Book your hotel at low prices - Via platforms or direct?

Did you know that 93% of travelers use the Internet to search for a hotel? However, you need to be aware of the potential pitfalls of unscrupulous websites. In the following lines, we'll help you decipher these sites' procedures and explain how to book your hotel room at a lower price.

Are you looking for a cheap hotel in Saint-Malo? If so, you'd be well advised to avoid online hotel booking platforms such as Booking.com, Expedia.fr or Hotels.com. Indeed, these sites only list hotels that have agreed to work with their respective platforms, not to mention the fact that they have no knowledge of the actual quality of their business partners. Web intermediaries are also unaware of the characteristics of the regions in which these hotels are located.

What's more, online hotel booking platforms may offer you a special deal on a hotel in Saint-Malo, but you'll actually be paying more than the actual price of the room. It's important to remember that these platforms charge high commissions (up to 30% in the most competitive cities). By way of example, physical travel agencies charge only 8% to 12% commission.

Last but not least, the Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF) (the French Department of Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) is calling attention to the dubious practices of such platforms. They may deliberately "inflate" the starting price of a room before offering a fictitious discount. They may also alter the number of rooms available, or even sell out a reputed hotel not listed in their catalog, in order to direct customers to one of the hotels they list on their website.

Finally, to find a hotel in St-Malo for less, all you need to do is apply a few practical tips. For example, go directly to the website of the hotel you like to check the accuracy of the rates posted on the intermediary platform. You can also take the time to phone the hotel or contact a manager by email to negotiate a lower rate, which is entirely possible. Finally, don't trust alarmist messages such as "only one room left" or "deal to be seized as soon as possible". These are commonplace on online booking platforms.