Hotel comparison and booking sites all claim to offer the best price when you book through their platforms, but there’s another way to get a good deal which might save you even more money.
According to consumer champion Which? 50% of hotels matched or even beat the lowest rate found elsewhere when they were called directly, often lowering the rates displayed on their own websites.
The price of holidays has risen sharply since last year and in the UK, hotel room rates are up by nearly a fifth. A night in a three or four-star hotel this Easter is £119 on average compared with £100 last year. In Europe, the average rate is £119, up 10% on last year, making value for money even more important in the cost of living crisis.
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But online travel agents (OTAs) such as Booking.com or Expedia can sometimes prevent hotels from advertising lower rates on their own websites as they want to ensure they offer the best deals. OTAs also charge a commission for every room booked on their site, and hotels have to raise their advertised prices accordingly.
However Which? reckons it's sometimes possible to get around these so-called 'rate-parity clauses' if you call or email the hotel directly armed with your best quote, as a few hotels only dropped their rate once cheaper prices found elsewhere were mentioned. And one hotel even asked for a screenshot as proof. The consumer champion also found that even if you're not offered a better price, the hotel may throw in a perk such as a room upgrade or free breakfast.
The survey found Skycanner the most competitive for accommodation, giving the researchers the best price seven out of 10 times. It was followed by Kayak and Tripadvisor, which both found the cheapest price in five out of 10 scenarios. In contrast, Expedia and Hotels.com were the priciest options six out of 10 times, more than any other booking site checked.
However Which? issued a note of caution about just considering the price when booking a hotel room. "While Skyscanner, Kayak and Tripadvisor regularly provide competitive offers, this often involves booking through third-party agents like Priceline or Agoda," Which? said. "We’ve heard complaints of booking errors, strict cancellation terms and poor customer service with some online travel agents. So booking directly with the hotel won’t just get you a better price a lot of the time – it also provides peace of mind."
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