Today we’re heading to one of the most beloved travel destinations in the world—France. With its romantic cities, world-class ski resorts, and glamorous beaches, it’s no wonder millions flock here year-round. But when it comes to booking your hotel, is it smarter to book directly with the hotel or through an Online Travel Agent (OTA) like Booking.com?
Just like in our previous research, we started by searching on Booking.com, as 75% of travellers do. Then, we used our BookBetterDirect browser extension to instantly find the official hotel websites, saving ourselves hours of frustrating searching. As always, we made sure to compare the same room categories, meal plans, and cancellation policies to ensure a fair result.
A Quick Note on France’s Advantage in Direct Bookings
Thanks to the “Macron Law”, French hoteliers have been free from rate parity clauses since 2015. That means for nearly 10 years, hotels in France have been legally allowed to offer better prices on their own websites than on OTAs. (Fun fact: Austria ended rate parity at the same time!) So, you’d expect direct bookings in France to shine, right? Well… let’s dive in!
Paris – The City of Lights and Direct Booking Delights ✨
We kicked our journey off in Paris, and the results were clear:
✅ 80% of the time, booking directly with the hotel was cheaper.
💰 The biggest percentage saving was a whopping 38%.
💶 The largest euro saving hit €760.49, nearly matching the top savings we found in Austria!
Whether you’re booking a chic boutique hotel or a luxurious palace stay, Paris proves it’s worth checking the hotel’s own website.
Courchevel – Ski in Style, Save in Style 🎿
Next stop: the exclusive ski village of Courchevelin the French Alps.
🏔️ Like our mountain village studies in Austria, Courchevel delivered major direct booking savings.
💶 The biggest saving? €910, simply by booking directly with the hotel.
⛷️ Not bad for a stay that cost €3,887 for 2 adults over 7 nights in one of the world’s most prestigious resorts.
Côte d’Azur – Sunshine, Style… and Split Savings ☀️
Finally, we relaxed on the French Riviera at the Côte d’Azur. Here, bookings weren’t as clear-cut:
🌊 Only 40% of the time, booking direct was cheaper.
💰 Average savings on both sides (direct vs. OTA) hovered around €150, going either way.
🍽️ The biggest OTA saving was 20%, while the highest direct booking saving was 12%—just enough to cover a lovely lunch at Le Club 55 in Saint-Tropez.
What’s the Verdict?
Once again, our research shows that you really have to compare.
✅ Sometimes OTAs win.
✅ Sometimes the hotels win.
✅ But you win if you take the time to check both.
Let our mobile app and browser extension do the work for you. With BookBetterDirect, you can instantly find the hotel’s official website, compare prices, and book smarter. 🚀
🌍 Next stop: Spain! 🇪🇸
Tomorrow we’re heading to another beloved holiday destination—Spain! From sunny beaches to vibrant cities and cultural hotspots, we’ll find out whether direct booking saves you more in Barcelona, and Mallorca. Stay tuned for the full comparison! 🚀
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