Booking direct is cheapest when the hotel offers a member rate or a best-price guarantee, mostly at hotel chains. In our tests the hotel website beat Booking.com by 20 % at NH Collection Barcelona and by 5 % at Hilton London. Booking sites win when they offer a deal or a wholesale price.
Hotels pay a commission of 15 to 25 % to booking sites, so many of them like it when you book direct. Some pass part of that on as a lower price.
What we found
| Hotel | Booking.com | Hotel website | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NH Collection Barcelona Gran Hotel Calderón | about 651 € | 523 € | 20 % cheaper direct |
| Hilton London Paddington | 1,221 € | about 1,155 € | 5 % cheaper direct |
| Radisson Blu Amsterdam | about 888 € | 888 €, 15 % off with free membership | 15 % with member rate |
| Motel One Berlin | 445 € | 445 €, 10 % off with free membership | 10 % with member rate |
Three nights in December 2026, two guests, total price. Hotel chains often offer a free loyalty membership that unlocks a lower price directly on their website.
When booking direct wins
- The hotel belongs to a chain with a free member programme (Hilton, Marriott, Radisson, NH, Motel One and more).
- The hotel advertises a best-price guarantee.
- You want flexibility: direct rates are often easier to change.
- You want to ask for something: a quiet room, an early check-in.
When a booking site wins
- A site has a special deal or a wholesale price.
- A small site gives a bigger discount than the hotel's own price. We saw this at Novotel Bangkok (Vio.com, 23 % below Booking.com).
- You collect points or have a discount with a site.
How to check both in one minute
Use our price comparison. It shows the hotel's own website next to all booking sites, marked as "hotel website", so you can see the difference immediately.
Tip: Join the hotel chain's free membership before you book. It takes a minute and is often what unlocks the lower rate.
Questions
Is it cheaper to book directly with the hotel? Sometimes. At hotel chains it often is, thanks to member rates. For independent hotels the price is usually the same as on booking sites.
Does the hotel treat direct bookings better? Often yes. Direct guests are more likely to get an upgrade or a special request.
Is the hotel website price shown with taxes? Check the final page. Hotel sites usually show taxes and city tax clearly.