got it cheaper by going direct. It seems that all the operators prefer to just pay the comission to the agents rather than passing some of it to the guests directly, which does not make sense at all.

    • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2019 - 10:43
      +1

      I agree, seems ridiculous actually, then they have the audacity to complain

    • leiiv on 31/08/2019 - 10:47

      Oh and with the booking services like hotels.com or booking.com there are often cashbacks or coupon codes which make the price even cheaper.

    • cloudy on 31/08/2019 - 15:50
      +6

      They have signed agreements to be priced at the same rate. So they fear it’s a trap by hotel 3rd party calling to see if they breach the agreement.

      • boomramada on 10/09/2019 - 15:33

        That's old news, since then;

        In 2016 an ACCC-led reform allowed hotels to offer cheaper rates over the phone, in person, or to loyalty members – but they cannot advertise those rates online

        I should downvote my upvote :)

        • cloudy on 11/09/2019 - 13:57

          I didn’t know that!

  • Soluble on 31/08/2019 - 10:41
    +1

    When heading overseas we always contact direct and 99% of the time they do us a cheaper deal than booking through another site.

    Locally I used a website to book the first time and when I arrived they told me if I wanted to stay there again to book direct for a $10 discount.

  • veetor on 31/08/2019 - 11:43
    +2

    When I was planning my upcoming trip to Japan I tried comparing the prices on hotel websites against the booking services and most of them were far more expensive even before discounts/cashback. It seemed the only time it was cheaper was when the hotel offered long stay discounts or similar incentives.

  • try2bhelpful on 31/08/2019 - 12:41
    +1

    Interesting because my experience is the opposite to most people. By joining the various hotel's programmes I generally find the prices are comparable, or even cheaper, than the cost through the apps. It might depend on the places you are staying. The only time I got a much better discount was booking a hotel through Flight Centre, where they seemed to have a particularly good deal.

  • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2019 - 12:48

    Interesting comments, anyone ever found they were treated differently because theybooked thru the apps?

    • bluesky on 31/08/2019 - 16:11
      +2

      My experience: I find you get better treatment as a direct guest. Unless already a direct guest, wanting to rebook next trip/extension, asked for a price match, which they could not offer. Then, treatment pretty much the same, and if lucky, even better (treated as a repeat guest). This is overseas for large chains, not sure if the same locally.

      I am also guessing smaller hotels are more willing to match websites, but for larger chains, the staff will not deviate from any guidelines to do so. Another thing which seems hard for hotels to match (and completely fair, I think) is when you get an offer discount (10-15%) due to the payment method, e.g. using Visa or Mastercard.

    • SirFlibbled on 10/09/2019 - 15:55

      I might not get as nice a room that's been about it. I usually book to sleep so as long as the bed is the same, I'm fine with it.

      Mind you, 9 months ago I've started a new job where I travel frequently (40 nights in hotels since I started) and I've joined most major hotel's loyatly clubs. For those I frequent (Holiday Inn and Hilton), I've seen an increase in upgrades even if I'm travelling privately and going through Hotels - but right now it's such a small sample it could be nothing.

  • Meho2026 on 31/08/2019 - 13:55
    +3

    Hotels on all the booking sites have to enter an agreement where they cant sell rooms any cheaper online.
    Sometimes booking direct can include something extra like continental breakfast, parking or wifi.
    You can get a cheaper price by calling the hotel directly for an advance booking but last minute they think you are desperate and try their luck.

    I booked a room through Expedia last year using some discount code. When I checked in the manager asked me why I didnt book direct. I told him it was cheaper for me, he then grumbled about the 10% commission they pay and told me if I want to stay again to talk to him first and he would beat any price I got.
    I did that, he beat the price and when I checked in we had a room upgrade.
    I read somewhere that because the hotels hate all these booking sites they put those customers in the worse rooms and they are the last to get upgrades.

    Completely different time, we checked into our ocean view room which faced a brick wall. Complained online to Expedia, next morning moved to another room by a manager furious that he received a call from Expedia.

  • jjjaar on 31/08/2019 - 21:20

    I once booked a resort/hotel direct and not only got a cheaper rate but got vip check in and then money back per night to use in the restaurants of the resort.

  • temporiser on 01/09/2019 - 08:26
    +5

    In Australia, I have many times called the hotel directly and ask for a cheaper rate than say booking.com etc. Never once have I received a cheaper or even the same rate.

    Very recently I noticed luxury escapes had a very good price for a hotel chain where I’m a rewards member. As I wouldn’t receive any points for making the reservation through luxury escapes I called the specific hotel of this hotel chain and asked if they could match the price and they refused to and were very unpleasant about it.

    I think it is an urban myth that you can get it cheaper by booking directly

  • Some Guy on 01/09/2019 - 23:03

    I frequent country hotels for work. They're almost always independent places not part of a chain.

    Many times I've had the hotel staff say just book direct next time, without offering any particular lure to do so, as this avoids them paying commission/s.

    If it's been a good stay I'll do that. However if not, and I'm forced forced to stay there, then I'll go through whichever online site is the cheapest. It happened recently in Moura (QLD) and I made a point of telling the PITA hotel manager that "I'd forgotten he said to do that".

  • profar on 01/09/2019 - 23:08

    Bit like Ebay merchants selling items with codes during a period . I know without the codes dealing directly with the biz outside they cannot better the price than obtained on Ebay . The Ebay subsidy cannot be beaten most times .

  • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2019 - 07:26

    Take Dicks advice.
    https://www.smartcompany.com.au/industries/tourism/dick-smit…

  • SirFlibbled on 10/09/2019 - 15:50

    she ended up being a nasty old hag, knocking on our motel door at midnight to say turn the lights off.

    I'd be asking for a further discount if they enforced a curfew. I'd say give them a review but in some towns, there's not much choice.

  • cheesecactus on 21/09/2019 - 03:46
    +2

    Booked a place on airbnb for $900.

    Once i got the confirmation they provided the address, googled it and realised they were a proper business with their own website.

    Through their site it was $750.

    Cancelled my airbnb reservation and booked directly with them

    • bluesky on 27/09/2019 - 15:51

      That's a fair bit of savings. I must remember that for airbnb.

  • bohn on 27/09/2019 - 14:40

    I've found with 5 star places it's mainly cheaper direct - at least the ones that I have been to.
    Also the room allocation can be questionable through third party sites.

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