Anyone else find that calling hotel directly is cheapest?

Yes, this is what we do as well. A couple years ago, I did come across a cheaper rate online, but when I called the hotel they met that rate. Even here in Portland where the visitors association has specials that include parking and breakfast, most hotels have that same offer.

hlsam, definitely! You get the best rate AND you don't have the cancellation hassles/policies, if there's a problem, that you can get with Orbitz or Expedia.

The problem I've encountered with this, is that it is darn hard sometimes to find their website so that I can call direct.

Now that we're retired, we take longer trips and often prefer to keep the schedule as open-ended as possible. We'll make reservations for the first and last nights, and also it it is a "special" place we don't want to miss (like El Tovar at the Grand Canyon). On our most recent trip, I got an excellent rate directly from the hotel in Sedona (our first night). We had reserved one night outside of Zion National Park via the web, and once we were there we were so pleased with the room AND the rate, that we extended it for two more nights at the desk. Everywhere else (including Taos and Santa Fe as well as a couple stops along the way) we pulled into town early in the afternoon and stopped in places we'd identified before leaving as potentials, and took the best deals we got at the desk. In every case they were better than offered online (I checked when we got back).

It helps, of course, if you aren't traveling during peak seasons -- and we were careful to stay Friday & Saturday nights in the same place . That also seems to make it easier to get a good rate - if you are staying more than one night (particularly on a weekend).

I always deal directly with the hotel. I'm not sure if I get the rock-bottom rate, but I feel more secure having made my arrangements with a real person, who works at the hotel (rather than an internet middleman with no human contact).

If you see a rate you like online, call the hotel directly and ask them to match it. They'll appreciate the direct booking by not having to pay commission to those sites.

A friend of mine worked the night desk at a Holiday Inn (a busy, but not touristy area). He said people came in all the time saying the rate was cheaper on the internet. My friend was not allowed to match it (manager's instructions). Management felt that it was night and people would probably just stay and he was right. When people called my friend would just tell them that it the rate was lower to just use the internet!

If you deal with a chain hotel, then it's best to book with their on line site.

Most have the lowest rate guarantee.

For example, I have found that calling the Chicago Hilton did not result in a lower rate than the hilton.com offered. I tried few others, in London, LA, etc... and the hilton website always beat or was no higher than the hotel's direct reservation phoneline.

Usually hotel directly, call and check the hotel's website first. I use Expedia to get ideas for the hotels I want to check for a specific city/ area. I have on occasion got better deals on Expedia and Hotels.com than through the hotel directly though that is rare.

I only use Orbitz, Expedia, etc. only in the rare cases when they have a better rate than advertised on the hotel's own website. I'll always book directly with the hotel if the prices are the same. Same with the airlines.

But I've never had luck trying to get a better price by calling the hotel directly. When I've mentioned a price seen online, I've been told they can't match those prices. So I book on the web.

Andrew, me too. Did that for a Seattle hotel for an extra night, and they could not match the Hotwire rate. I do try the hotels own WEB sites though, they usually have the the AARP rate listed.

I have not noticed this trend.

I book at a hotel's web site because that is where I usually find the best rate.

I have found that I can sometimes book a room directly with a hotel when a web site informs me that a hotel is fully booked.

It's crazy for a hotel not to match the rate - I know that chains with corporate management may have stricter rules, but it's such poor customer service to tell a guest to book it online. Especially because the hotels dictate all rates that are online anyway... oh well cant hurt to try!

when you say call the hotel directly, do you mean the hotel itself in the city it is in, or the 800 number. travel advisers, like peter greenberg on NBC always say to call the hotel, not the 800 number, directly, but when i try to do that, they always route me to the 800 number!

A hotel will sometimes connect me with the reservation number for a chain if I don't make it clear that I want to make a reservation directly with the hotel.

Asking for a "Manager's Special" also sometimes gets a good rate.

<Anyone else find that calling hotel directly is cheapest? >

My take is that: sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. Unless I'm in a rush, I check them all. And then I go priceline (name your own price) when I can.

I only occasionally find a lower rate by calling the hotel direct. I usually do a bit better online.

Keith

It's a matter of conscience and character but . . .

When I had to put 2 weeks in a hotel near Sarasota Mem. hospital, I discovered they had a very beneficial "hospital rate," and I've heard that other motels near hospitals will do the same thing.

Keep that in mind for family emergencies, otherwise, as I said, it's a matter of conscience and character.

I just tested both and found calling the hotel direct saved me 25.00 a night over using the internet. Evidently there is a local summer promo going on which resulted in the lower cost. I guess it just depends on what promotions/discounts are available and whether they are national or local because normally this hotel is cheaper on line. Go figgure.....

ccolor, just to clarify, were you using the hotel's OWN internet site (like marriott.com) or were you using an agency site, like expedia or travelocity?

I have also found rooms by calling the hotel when the web said they were sold out. But also found rooms online, when the hotel said they were sold out.

Keith

I hear this all the time, and it absolutely never works with me. Never, not once.

But I don't use Orbitz, or any of the others you mention. I use, if not priceline or hotwire, quikbook or hotels.com and they have never beaten the price I could get there, and in several cases wouldn't even come close (within $20) of matching it. This was especially true for SF, Chicago, D.C.

I just tried it on a resort in WI and no good there either. I also find that long term out always works better than within a month of the stay, and some people say the opposite of that for calling direct, as well.

In 50 stays, and in FL especially I tried it numerous times for 2 different trips. Never happened.

It depends. In planning our upcoming trip to Austin, I did what I usually do:

1) check airlines and hotels independently (I use the hotel websites and I call the ones I'm particularly interested in)

2) check with my credit card travel agency to see what they can do

3) check expedia.

For the Austin trip, expedia was the best bet. The hotel and air combination was within a couple of dollars of what the travel agent could do for me, but expedia also threw in shuttle from and to the airport, so that was a good savings.

The separate hotel/air combination was quite a bit more expensive.

I've had it work out other ways too, though, so I always check all three.

dmlove: Actually I tried it three different ways, the hotel's own website, the national site (Ramada) and then calling the hotel itself. I never did try Travelocity or Expedia because we specify a certain type of room and I don't really know if I can get it through a "third" party.

thanks ccolor, that's interesting that you got a cheaper rate than even the best rate on the hotel/chain's own website.

* When I see a lower rate on a third-party website, I have asked the hotel if they can match it. The answer so far has been no, when I've tried twice with hotels in different countries.
* Once, when I phoned a hotel to get its rate (for the following night), the clerk first gave me the regular rate, then the AAA rate even though I wasn't a member. So it's worth a try if you want to stay somewhere specific. But for that stay, I used Priceline and got a cheaper rate at a nearby hotel.

Otherwise, I aggressively use a mix of the hotels' websites, third-party websites, Priceline, and Hotwire, to get what I consider the best deals for my trips.

I have not always been able to get the same rate from the hotel directly, although I've tried.

And of course, Priceline will result in lowest fares of all but you can't necessarily choose the hotel, just the location and level.

This got me thinking about all our recent stays. Only once in the last several years have I not gotten a cheaper rate by calling.

In Victoria, I checked Expedia and found the place we wanted to stay and Expedias rate was less than the hotels website rate. So I called and they matched it. I was glad as we had to juggle our dates later and I would have been stuck if I had used Expedia.

Did a girls weekend and needed connecting rooms, called the hotel and they gave me to the manager who actually asked what rate we were looking for and gave it to us. This was at a very nice property.

For a college visit I have booked, they have a University rate that is not mentioned on the website. You need to call to get that, and it is cheaper than anything else mentioned. This is for 3 different hotels on our upcoming trip.

These are just a few examples. I think it just shows that you never know where you will find the best rate, but it pays to look at all avenues.

My experience is mixed, and I always check all I can, websites, and call.

In April, we got a great rate online for a hotel in Sanibel on its reservation website. We called directly to check on availability and they did not have that rate available (it was $150+ more per night!) and were, in fact, showing as sold out for the week we wanted. So, at the advice of the receptionist, we booked online while she stayed on the phone and the reservation with the great rate popped up on her screen!

At other times, traveling to other places such as Puerto Rico, Italy and France, we have been able to get better rates with a phone call directly to the hotel.

So, you really do have to explore all your options.

Just did it yesterday for a small boutique (not chain) hotel and got $25 off the lowest internet price.

I'd be wary of the best rate guarantee with Best Western. When I tried to get them to match a rate on Orbtiz, they said it was a "negiotiated" rate. When I tried to book it on Orbitz, the rate had disappeared!

I think other hotel chains aren't as slimy, though.

I've read similar things about the Best Rate Guarantee with Best Western. I'd just book the cheapest rate to start.

I have gotten numerous free hotel rooms by using the Best Rate Guarantee for Wyndham Rewards rooms (formerly TripRewards). The disadvantage is that the rooms are with Travelodge, Days Inn, and Ramada. Several other low-end chains are included in the guarantee as well, but I haven't had occasion to use them. That said, some hotels in these chains are pretty good quality, but others I would not want to stay at even for free.

We've gotten Marriott (no questions asked other than to show them the other rate) to match a lower rate using their best rate guarantee. I think it works so long as its not an "anonymous" hotel website like Hotwire or Priceline.

I haven't found a rule of thumb. Some hoteliers honor their deals with discounters including last minute sites like wotif.com and won't undercut them. Others will with a phone call. I try it all.

Aloha, beatofhawaii.com

I had booked the Omni in SF, CA directly with hotel with a AAA rate. Via Expedia, I was able to book the same room type and save aprox $250 total for 3 nights. I did then spend approx $15 to get the enhanced cancellation policy. I called the hotel directly, but they did not want to match the price.

Yes, I've heard a lot of hotels are tired of paying commissions to the website companies and they prefer to have their customers come direct. If you looking for ideas on hotels you can try a website that doesn't book but lists all the great hotels and their direct website for bookings. This puts them together so you can sort through which ones you like, then contact the hotels direct, try www.myweekin.net but mainly new and trendy hotels

It's a crapshoot! If you call the Hotel Chain's '800' number, you'll usually get the 'Rack rate.' From the Hotel chain's website you may be able to get a marginally better deal, especially if you're staying 3-or-more nights.

What you get from calling the Hotel Direct will depend on who you talk to: Reservations Manager is better than a Reservationist; so you want to call during normal Office hours.

Ask for the AAA or AARP Discount (usually the same amount and not combinable). Always ask if they have any 'Specials.' If you talk to a Manager or THE Manager, get His or Her name and mention it when you get to the Check-in Desk. That personalizes your negotiation and just might get you a better Room or Suite.

Typically, I'll check on Expedia or Tourist at Home websites to see what the "going" rates are. BUT, I always call the hotels directly to see if they can beat/match the online price. 99% of the time they do. (I've had a problem with a bill before, and because I booked it through a travel website, I could not take care of the problem at the hotel. I really like to deal directly with the hotels themselves since then).

It has been in the travel news for at least a couple years now that booking direct with the hotel often results in a lower rate. In addition, there is more flexibility with regard to change of plans. Last, more hotels are not offering rooms through such services as Expedia so you will either not see their name among your search list or they will have no rooms available. I find that I can get AAA or AARP rates by booking directly with the hotel. Often, there is a special "web only" rate as well, and that is usually the best deal.

I've never had trouble getting a room through expedia but then I don't use them every time I travel. But sometimes the room rate is not the only thing to be considered.

In my example above, for our trip to Austin, the airline/room package was literally only a few dollars (maybe $4) than the combination I could 'build' myself, with the hotel's direct rate, but the expedia deal tossed in airline shuttles both ways. Since we're not renting a car, that saves me about $80 worth of shuttle service.

One problem with Expedia or other such sites is that if you have a problem with a hotel, as I did in Chicago a few years ago. I asked for a partial refund and was told that if I had booked directly with them they would accommodate me but since I had booked with Expedia they could not do it. That probably had to do with the fact that Expedia takes 30% off the top.

I used to use Expedia to help book my bed and breakfast. One day when we were totally booked a couple drove up with confirmed reservations from Expedia. When I finally reached them on the phone they said the couple had "slipped through the cracks" and they forgot to notify me. I found the couple another place to stay. It probably took them months to get a refund from Expedia.

That was the last straw for me; now we get enough bookings that we don't need it.

hi artandorchids,
I had the same thing happen to me from the customer side but with much better results. I'd booked a hotel in Ft Lauderdale through expedia. When we got there, the hotel hadn't received the booking. We had to wait while they called expedia and got it straightened out and then, to compensate us for the wait, they upgraded us to a better room. And get this -- the 'wait' was literally about 2 minutes.

We were lucky, I guess, that this was a large hotel and they had room for us.

I have never used Expedia, but use Travelocity occasionally. Whenever I book a car, hotel or air with Travelocity, I immediately confirm directly with the company that was booked.

Keith

I get the best internet rate and then I call the hotel direct and tell them I want their best price and I always beat the internet rates.This includes the hotels own website, Travelocity,Orbitz and numerous others.

Pa traveler

I've recently taken several trips to visit colleges with my high school aged son. I found that speaking directly with the hotels ALWAYS got us a special "college rate" - cheaper than any online rate. None of the hotels offered this rate online. And only one of the six colleges cued us to ask for it.

I have been thinking about the same question...but in regards to Europe. I concur with the person who commented that "they prefer the more intimate experience of booking direct instead of going through an Internet middle Person"!!
Most of the responses to the original question discuss only Nth America.
What about booking directly with European hotels?
I like booking directly because I find the staff are unfailingly polite and charmning. It reminds me to be gracious back! Some of the reservation emails are worth the price of the trip, though I am never sure if I am getting the best price!
Comments please!