"I worked as a front desk hotel clerk for several years in my twenties. One of the most valuable things I learned was that when you find a good deal with a third party online (like Hotwire or something), it’s better for both you and the hotel if you then call the hotel and ask to speak to the front desk manager, then ask them to match the price you found online. Usually (especially if they have any good sense), they’ll do it.

“Plus, if there is a mess up when you book through a third party, there’s often absolutely nothing the hotel can do about it, as you’d have to go through the booking agency to fix it. But if there’s a mess up and you booked through the hotel directly, we can fix it for you. Another benefit is that booking directly brings the hotel more money because they have to pay the third party when you use them, so they’re more likely to get you a deal if you work with them. My husband and I did this to make our reservation for a hotel in Orlando near Disney, and they not only matched the price but even went down a little lower for us. Not everyone will do it, but it’s worth a shot.”"