8 Reasons to Book Direct (And Not Through an Online Travel Site)

1. Best Price Guaranteed
Online platforms often charge commission fees of up to 15–20%, and those costs can sneak into your booking price. When you book direct, you’re getting a discounted rate.

2. Exclusive Specials
Many guesthouses offer direct booking deals you won’t find anywhere else — think free nights or seasonal discounts. These little extras are reserved for direct guests only.

3. Flexible Cancellation Policies
Booking directly often gives you more flexible cancellation or change options. Third-party sites usually have stricter rules or non-refundable bookings, and they’re not always easy to negotiate with.

4. Personalized Service From the Start
When you book through us, you’re talking directly to the person who will be hosting you. Want to request a late check-in? Need advice on local spots? Want to know what you need to bring? You’re dealing with real humans, not a robot.

5. Accurate Room Info & Photos
OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) don’t always display the full picture. Booking direct ensures you get the most up-to-date descriptions and room availability — straight from the source.

6. Direct Communication = Fewer Errors
Have a special request? Food allergies? Need to change a date? Direct bookings make it easier to communicate clearly, reducing the risk of mistakes, missed messages, or mix-ups.

7. You Support Small, Independent Businesses
Every direct booking helps us keep doing what we love — offering a warm, personal stay in a beautiful place. Instead of your money going to a global corporation, it goes back into our property, staff, and enables us to provide a personalised service.

8. You Avoid Those Pesky Scammers
As much as we dislike the thought, scamming is a reality of modern-day life. The internet is littered with online scammers trying to sell you things that are not real or not theirs to sell. If you do prefer online booking, we only ask that you exercise caution and follow these basic guidelines:

• Only use booking agencies that you know and trust.

• Please exercise caution and check domain names before you book online.

• Don't accept payment links that are not sent from official domains.

Bonus tip: The guesthouses at the top aren't always the best. The real gems are often hidden further down the list, overlooked by the algorithm but remembered by the guests who find them. When you book direct, you cut through the noise and connect with the people that truly care.