Is it cheaper to book a Bali hotel directly or through booking platforms?

From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 111 days ago

TL;DR

Booking directly with the hotel is typically 30% cheaper than using platforms. Among aggregators, Booking.com often beats Trip.com on price, even with elite status.

What the community said

Booking directly with the hotel in Bali is typically around 30% cheaper than any online platform. A good strategy is to find the hotel on an aggregator, then contact the property directly.

~30% discount when booking direct

Trip.com tends to inflate prices even for Diamond-status members. A direct comparison with Booking.com for a Bali hotel showed Booking.com coming out cheaper.

Trip.com vs Booking.com

Trip.com has been known to have fake hotel listings: travelers book a room, arrive, and find no reservation exists. The platform also has a smaller hotel selection and prices are not competitive.

Fake booking risk on Trip.com