This or That? Here’s what you need to know when planning your trip’s accommodations

Effortlessly selecting the best reservation source for the upcoming vacation is not for everyone. For some, deciding whether to directly book their accommodations with a hotel or seek assistance from online travel agency (OTA) bookings is challenging.
Since hotels serve as frequent flyer’s temporary homes during vacations, it remains crucial to wisely plan the reservation mode to enable a smooth flow of transactions.
To help you sort things out, the first step you should do is know the pros and cons between direct booking and OTA booking.
Generally, direct booking refers to making hotel arrangements without the help of third-party sites or travel agents.
Here are some of the perks you may enjoy if you’ll choose this booking method:

• Bonus Services and Amenities. With direct bookings, you can avail yourself of advantages such as room upgrades and late checkout. 
  What’s more? You can earn points that you can use to redeem credits like discounted rooms,  food, and beverages.
• Room Selection. The room size, location, view, and amenities matter to customers. The good news is booking directly with the hotel may provide you with more room selection options as compared to reservation through a third-party website.
• Transparent Pricing. Direct booking prices tend to be lower since there are no commissioned fees from third-party agents. Additionally, you can ensure transparency as hotels explicitly communicate the rates to their customers to prevent any misunderstandings, which could result in dissatisfaction.
• Privileged Permissions. If you anticipate unexpected circumstances that might disrupt your travel plans, directly booking with a hotel may be advisable. The reason? Direct bookings can provide flexibility regarding cancellation policies and other reservation terms and conditions.
• Customer Service. If you encounter any issues with your reservation, directly booking with a hotel enables you to access customer service, as hotels typically prioritize customers who made reservations directly with them.
  Although travelers could receive several offers and discounts when directly booking with a hotel, tourists need to understand a pitfall affiliated with this reservation mode.

Unfortunately, some hotels lack a review section on their websites. So, this prompts vacationers to refer to external sites to read reviews of various hotels’ facilities and services.

This is where OTA bookings come in.
Booking via OTA enables patrons to use the Internet to reserve various travel-related products, including hotels.
Here are some of the perks you may enjoy if you pick OTA booking:

• Convenience. In a busy world, the first thing that might come to your mind is to save time. Fortunately, this is one of the pros of using OTA bookings.
  Since everything is almost computerized, this technique cuts the demanding time for phone calls, option explanations, and schedule management. Also, you could book from the comfort of your home. 
• User review. Reading previous customers’ comments about the hotel’s service will help you gain insights about the overall quality of the lodging place.
  Besides, you can refer to these reviews in comparing prices and options to further determine the best deals that are in sync with your travel needs and budgets. 
• Payment options. One of the gains of using an OTA for booking hotel arrangements is the variety of accepted payment methods, such as credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and even cryptocurrency.
  However, since online scams are rampant, you must stay vigilant. Always keep in mind to look for OTA booking sites with encryption technology since this authentication will safeguard your payment details.
  Overall, you need to do your own research and weigh the benefits and drawbacks to evaluate your preferred reservation method. Through this, you’ll ensure you’ll get the suitable accommodations for your needs, priorities, and preferences.