Internet Booking vs Travel Agent Booking.

[Renato1]

I've just finished booking a trip to the US in Aug. Started with Flight Centre to see there recommendations and prices then cross-checked with TripAdvisor for reviews & finally price checked with Booking.com & Priceline.com . I have found Priceline to be good for US booking particularly flights and also have name you price options for hotels in a certain area.
After deciding the hotel i wanted i found the best price on priceline but non-refundable after joining up to Hilton Honors(free) i was able to get that same rate with free cancellation and no up front payment.
After receiving a QFF email on Monday for the leap year sale i couldn't resist & booked with Qantas for the same price to receive 12 x FF points
Its worth noting that the Flight Centre price was over $1000 more for a 7 night stay at the same hotel.

That was a darn good saving.

I must say though that I haven't paid much attention to hotel points schemes (though I don't remember how many I have joined) - the hotels are usually too expensive for my liking.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Mixed experience over many years.

Historically I would do some research using different sites and more often than not using google to search particular descriptive terms like "close to XYZ". Found two places in Munich that way that the various TAs I would get to bid for my business (sent them the flight details etc and accom details) along the lines - "I can book this for $X. I am getting 2 other TAs to bid for it. Send me a (fax/email) with your best bid by 10.30am and that is final.

From early 2000s to 2011 or so - worked very well with prices offered showing >10% saving (or more when compared to using their own web site).

More recently, roughly every second time, Booking.com has been 20-35% better. Most recent example as a check I did not tell them what price I had but asked for their prices for exact flights and accom, best quote for airfare and 20 days accom from 3 TAs was 36% higher than Booking.com's price.

One aspect that I find can sway it in favour of online sites vs TAs (for chains not boutique places) is that many offer free cancellation as close as 3 days out. TAs mostly present their bids with non-cancellable accom.

Thanks for relating your interesting observations.

Your experience in recent times seems to be the opposite of mine with respect to cost, but the same with respect to non-cancellable reservations. The latter isn't that big a deal if something serious prevents one showing up, as Travel Insurance covers it - I made one claim because of that.
Regards,
Renato