Last Updated: July 10, 2023
Agoda vs. Booking.com: Who offers the best prices & service?
When it comes to looking for the best deal, people usually turn to either Agoda or Booking.com. The question is, where can you find the better “best deal”?
There are hundreds of travel websites nowadays that help travelers find great deals. And when you’re planning week-long or even month-long travels, the bill racks up pretty quickly. That is why we often use the top house sitting websites instead. But that is not for everyone :>
So, if you are comparing Agoda with Booking.com here are the most important details.
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Agoda vs. Booking.com: The Main Difference
The main differences between Agoda and Booking.com are:
- Agoda focuses more on discounts and deals
- Agoda has more offers in Asia
- Their business models differ
Otherwise, they are very similar. In fact, both companies are under one mother company, Priceline.
Their Business Models
Booking.com uses the Agency Model. This means they simply drive customers to their partner hotels and you pay the hotel when you check out. So when you book a room on Booking.com, you’re essentially letting the site reserve the room for you. This is the reason why you don’t need a credit card when booking with Booking.com, which is convenient for many travelers.
Agoda, on the other hand, uses a mix of both Agency and Merchant Model. If you’ll notice, there are a few options where you can actually choose to pay the hotel directly. But with their Merchant Model, Agoda purchases inventory (or rooms) from their partner hotels at a discount and then sells them to customers at a higher markup.
Of course, Agoda has already formed deals and negotiations with their partner hotels which is why they can still offer customers good deals on rooms and packages.
Agoda Vs Booking Prices
Agoda discounts
When it comes to prices, these vary. Both Agoda and Booking have a very wide inventory and you’ll be spoiled for choices. There are some partner hotels that the other doesn’t have, so it’s worth looking on both. You will be charged a service fee, but, most of the time, the final amount you’ll pay is still relatively cheaper than other booking sites or even from the hotels themselves.
The Booking Experience
Booking on both sites is easy, but there are a few minor details that make one a bit more convenient than the other.
For the budget-conscious, Booking.com already shows the total price for your entire stay. Agoda shows the nightly rate (but they do show total amounts on the mobile app).
RELATED POST: IS AGODA LEGIT?
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
