First time travelers and veterans alike would be forgiven for thinking it is cheaper to book directly with a hotel, but in many cases the best prices can be found when booking via third parties.

By using price comparison websites, hotel brokers, as well as going directly to the hotels means that you as a consumer can see the price differences with your very own eyes.

As an example, at the Millennium Hilton in the city of New York you can save nearly £60 a night by booking through a third party vs. going direct. However, an even better example is a 2 night stay at the Apex City Hotel in Edinburgh during July 2010. If you go direct it costs £234.50 a night, but I found a quote on a price comparison website for £129.37. That’s 45 percent less, and that’s a nice saving.

I spoke to travel expert Bob Atkinson, and he said “Whether you’re booking a break in the sun or the city it’s clear that shopping around can offer consumers considerable savings on their hotel accommodation bills.

“Using price comparison sites shows a much broader spectrum of prices, as many hotels sell not only direct but also through third parties.  The rates on offer from intermediaries are often lower because hotels prefer to sell any last-minute rooms via a third party rather than lower their own prices.

“Considering how quick the process is, it’s always worth search for your hotel needs.  Even if you know the hotel you want to stay in, you could be throwing money down the drain unnecessarily.”

Savvy tips for booking accommodation:

• Use a price comparison service – you’ll find a whole range of hotels which let’s you compare them in seconds; chances are you’ll find hotels you weren’t aware of too.
• If you know the hotel’s name you’ll find that many hotels are being sold through more than one third party, and all at different prices for the same thing.
• Midweek stays will always be cheapest and you won’t need a 4 leaf clover to stumble across some excellent last minute deals.
• If you must travel on a weekend then book well in advance, putting your hopes on a last minute bargain could hit your wallet hard.
• If you are traveling with children get a family room, these are often excellent value.

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• be travel savvy and save 45 on hotels

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