Just found out those "cheap" hostel booking sites add 15-20% in hidden fees

I was planning a trip to Nashville next month and checking prices on Hostelworld versus booking direct. I got curious after reading a Reddit thread where someone mentioned the markup. So I called a hostel I liked, asked their walk-in rate, and it was $28 a night. On the booking site, the same bed showed as $32 but had $6 in service fees and taxes tacked on at checkout. That's almost 30% extra. I saved $20 just by booking over the phone for 4 nights. Has anyone else noticed this with other booking platforms like Booking.com or Expedia?

2 comments

2 Comments

val2818d ago

Hostels are the worst offenders, but I've caught Booking.com adding resort fees and "service charges" that magically disappear when you call the front desk. Always check the property's own website or give them a ring before clicking purchase on those aggregators. Saved about $50 on a New Orleans trip last year just by making a quick call instead of booking through Expedia.

jade_butler7d ago

Wow @val281 that's wild they tried to sneak fees like that!