Booking Direct vs OTA in Australia: Which Is Actually Cheaper?
Hotels want you to book direct. OTAs want you to book through them. The truth about which is cheaper in Australia is more nuanced than either party admits. ### The short answer For most Australian hotels, OTAs are cheaper than booking direct — particularly Agoda and Wotif. Rate parity agreements historically required hotels to match their best OTA price on their own website, but these agreements have weakened and OTAs increasingly use member pricing, app deals and promotional rates to undercut the hotel's direct rate. The exception: chain hotel loyalty programmes (Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Accor)