Book the hotel direct or through a booking site?

Short answer: compare the total price for the same room and the same conditions. Booking sites are best for comparing many hotels at once. Booking direct can win when the hotel adds perks, loyalty points or a better cancellation policy. The cheapest headline price is often not the cheapest stay.

Compare like for like

• Same room type and bed. "Standard" in one place can be smaller than "standard" in another.
• Same board. Breakfast included or not changes the real cost.
• Same cancellation terms. Non-refundable rates are cheaper because you carry the risk.
• Total price, taxes and fees included. Some sites show the nightly rate before local taxes and city fees; others show the final amount.

When a booking site is the better choice

• You are still choosing between areas or hotels and want to see many options with filters and reviews.
• You want one account and one app for several trips.
• The site offers free cancellation on a rate the hotel only sells as non-refundable.

When booking direct is the better choice

• You collect the hotel group's loyalty points or status benefits.
• The hotel offers a perk for direct bookings: breakfast, late check-out, a room upgrade or better flexibility.
• You expect to change the booking. Changes are often simpler with the hotel itself.

Before you pay

1. Open the hotel's own website in a second tab and check the same dates and room.
2. Read the cancellation deadline in the hotel's local time.
3. Check whether you pay now or at the hotel, and in which currency.
4. Look at recent reviews, not only the average score.
5. Save the confirmation and the booking reference in one place.

Red flags

• A price far below every other site for the same hotel.
• Payment requested by bank transfer or through a messaging app.
• A "booking confirmation" that does not appear when you look it up on the official site or app.