Consumers can save an average of £30 a night by booking hotels through an online travel agent rather than directly through the hotel, according to research carried out by hotel price comparison website, Top10.com which revealed:
- Average savings of 15% booking through online travel agents vs. direct
- Online travel agent hotel prices were cheaper 71% of the time
- Savings on UK hotels as much as 50% through online travel agents
- European hotel savings as much as 75% booking online vs. direct
15% saving
Top10.com analysed a random sample of 100 three to five star hotels across the UK, Europe and the Rest of the World, looking at the cost of booking a one-night stay on Saturday, 7 December 2013. The results revealed that consumers could make an average saving of 15% by booking through online travel agents such as Booking.com, Expedia.co.uk, Hotels.com and LateRooms.com.
Online cheaper by as much as 50%
And of the 100 hotels sampled in the comprehensive survey, the online price was cheaper than the direct booking price 71% of the time. Only one hotel offered a cheaper rate by going direct
Of those UK hotels surveyed, consumers could make savings of more than 50% for a one-night stay on 7th December. For example, a night’s stay at The Cleveland in Torquay cost £54 through Venere.com and £55 through Booking.com and Hotels.com, compared to £110 when booking directly. That’s a saving of £56 or 51%.
And how about one night at the Cotswold House Hotel in Oxford? On Booking.com the rate was £108 compared to £200 when booking directly through the hotel, a saving of almost £100 or 46%.
For those looking for a little five star luxury, a night’s stay at the Savoy Hotel in London cost an eye watering £774 booking direct for the cheapest double room, but a more reasonable £400 through online travel agents Expedia and Lastminute.com. That’s a huge discount of more than 48%.
Similar discounts on hotel rooms can be achieved across Europe and the Rest of the World.
Shop around to save money
Alex Buttle, director of Top10.com, comments:
“With an average 15% saving of £30 a night booking a hotel through an online travel agent rather than the hotel direct, consumers can potentially save hundreds of pounds on weekend breaks and longer stays.”
“There is a commonly held belief that booking a hotel direct with the hotel is the most cost effective way to book – our research debunks that myth. The reality is that customers need to shop around to save money – the best prices are normally to be found through one of the booking sites.
“While people are aware of the savings that can be made by comparing prices on services such as car insurance and energy, there is still a lack of understanding of online travel agents. Our research shows hotel prices vary hugely between sites like Expedia, LateRooms.com, Hotels.com and Booking.com which confirms the importance of shopping around to get the best deals,.”
About Top10.com
Top10.com is a new way to find and book your perfect hotel. The site analyses hundreds of thousands of hotels to find your Top 10 hotels in any destination. Top10.com compares prices from all the major booking sites to ensure customers get the best deals available.
Launched in 2012, Top10.com is a team of 11 based in London and is backed by a number of influential technology investors, including Accel Partners, Founder Collective and Forward Venture Partners.
For more information click here