Hotels follow airlines into online bookings

Consolidators generally impose a 30 percent markup. But consumers benefit too, from lower prices that are often fixed. "We've taken the hassle out of bargaining for hotel rooms," says Mr. Diener.

What would it cost to book a single room in Boston for a Monday in early May? To find out, the Monitor tried five approaches, settling on a Back Bay stalwart, the Fairmont Copley Plaza. We included one 'consolidator' website that specializes in hotel accommodations and one that handles all aspects of travel, including airfares and car rentals. No discounts (such as AAA or AARP) were requested. Figures exclude applicable taxes. Budget travelers who start with a discount hotel will find considerably less savings by shopping online. We ran the same test on an Econo Lodge in Charlottesville, Va., and the most we could shave off the stated price was $5.

The site lists close to 200 hotels under Boston, though most are located in the surrounding suburbs. Scanning through all the listings can be time-consuming, and pages on the site loaded much more slowly than at hotels.com (below). It lists one average room rate. If the customer can prove within 24 hours of purchase that another website offers a lower rate, Expedia promises to refund the difference.

The site lists more than 60 hotels under Boston, though most are located in the surrounding suburbs. After we found our hotel and clicked on 'book,' the site listed one room type: an economy with one double bed. The room priced at $179.95 listed no restrictions. The site features a gallery of photographs from the hotel's website.

We attempted to speak with an employee at the hotel itself, but were diverted to Fairmont's 1-800 customer service line. The rep quoted a $269 daily rate. We asked if there were any discounts available. He quoted a $3 corporate or AAA membership discount. Asked if that was the best rate the hotel could offer, he revealed a 'where to stay' discount, knocking the price down to $229. The rep said all customers were eligible for the discount.

We walked up to the reservation counter and asked to hear the hotel's lowest rate. The clerk quoted $269. We asked if that was as low as the hotel could go, and she said they could drop to $229. The clerk was not sympathetic when we said we preferred to pay around $150. She said the hotel sometimes offers a $199 rate between November and February, but that $229 was now the best rate available. Experts note that negotiating later in the day or evening can often yield better prices.

The site offers four room types, ranging from $269 for the 'Fairmont Room' with one queen bed, to the $549 suite which includes one king or two double beds. There are no discounts available.

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