If you are looking at making a travel booking and deciding on whether or not to book your hotel directly with the hotel property itself or through an online travel agency (OTA) instead?
The short answer is; It depends. Both methods have advantages. Booking directly provides unique offers, points, and personalized service. Conversely, online platforms for wood mats offer a wide selection and comparison tools to find the best and potentially cheaper price.
So, is it better to book a hotel directly or online? Let’s weigh the pros and cons of each approach to help you make an informed decision.
Is it Better to Book a Hotel Directly or Online?
There is an ongoing debate over whether to book directly with hotels or through online travel agency (OTAs), and both have pros and cons. OTAs offer unlimited inventory, prices, and a comparison engine, whereas direct bookings offer discounts and privileges like room upgrades or early check-ins.
However, when booking directly with hotels guests can interface directly with the hotel and may enjoy personalized service or points bonuses. The differences here depend on the price flexibility, other services offered and a great loyalty program.
Before we get into the details, there are some key takeaways. These key points will determine which is the better choice.
✿ Exclusive hotel offers
✿ Hotel booking cancellation
✿ Advance Payment Policy
✿ Best hotel rewards program
The key points above are specific to the booking method you desire. Some are available when you book directly, while others are only available online.
Booking Directly: Advantages & Disadvantages
Booking directly with a hotel can offer several advantages and accommodation flexible features., but it also comes with some drawbacks. Here’s a table summarizing the key points to consider:
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
| Potentially lower prices | May not offer the best available rate |
| Exclusive offers and perks (room upgrades, early check-in/late checkout) | Limited selection of hotels compared to OTAs |
| Personalized service and potential for upgrades | Less flexibility with cancellations or modifications |
| Building a relationship with the hotel for future stays | May not have access to extensive customer reviews |
Advantages of Booking Directly
✿ Potentially lower prices: Clients who book directly with accommodation service providers may attract promotional prices or packages, such as calling directly for a booking or through an online order. This is because they have no expenses for commissions to OTAs to penetrate their needs directly with accommodation service providers.
✿ Exclusive offers and perks: When you book directly, you often have access to benefits that OTAs can’t offer. This may include upgrading to a better room, having early access to your room, checking out later than the standard time, and enjoying complimentary breakfast, among other perks, which can make your stay more enjoyable.
✿ Personalised service and potential for upgrades: If you make a reservation directly, hotel employees are more likely to familiarise and befriend you. You may also negotiate a room upgrade or hotel cancellation policy if the hotel is not fully booked or per the establishment. Or let you know if you can book hotel with free cancellation to avoid unnecessary expenditure.
✿ Building a relationship with the hotel for future stays: When directly making a reservation, you can at least begin developing rapport. This can work to the advantage of frequent travellers, who may receive the best hotel rewards programs or lower charges for being a constant customer.
For instance, Shada Hotel offers a fantastic loyalty program where you can collect 10 stamps and earn a free night! Join our highly effective loyalty program and start enjoying the rewards of a 15% discount on your stay.
Disadvantages of Booking Directly
✿ May not offer the best available rate: Some hotels offer their best offers through direct bookings, but this is only sometimes the case. Even when the first decision makes sense, looking at other channels, including OTAs, for comparative prices is always helpful.
✿ Limited selection of hotels compared to OTAs: OTAs usually have more extensive inventories of hotels than the best online hotel booking websites. Therefore, if a client is searching for a specific hotel or has a poor pocket and cannot book several hotels, he might get more choices if he searches through an OTA.
✿ Less flexibility with cancellations or modifications: OTAs may also take advantage of direct bookings, which have different cancellation policies for their bookings than for their reservations. Still, looking at the cancellation section before booking your preferred accommodation is advisable.
✿ May not have access to extensive customer reviews: Customers may review a hotel on OTAs rather than on the actual hotel’s site. Some of the benefits of using reviews include providing other guests’ experiences of the same hotel.
Booking Online: Advantages & Disadvantages
Online travel agencies (OTAs) have transformed how we book hotels, offering convenience, choice, and often competitive prices. However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider.
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
| Vast selection | Potential booking fees |
| Competitive prices | Lack of personalized service |
| Comparison tools | Hidden fees |
| Convenience | Overreliance on reviews |
| Rewards and loyalty programs | Customer service issues |
Advantages of Booking Online
✿ Vast selection: OTAs facilitate independent travellers’ access to hotels of all categories and price ranges, enabling them to find a hotel that suits their trip.
✿ Competitive prices: Unlike direct bookings, OTAs usually get a ‘distributive rate’ from the hotels, which helps travellers identify the available offers.
✿ Comparison tools: OTAs help you easily compare prices, services, and guests’ feedback, giving you the best price.
✿ Convenience: Online booking saves time and energy, allowing you to check available accommodations and make reservations from the comfort of your home, reducing the stress of travel planning.
✿ Rewards and loyalty programs: Most OTAs have loyalty programs whereby patrons accrue points or discounts on future bookings.
Disadvantages of Booking Online
✿ Potential booking fees: A few OTAs have a booking fee that a traveller must pay on top of other charges incurred during the trip.
✿ Lack of personalised service: Finally, online booking means you cannot experience the one-on-one contact you accorded when booking directly from a hotel.
✿ Hidden fees: Avoid common tricks, such as hidden resort or cancellation fees.
✿ Overreliance on reviews: However, a word of caution must be given that guest reviews should be taken with a pinch of salt, as people’s experiences are unique.
✿ Customer service issues: It’s important to note that working with an OTA can sometimes be more complicated than booking directly with the hotel. All booking problems can be quite complicated to handle when dealing with the OTA, so it’s best to be prepared for potential issues.
Factors to Consider
Several factors can influence whether booking directly or through an OTA is your better choice. Let’s explore some critical considerations.
Type of Traveler
Commonly, three types of travellers significantly impact your booking preferences.
✿ Business Travelers
✿ Leisure Travelers
✿ Family Travelers
The business traveller is keyed on convenience, provided by the OTAs who can sell the hotel products at cutthroat prices and great choices. Leisure guests appreciate the flexibility and lower prices, and OTAs provide customers with a great selection of hotels and reviews.
Family travellers have expectations regarding space and facilities and budget concerns, and OTAs give them the choice of preferred room types and additional benefits.
Length of Stay
The duration of your stay can also influence your booking decision.
✿ Short Stays: The criteria can shift depending on the length of the journey. For example, if it is a short journey, people may care most about how much it will cost and how easy it is to access the form of transport. That is why OTAs provide an opportunity for reasonable rates and vast offers.
✿ Long Stays: The cost enters the equation only if you plan to spend more days there. It also means one will likely get negotiating rates or loyalty reductions. Still, OTAs are strong; they can make flexible and competitive offers.
Hotel Location and Popularity
The hotel location and tourist attractions of a particular hotel may determine booking mechanisms. The above research has shown that popular destinations with high demand are usually in low supply. Even though direct booking can secure your required room or minimize the booking costs, OTAs provide various opportunities.
Less Popular Destinations Direct booking can give these destinations more personalized service and the opportunity to offer lower prices. OTAs are still helpful because we can compare our options side by side.
The best time to book hotels online may differ from country to country, destination to destination, and season to season. Generally, the best way to book and save more is by booking in advance; however, there is also something known as Last-Minute Hotel Deals.
Conclusion
So, is it Better to Book a Hotel Directly or Online? There is only a partial solution, and every approach has benefits.
Make direct reservations if you prefer individualized attention, exclusive deals, and developing a rapport with a hotel. However, an OTA can be the best option if you value convenience, affordability, and a large selection.
The ideal option ultimately depends on your requirements and tastes. Consider things like your preferred hotel, your spending limit, and your vacation style.
At Shada Hotel, we believe in offering the best of both worlds. Our boutique hotels in Dubai and Jeddah provide an authentic local experience and modern comforts. Enjoy our exclusive boutique hotel offers and join our best hotel loyalty program to maximize your stay.
