I thought Google hotels/flights used the OTAs, but instead of the OTAs making 13-18% commission, Google leaves them with 3-8% taking 10% themselves (Which no affiliate of the OTAs has ever gotten close to that high of % before)
What you want to do is search on these sites and then book at the actual business's sites. Even if the fares are different, it's worth it.
Ever had to try to get a flight/hotel/car changed or cancelled through Expedia or a similar site? Whatever savings you get from aggregator sites aren't worth it.
Ever had to try to get a flight/hotel/car changed or cancelled through Expedia or a similar site?
booking.com works well in that regard. When a room is cancelable and you cancel via the site it works at no cost and without hassle.
That said I have very mixed feelings about the service. For starters it's a parasitic business model, which is not very transparent or honest. I.e. places that pay higher comissions are more prominently ranked. Which is not obvious to the site user.
What's outright galling is their unfairness towards hotels. "CaptainZapp, prices in Sapporo just wen down!" after booking a hotel in Sapporo a few days in advance.
In addition to the spammy nature of such mails it's an outright lie. In that example the hotel was booked during golden week (first week in May when virtually all of Japan is on holiday) and hotel prices during golden week don't go down, ever!
It's dishonest and totally unfair towards the hotel, which I just booked.
Depends. If the cancellation terms are advertised then its point and click and done and money back in a few days - no questions asked - hotels.com or agoda.com - do it regularly as plans changed. Most of direct hotels you have to email their reservation staff and go through the back and forth reasons to get something cancelled - which is a PITA/risk if cancellation time is 31 minutes away. It is true though if it's a non-cancellable deal you'll have more look if booked direct.
Ever tried to get a directy to match the OTA price, sure it can happen, then you get ++, or some shit forex they choose, or some other bullshit, it's not worth the hassle most of time. In addition when directy will sometimes match without hassle but then what about hotels.com 1 for 10 booking room free, or expedia points (about the same), I want that extra 7-8% (since you dont earn on free night) or whatever it is off too... good luck
With oversell too, very common in asia esp vietnam, they are more likely to move the direct booking to their sister/partner hotel rather than OTA booking, the moment you say that's not acceptable let me call agoda/hotels.com all of sudden some other punter booking is being moved...
I dont stay high end though (2-3 star) and in fairness I do recall hearing direct booking on chains get special benefits like airport pickups or breakfast but never a better rate than OTA since thats the terms of the large OTAs (never advertise a better rate than us)
Sorry, I should have been more specific. To me, all these sites are the same quality as Tripadvisor. I use them all, but I assumed someone who would avoid Tripadvisor would also avoid these sites.
> If I'm staying near a business client or family I ask them.
That's weird. If they already have a real place to stay in some place, why would they know anything about hotels?
> Tripadvisor only ever came into the picture if I was visiting a resort area where I didn't know anyone.
That's pretty much all the travel my family and I do these days.
If I'm staying near a business client or family I ask them. If they don't know I search. Then I see what's available on the booking sites.
Tripadvisor only ever came into the picture if I was visiting a resort area where I didn't know anyone.