19/08/2026
If the thought of being stuck middle seat after finding zero overhead bin space and being told “tough luck” terrifies you, then third party bookings should too.
And if your counterpoint is price, let us tell you we just saved a client $1000 on a weekend trip when they cancelled their Expedia booking and re-booked through us. So yes, you can have the best of both worlds.
OTAs (online travel agencies) like Booking.com, Expedia, or Agoda are selling stays with stripped down benefits and less flexibility. Even portals like American Express run on Expedia. So if all you need is a place to lay your head…great! Scroll on. But in our opinion, what you miss out on with these bookings is critical to a great stay.
Flexibility - If anything goes wrong at all. If the hotel is overbooked, if you need a refund, the hotels’ hands are tied. They will point you to the OTA and walk away because they contractually don’t have an obligation to you.
Room assignment - As a luxury travel advisor, we know not every room is created equal, even within the same category. Third party bookings are getting the least desirable room placements: think obstructed views, noisy locations, or even smaller square footage.
No added benefits - Not only did our client save money against their Expedia booking. They also got free breakfast, property credit, and a guaranteed upgrade. OTA bookings don’t get any added perks and are often the last in line for things like upgrades.
The better move? Always book direct or through a travel advisor like us. That’s what gives you control over your hotel stay, not restrictions on it.
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