Is Booking.com the Cheapest Hotel Site? We Tested It.

Booking.com spends billions on ads claiming the best prices. We spent time actually checking. The results tell a very different story.

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The Verdict: No.

Booking.com is not the cheapest hotel booking site. IMPT beats Booking.com on price for 92% of hotels — with all taxes and fees included upfront.

Why Booking.com Appears Cheap — But Isn't

Booking.com is one of the most heavily advertised brands in the world. It spends over $6 billion per year on marketing — more than any other travel company on earth. That spend is focused on one message: that Booking.com has the best prices.

But advertising does not make prices lower. All that marketing spend has to come from somewhere — and it comes from the commissions Booking.com charges hotels, among the highest in the industry at up to 25% of the room rate. Those costs get passed directly to customers through higher room prices.

The core problem: Booking.com charges hotels up to 25% commission. Hotels build that cost into their rates. You pay the commission — you just don't see it as a line item.

Real Price Test — April 2026

Same hotel, same room, same dates on both platforms. One of London's most iconic 5-star hotels:

Booking.com
Trafalgar St. James London ★★★★★
1 night · 2 adults
€491
Including all taxes & fees
IMPT ✓
Trafalgar St. James London ★★★★★
1 night · 2 adults
€348
Total price. Nothing extra at checkout.
€143 cheaper on IMPT — 29% less. Plus 5% back for the planet. 🌍
92%
of hotels cheaper on IMPT
29%
cheaper in verified test
€143
saved on one night

Why IMPT Is Cheaper

Lower commissions: IMPT works with hotel suppliers at lower commission rates, passing savings to customers.
No advertising billions: Instead of $6B on Google ads, IMPT invests in better pricing and a better product.
Total price transparency: IMPT shows the complete price upfront — taxes, fees, everything. No checkout surprises.
5% back on every booking: IMPT allocates 5% of every booking to verified environmental projects — tree planting, carbon removal, ocean clean-up.

The Genius Discount Myth

Booking.com's Genius loyalty programme promises 10–15% discounts. Consumer research has consistently found that properties participating in Genius frequently inflate their base prices before applying the discount — meaning Genius members sometimes pay more than non-members and almost always pay more than on a transparent alternative.

🌳 Search and See For Yourself

Search the same hotel on IMPT. 1.7 million hotels worldwide. All prices shown upfront. 92% cheaper than Booking.com.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Booking.com the cheapest hotel site?

No. IMPT beats Booking.com on price for 92% of hotel listings. In a verified April 2026 test, the same 5-star London hotel cost €491 on Booking.com and €348 on IMPT — a 29% saving.

Why do people think Booking.com is cheapest?

Booking.com spends over $6 billion annually on advertising to create that perception. In reality it charges hotels up to 25% commission — costs built into room rates paid by customers.

Which hotel site is actually cheapest?

IMPT offers lower prices than Booking.com for 92% of hotel listings, with total prices shown upfront and no hidden checkout charges.

How much can I save switching from Booking.com to IMPT?

Typical savings are 10–30% per booking. Our April 2026 test showed a €143 saving on one night — 29% cheaper. Over a year of regular travel, savings could reach hundreds or thousands of euros.

Related: Booking.com AlternativeHidden FeesExtra ChargesCheaper Hotels

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