Do Hotels Price Match? How to Ask for a Better Deal

You’re researching hotels for your next vacation. Finally, you’re ready to book your hotel, but five different prices pop up for the exact same room. It’s easy to click on the cheapest third-party deal and call it a win—but not so fast. Booking directly with the hotel can spare you the headache of hidden fees, strict cancellation policies, and poor customer service, and it doesn’t always mean paying more.

In fact, many hotels offer price matching if you find a better deal elsewhere. That means you could score the same low rate and keep the perks of booking directly. In this article, we’ll walk you through how hotel price matching works, which hotels offer it, how to submit a claim, and what to do if your hotel doesn’t match prices.

What is Hotel Price Matching?

Hotel price matching, sometimes known as “best rate guaranteed,” is a policy adopted by many hotels that encourages guests to book directly through the hotel. 

To put it simply, hotel price matching means that if you find a lower price on a third-party booking site or with an online travel agency (OTA) than what is listed on the hotel website, the hotel offers to match it if you book directly with them. 

Do Hotels Offer Price Matching?

Price-matching policies vary by property, but many hotels, especially larger chains, offer price matching. Many hotels will also offer a bonus on top of the matched rate. This bonus might come in the form of an extra discount or bonus points for your stay. 

The Hilton chain, for example, has a relatively generous price-matching program. If you find a lower price on a qualifying site, you can send it to the hotel. Not only will the price be matched, but Hilton will also give you an additional 25% off your stay. Submit a claim that meets the criteria, and the price will be honored minus an extra 25%. 

Hyatt offers a similar price-matching scheme. In addition to matching the qualifying rate you find, you can choose between an extra 20% off the nightly rate and 5000 World of Hyatt bonus points. 

Remember that it’s not guaranteed, so you’ll need to conduct research on the hotel website or reach out to them directly to inquire about price-matching policies. 

How Hotel Price Matching Typically Works

Price matching is a benefit of booking directly with a hotel. From time limits for submitting claims to proof of price, here is how to successfully have your hotel price match request approved. 

Conditions required

In order to have your price match approved, a specific set of conditions needs to be met:

1. The price-matched rate must have no restrictions on how it is displayed or booked. This includes websites that do not reveal the type of room type or hotel name until you’ve booked it. Prices that are available for members-only or require a login to view the price are also disqualified. 

2. The details of the rooms must be an exact match. The hotel, room type, dates, guest numbers, and booking conditions (such as refundable vs. non-refundable) all must be the same.

Time limits for submitting a claim

If you submit the price-matching form after booking directly with the hotel and find a lower rate on a third-party website, the hotel will grant you the lower price or reimburse you the difference, as stipulated in the price-matching agreement. 

You must book directly to quality. Booking through a third-party site first will not make you eligible. Time limits vary per hotel, but most (including popular hotels like the Hyatt and Hilton) give you 24 hours to submit the claim after your direct booking.

Proof required

You will need to provide proof of the lower-priced room from the third-party website. Each hotel’s requirements vary, but often include stipulations like sending screenshots of the price or links to the room listing on the third-party website. 

Methods of submitting a claim

It’s essential to verify each hotel's requirements, but the primary method of submitting a claim is usually online. This may involve emailing the required documents and proof to the hotel’s claim email address, or it can also mean submitting a claim-specific form on the hotel’s website. 

Some hotels, such as Hilton, also accept claims via phone. Claims via phone are recommended for time-sensitive claims, particularly if you are making a claim the day before or the day of arrival at the hotel. 

Verification process

After you submit your claim with all the required information, hotels will need to verify everything before determining if it meets the conditions for a hotel match. This process often takes about 48 hours. If it’s time-sensitive, many hotels recommend calling rather than submitting an online claim form. 

How to Ask a Hotel to Price Match

So you’ve booked your hotel and found a better deal—what’s next? It’s time to reach out to the hotel to request a price match and get the process rolling.

When and where to ask

Ask for a price match as soon as possible. This ensures that the price you found is still valid and you meet the required timeframe to qualify for price matching. You can call a hotel manager and ask, reach out via email, or search for information on the hotel’s website about price-matching policies. 

1. Research the hotel’s price-matching policies

Every hotel has unique price-matching policies. Research your chosen hotel’s requirements so you can successfully follow the correct steps to qualify for a price match or reimbursement. 

2. Collect necessary documentation

Hotels will require you to submit documentation of the lowest room rate you found. The specifics will be listed on their price-matching page. Collect the required documentation, such as a screenshot of the rate you saw, to ensure you have the best chance of having your claim approved. 

3. Submit your claim

Once you have all the necessary documentation, it’s time to submit! Some hotels have a specific submission page, others require an email to send your documentation to, and others have the option to submit a price-matching claim over the phone. 

How to Get the Best Hotel Deal If They Offer Price Matching

Now that you’ve determined that the hotel offers price matching, there are a few steps to follow to ensure you get the best hotel deal. 

• Book the hotel directly: The first stipulation for price matching is to book with the hotel directly. This offers numerous benefits, including assurance that you’re receiving all of the hotel’s policies on cancellation, special requests, and even lower rates that haven’t been inflated by third-party sites. DirectBooker is developing tools that make this process even simpler by connecting verified direct hotel data to conversational AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. These upcoming integrations will allow travelers to compare verified direct rates and policies in real time, then book directly with the property for the best deal.

• Call and negotiate the price: You might find some good deals online after cross-comparing sites, but there’s another step you might not have considered. Call and ask the hotel directly for their best prices and any surprise deals that might not be advertised online. 

• Ask for the best, lowest price: Third-party sites typically take a high commission rate off hotel prices. Hotels might offer better rates than advertised when you book with them directly—you just need to ask!

What to Do If a Hotel Doesn’t Price Match

If you’ve pulled all the stops but your chosen hotel doesn’t offer price matching, you still have a few options to help you optimize your rates. 

• Use price tracking tools: It can be tedious to continuously research and monitor hotel prices yourself to get the best rate. Enter price tracking tools, which were designed to do the work for you. Price tracking tools can show you trends, predict whether a hotel rate is likely to drop, and alert you when hotels have dropped their prices (and whether they are predicted to drop any further). 

• Rebook if the rate drops: Consider booking with a refundable rate if that’s an option. This gives you the flexibility to cancel and rebook if the rate drops. 

• Bundle or book during the low season: Traveling during peak seasons (holidays and summer weekends, for example) can incur higher rates than at other times of the year. To find a hotel price that’s more in your budget, consider booking during the low season or mid-week, when demand is lower. For example, demand is high during summers in Tuscany, pushing rates of wine country estates to their maximum. Look into rates in autumn or spring instead, when fewer people are visiting and nightly rates are likely lower.   

The flashy deals that third-party travel sites and online travel agencies offer often mislead us into thinking that booking with a hotel directly means paying a higher price. Both the consumer and the hotel benefit when you book directly with the hotel. The great news is that you often don’t need to compromise on cost because many hotels, including major chains, offer price matching. If you can’t find any direct information, don’t be afraid to ask.

Book Smarter With Price Matching

The next time you’re comparing hotel prices, don’t assume the cheapest third-party option is your best bet. Booking directly with a hotel can offer better flexibility, clearer policies, and, thanks to price matching, competitive rates too. With a bit of research and the right approach, you can get the best of both worlds: a great deal and a smoother experience.

Need help cutting through the noise? DirectBooker is building AI-powered tools that will soon make it easy to find verified direct rates and flexible booking options within conversational platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini, no middlemen, no surprises, just smarter travel.

Alicia Erickson

Alicia Erickson is a travel writer and content strategist with bylines in BBC Travel, National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor’s, and World Nomads. With a background in international development and a decade of experience as a digital nomad, she specializes in mindful, experiential travel across lesser-known destinations.

Our editorial process: DirectBooker curates insights from global hospitality experts and our network of industry insiders. Articles undergo rigorous fact-checking and quality review before publication, ensuring authentic, actionable advice for savvy travelers.