{"id":1134,"date":"2010-02-07T14:23:15","date_gmt":"2010-02-07T22:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travelsitecritic.com\/reviews\/?page_id=1134"},"modified":"2013-06-15T16:05:05","modified_gmt":"2013-06-15T23:05:05","slug":"book-hotel-direct","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/travelsitecritic.com\/reviews\/articles\/book-hotel-direct\/","title":{"rendered":"The secret to booking hotels from industry insiders!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Book\u00a0 your hotel directly on the hotel’s own website.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rather than booking your hotel on large online travel agencies, it is often smarter to book directly with the hotel. \u00a0Check out these 10 awe-inspiring (perhaps, not so secret<\/em>) reasons to book your hotel directly on the hotel’s own website, straight from the lips of travel insiders:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0 Forget Booking Fees<\/h4>\n

The vast majority of online travel booking websites are nothing short of travel agencies.\u00a0\u00a0 Agencies charge service fees.\u00a0\u00a0 You don’t think that they are booking other people’s hotel’s for free do you?\u00a0 Of course not!\u00a0 When you book directly with the hotel’s own website (and yes, they all have their own website), you will rarely be charged a “booking fee” *.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They are booking up their own hotel after all.\u00a0 Don’t smack yourself on the forehead quite yet.\u00a0\u00a0 We’ve got more secrets too….<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0 Enjoy the Cheapest Hotel Rates<\/h4>\n

Most hotels guarantee the lowest rates on their own site.\u00a0 If you happen to find a cheaper rate on a travel agency website, the hotel\u00a0will usually\u00a0match it.\u00a0\u00a0 Better than just matching it, some hotels, such as those operated by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, will give you your first night free if you find a cheaper rate elsewhere*!\u00a0\u00a0 A hefty 9 times out of 10 we find the cheapest price on the hotels own website anyway, so you don’t need to spend much time searching for cheaper rates.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Be Treated Like a Human<\/h4>\n

Everyone likes a smiling face. The large travel agencies will never be able to compete with the personalized service that you get when you book your hotel on the hotel’s own website.\u00a0\u00a0 Hotels are just like any other business – they want you to come back to their establishment!\u00a0\u00a0 If the hotel is worth your time, they will make sure that everything runs smoothly with a reservation that you booked on their own website.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If there is a problem with your reservation, you will be able to hash it out face-to-face with hotel personnel when you check-in.\u00a0\u00a0 If you book your hotel on a travel agency site, don’t expect a face-to-face encounter should problems arise.\u00a0\u00a0 Rather, you will likely spend an exhorborant amount of time\u00a0on the phone with a customer service representive in another country.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do you like to sit on hold while on vacation?\u00a0\u00a0 No, neither do we.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hold Onto Your Credit<\/h4>\n

Why pay upfront? Your credit card number is only needed to hold your hotel reservation.\u00a0\u00a0 Unlike travel agency sites, most hotel websites don’t ring up your credit card until you check-out of the hotel.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get What You Want Want<\/h4>\n

A\u00a0quiet room far away from the elevator?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What about the room with the best view?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is no better way to make sure that you get the best room in the house, than to request it directly with the hotel. S\u00a0 imply fill out the “comments” or “special requests” box which is usually provided on the hotel online reservation form, and the hotel will try to meet your needs.\u00a0\u00a0 Travel agency sites are notorious in failing to pass on your “special requests” to the hotel, so don’t count on your message getting through if you don’t tell the hotel yourself.\u00a0\u00a0 Who know’s you may even get a free upgrade on your room if you simply ask for it!\u00a0\u00a0 If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0 Avoid Cancellation Penalties<\/h4>\n

Most 3rd-party travel agency sites will charge you hefty penalty to cancel.\u00a0 Many travel sites go as far as making your reservation completely non-refundable!\u00a0\u00a0 Save yourself the headache here.\u00a0\u00a0 Most hotels don’t charge you a dime to cancel when your reservation was made directly with them*.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Although this is not always the case and you will need to check with the individual hotel to be sure.\u00a0\u00a0 The stipulation we generally find is that you must cancel before the cut-off date, which is often the same as your check-in date.\u00a0\u00a0 Beware that if you booked that hotel through a third-party travel agency, you may be out of luck and required to fork over your first-born (or at least give up any hope of a refund).\u00a0\u00a0 Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
\n\"Book<\/a><\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get On The List<\/h4>\n

While booking your hotel on the hotel’s website, you will likely be asked to join their “email newsletter”.\u00a0\u00a0 By all means…get on their newsletter mailing list!\u00a0\u00a0 You will get exclusive hotel deals sent to your email, that you can’t find anywhere else.\u00a0\u00a0 It is very common for hotels to offer free nights (ie. stay 3 nights, get the 4th free), but you must book direct with the hotel to take advantage of these deals.\u00a0 If there is a specific hotel that you want to stay at sometime in the future, join their mailing list.\u00a0 When the hotel decides to reduce rates, you will be the first to hear about it. Again, to get these exclusive hotel deals you need to book directly with the hotel.\u00a0 Some email newsletters will give you “coupon codes” or “promo codes” that are only good if you book direct with the hotel.\u00a0 Finally, the hotel may send you special offers that allow you to earn reward points (ie. take a survey and get 500 reward points).\u00a0 More on reward points later….<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0 Embrace your Age<\/h4>\n

Sometimes it’s just great to be 50!\u00a0\u00a0 “Mature” (senior) discounts are offered to 50-year-old-plus customers who book directly on hotel sites such as ChoiceHotels.com<\/a>, which is the direct hotel booking website for many popular hotel brands: Comfort Inn<\/a>, Comfort Suite<\/a>s, Quality Inn<\/a>, Sleep Inn<\/a>, Clarion<\/a>, and more.. \u00a0You only get their senior discount if you\u00a0book direct on their website*. \u00a0All you need to do is ask for it when you check-in, and they will take the discount off your bill!<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0 Don’t Get Lost<\/h4>\n

Some large travel agency sites have a poor reputation for reportedly losing hotel reservations.\u00a0\u00a0 Yes, that’s right.\u00a0\u00a0 You may get to your destination, and the hotel has no idea that you are coming!\u00a0\u00a0 The travel agency simply doesn’t have as much to lose if your reservation is lost.\u00a0\u00a0 The system is huge.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don’t be one of the unlucky ones who fall through the cracks!<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0\u00a0 Create a Rewarding Experience<\/h4>\n

Ever heard of a loyalty program?\u00a0 Most hotel chains will reward you for booking hotels with them, by giving you “REWARD POINTS”.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 While most of us don’t use these points, you really should.\u00a0\u00a0 Points are a form of currency, which you can easily manage and combine with other reward points on Points.com<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 You will be able to “buy” yourself a free night before you know it.\u00a0\u00a0 These deals are only available if you book on the hotel’s own website.\u00a0\u00a0 How do we know this? We are on the list!<\/p>\n

Book your next hotel direct on the hotel websites below, just\u00a0like a travel insider. Bookmark this page for future reference.<\/h4>\n
\n