The many benefits of booking direct

In the bad old days before the internet, we depended on travel agents. They would book transport and accommodation on our behalf. And charge a tidy sum for their trouble. Now we have the internet, we can do it ourselves. Cut out the middle man. And save money in the process. Right? Well, not exactly. A new breed of middle man has emerged for the internet age. The online travel agency, or OTA.

OTAs are better known by a variety of brand names. But we’re not naming names. Suffice to say that when you search for accommodation, they’re bound to show up. They have slick websites with plenty of options to choose from. They might even offer some good deals. But it’s always worth checking to see if you can do better booking direct. That’s easier in the case of hotels with their own websites. You probably won’t find private homes that are let out as a side hustle. But many short-term lets are managed directly by firms that can offer better terms. Companies like Guestz!

Cut out the new middle man

The key issue is that OTAs charge a commission, typically 15-30%. And it’s you the customer who pays. Booking direct means there is no such commission. So, smart accommodation providers offer lower prices for customers who do so. Typically, the pricing will also be more transparent. You’re not dealing with sometimes complicated third-party processing fees. Or ‘hidden extras’ that only appear when it comes to payment.

The actual provider will also have more accurate and up-to-date information. OTAs sometimes have the wrong information about facilities or pricing. If you have to change your booking, they can be inflexible. Refunds can be especially difficult. Not to say impossible. And that brings us to perhaps the greatest benefit of booking direct.

Deal with a real person

At Guestz, we like nothing more than talking to our customers. That means we can answer questions. Discuss any special requests. And resolve any issues quickly. OTAs are much less talkative! They’re not set up for old-fashioned customer service. So, if you value human contact, direct is definitely the way to go. You can speak to a friendly voice on the end of the phone. And know you’re valued as a customer, not a data point on a spreadsheet.

Booking direct also means you can discuss your particular needs. For example, for events or group bookings. And benefit from the knowledge of people who actually know what they’re talking about. Finally, instead of supporting a soulless online middle man, you’ll be backing a real business. One that invests profits back into providing an excellent service.

So, whether you’re after a short term let or an old-fashioned hotel, don’t just click on a convenient OTA. Dig a little deeper, and you could be rewarded with a much better price. And customer service worthy of the name.