Book Direct!
In the not-so-distant past, when you wanted to make a reservation, you would pick up the phone and call, talk to a human, ask some questions and make a reservation, maybe even send a check to secure your deposit. Nowadays you spend hours researching availability and prices, and then trying to figure out if you booked the right place or the right room and if your credit card payment is secure.
Here at the Inns Along the Coast we have two words to help you make your reservation simple and secure – BOOK DIRECT. Next time you want to enjoy one of our inn to inn itineraries, consult the availability calendar, from there you can book directly with any of our member inns.
When our thoughts turn to summer and vacation planning, we all turn to our computers, cell phones and tablets and start looking for somewhere to stay, reading reviews, looking for deals and everything that will make the perfect vacation. These days the choices are endless, and once you have made your decision of where to go you are bombarded with messages about who to book with and how to secure the best room at the best price.
When a guest books on a third party site like trip Expedia or Booking.com, the online travel agent (OTA) “owns” the reservation. Therefore, if your travel plans change and you need to reschedule or change your reservation the innkeeper is unable to help you. You, the traveler, are required to abide by the OTA’s cancellation policy and have to work with them to change it. The innkeepers at the Inns Along the Coast understand that life happens, that sometimes you need to change your plans at the last minute, but we are obliged to send you back to the OTA and they are not always so accommodating.
When you book with an OTA they charge the innkeeper a commission. These extra fees are passed along to you in the rates that the rooms are sold at on the booking sites. When you book direct there is no fee, an automatic saving for you. The innkeepers also do not add all of there rooms to the OTA website, by booking direct you have a wider choice of rooms at a much better price, and many offer AAA or AARP discounts that are not combinable with the OTA rates.
Why do innkeepers work with OTA’s?
As the world of internet searches and travel has evolved, when you go online and look for a room the larger directories and OTA’s appear first. So, in order to be found, lodging properties - from small B&B’s to larger hotels - must offer rooms on these sites if they want travelers to find them.
So, If you have visited one of our Inns Along the Coast and want to return, or even if your visiting for the first time, visit our website and Book Direct. Our amazing innkeepers will thank you for it. So, start planning that perfect summer road trip with The Inns Along the Coast.