I found an Ibis in Nice for €89 on Expedia but the hotel's website shows it at €95. That's weird, I thought direct rates would be cheaper. Do you guys have any tips for negotiating or finding better deals?
Platforms like Expedia negotiate group rates with hotels and resell them cheaper than the direct site, so you're right to find that weird but it's totally normal.
The hotel often displays higher prices directly because it accepts those conditions for the visibility Expedia brings.
If you really want to negotiate, call the hotel directly before booking and explain that you found something cheaper elsewhere - some will agree to match it or lower the price a bit to keep the commission they'd make with Expedia, but honestly it's not guaranteed. Otherwise the best thing is just to compare three or four different sites and go with the lowest offer.
It's not weird at all - OTAs like Expedia buy in bulk and slash prices, while the hotel direct shows its "list price." But here's something people often forget: call the hotel directly and ask if they can match Expedia's price or throw in a free upgrade/breakfast, since it costs them less than letting the booking platform take their commission. Sometimes they'll say yes just to avoid those fees, especially at smaller chains like Ibis.
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