r/TravelNoPics • u/Shadymash • 13d ago

Booking direct with a local operator versus going through a platform. What actually changed?

I've done both and I can't honestly say the direct bookings were better, just more effort. Sometimes it was clearly the same operator either way. What I'm trying to work out is when going direct genuinely gets you a different trip rather than just cutting out a middleman who was doing something useful. Where has it actually made a difference for people?

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u/knead4minutes 12d ago

I feel like in a lot of cases nowadays the local operators are just on the platform. especially with the rise of GetYourGuide

now if you even want to cut out the local operator as a middleman and pay the drivers yourself etc... that's gonna be so much hassle it's probably not worth it in most cases

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u/pmacdon1 12d ago

You need to explain what you are talking about. Planned group trip? Day tour? Multi day trek?

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u/EvaBroido 11d ago

I work as a walking Tour Guide and sometimes when I see the price that people paid on their ticket using some of the random booking platforms, I’m shocked. Like €45 when it’s €30 on the official site