The EU changed the rules · September 2026
Hotels can finally charge you less on their own website.
On 28 September 2026, the European Commission announced that Booking.com may no longer penalise hotels in the European Economic Area for offering lower prices on their own websites — not in its rankings, not in its programmes. The price-parity era is over, and hotels are free to reward guests who book direct.
This project exists because of that ruling: an independent directory of hotels verified to be usually cheaper on their own website than on Booking.com.
Source: European Commission DMA factsheet, 28 September 2026
The directory
Every hotel here proved it. No proof, no listing.
We check Google Hotels independently and list a hotel only when its own website is usually cheaper than Booking.com. 11 hotels verified so far — our verifier checks new hotels every day.
Independent checks
We sample real dates on Google Hotels and compare the hotel's own website against Booking.com — taxes included.
Usually cheaper, honestly measured
A hotel is listed only when its direct price beats Booking.com in at least 75% of recent checks. Ties count.
Re-checked continuously
Prices move. Hotels are re-verified regularly, and the badge pauses if the direct price stops winning.
For hotels
Turn your direct price into bookings.
If your website is usually cheaper than Booking.com, prove it where it matters — next to your booking button. The CheaperDirectBooking badge certifies it independently, so guests stop leaving your site to compare prices elsewhere.
We verify you
Free. We check your direct price against Booking.com across several dates.
You join the directory
Free. Verified hotels are listed for travellers to find.
You add the badge
€99/year. The seal on your website that converts lookers into direct bookers.