#29: Straight to the Source
A hotel owner gave some really insightful advice that not many people know about. When booking a room, don’t always assume booking through a third-party site like Expedia will get you a better rate. If you find a reservation you want to make, try calling the hotel directly to make your reservation because they might be able to offer you a cheaper price.
Third-party websites sometimes charge hotels a commission fee for every reservation made through their site. Because of this, rates may actually be higher on these sites because the hotels have to pass on these costs to the customers. It never hurts to call directly and see if you can get a better deal. You might even be able to get a better room by talking directly to a hotel employee, too!