TIL cheap motel booking sites are a total scam

A guy at a truck stop in Oklahoma swore I should book direct with the motel. Said sites like Priceline tack on fees. Called a Super 8 in Flagstaff direct. Got a room for $48. The booking site wanted $62. Never using those middleman sites again. Who else has tried this?

2 comments

2 Comments

seanh911mo ago

Yeah calling direct is the move. I've done this with a bunch of random motels on road trips. Last time I called a Days Inn in Gallup, New Mexico and got a rate for $39 when the website showed $55. The front desk lady said they get more money if you book through them directly. Just make sure you tell them exactly which dates you want and ask if they have any walk-in discounts. Works way better than dealing with those third party sites that hide all the extra junk fees.

uma3061mo ago

@seanh91 is exactly right about the motel trick. Especially at smaller independent places or older chains, the front desk has a lot of freedom. They'd rather keep the full room rate than give a cut to some booking site. A friendly voice on the phone goes a long way too. It's worth trying even if you're just stopping for the night.