2. Third Party Bookings Come At A Price
Remember this before you go through third party comparison sites like Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz: Walk-in rates and booking directly with the property are generally cheaper or bonus-filled options when it comes to lodging. Third party booking engines bring customers to their door but the hotels have to pay a commission to them (up to 30% per cent), so they often try to incentivize customers to book directly with special deals. They may offer age-based or membership discounts that most third-party systems don’t have access to. Some hotel chains limit their “free” breakfast or Wi-Fi to members of their frequent stay programs who make direct bookings (call the actual hotel, not the national 1-800 number). You might even get a room upgrade for your loyalty. Extra tip: Book later in the day, you’ll find some great deals that way.
