Is it cheaper to book a hotel online or at the desk? [closed]

I am (hopefully) going to Hawaii next year (planning on going in May). I am going to stay there for 4 weeks and I would like to travel to all the islands (or most of them).

The problem is that I don't know if I should book the hotels in advance, which would mean I have to stick to a schedule, or just book them when I get there. Personally I prefer to book them when I get there since I do not know how much time I need/want to spend on each island, however, I am afraid if i walk up to a hotel and ask for a room for x days (with an option to stay longer) they might charge me more then if I booked the rooms in advance.

So what should I do?

Best Answer

Typically online is cheaper (but not always). Hotels will try to maximize revenue. Advanced bookings makes planning a lot easier so some are willing to give a you better rate. Some hotels these day will charge you more for a "refundable" booking, i.e. the room is $150/night if you commit to it but $180/night if you want penalty free cancellation until the day before arrival.

So if you walk up and they are mostly empty, they will probably give you a good rate to fill the room. If it's busy and they know that other area hotels are fully booked they will charge you an arm and a leg for it.

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Is it cheaper to book online or call the hotel?

I got the idea from Consumer Reports magazine. They say their shoppers got the best hotel rates by calling the hotels directly. That's compared to online services that promise discounts, or to using hotel websites, even if they have low price guarantees.

Do hotels get cheaper the closer you get?

As a general rule, hotel rates drop closer to check-in date, says Sarah Keeling, director of public relations at Expedia, but there are risks for waiting until the last minute.

Why is it cheaper to book online?

When you book through an official website for a hotel or hotel chain, they keep most or all of the money (minus a small fee if the hotel uses an outside processing system). So if you book a hotel online or just walk in with cash or a credit card, the hotel stands to make more money if you pay the same room rate.

Do you get a better room if you book direct with hotel?

Advantages of Booking a Hotel Directly You can often find better rates by booking directly, too \u2014 a concern for budget-conscious travelers. By calling a hotel directly, you find out about any specials perks or packages they have available. In some cases, you can get a better room for the same amount of money.

The #1 Travel Hack Of 2020 - How ANYONE Can Get 50% Off Hotels

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