How do I book directly with hotel?

[0Cripes]

I normally book package holidays but I am planning on booking flights, hotel and transfer separately for next year.
How do I book the hotel directly without incurring the 2.99% transaction fee on my debit card? I'm not really sure the best way to do it

I might be being dense - but why are you being charged a fee for using your debit card? Who is charging you?

I know this isn’t what you’re asking but be very careful going this as if one aspect of your holiday cancels you could end up losing a lot of money as your holiday won’t be a package - this is why people book package holidays, lots more things in place to ensure you get your money back.

If you mean the foreign transaction charges on your card you can often pay on arrival or you can pay using a Revolut card which you transfer the money onto and then pay from that card (out do a bank transfer) which usually gets a better exchange rate and doesn’t charge you a foreign transaction fee.

I have never booked a package holiday and I travel a lot - have decent insurance in place instead.

Book directly with hotel means either through the hotel's website, or through a provider such as booking.com. If you use booking.com they will be liable to sort out alternative accommodation should yours fall through at the very last minute. I am very happy with them and use the platform dozens of times a year.

What do you mean transaction fee? I have never been charged that. I always pay in the currency of the country I'm going to, and my bank will charge a conversion fee if appropriate. I only use online banking now such as N26 / Monzo / Revolut, which don't charge any conversion fees.

Check out websites like hotel.com or Expedia. You can pay in £ and they offer have good deals including free cancellation up to a couple of days before arrival.

Oh yes, always book a room with free cancellation. On sites likes booking.com there are plenty of options and usually at the same or just slightly higher price.

Sorry - its a 2.99% 'non sterling transaction fee' so I assume it's a conversion fee. I will look into Monzo, Revolut and N26 @GrandSlamFinalee, thanks.
@Afterfire yes I have thought about that and a bit worried particularly with all of the flight cancellations at the moment but I only need to pay a deposit and the rest on arrival - worst case I would lose the deposit and I figured that was what travel insurance was for? I do much prefer a package to mitigate this ballache but it's £900 more expensive on Jet2 annoyingly.

You're much better protected if you pay with a credit card.

Get a Halifax Clarity credit card or a similar foreign transaction credit card as recommended on Monday saving expert. There is no foreign transaction fee and an almost perfect exchange rate.

When I did this I booked on hotels website, was a European chain so had a website like Premier Inn. I made sure to book an annual ins policy 1st. Used a credit card and kept all emails/references in one place but was as easy travelling as a package. We only booked a package this year due to flights bring cancelled (which ours was) and felt easier to have 1 point of contact to get everything sorted

Be aware travel insurance may not pay out for Covid cancellations if you get sick before you go. They will usually cover treatment if you catch it abroad but can't travel home but you must read all the small print.

Yes, for a hotel booking you want to pay by credit card, not debit card, in local currency.

There are a few that have no commission or charges, Halifax Clarity is the most popular, but we have one from Santander and I'm sure there are others.

Make sure you put your flight on your credit card too, but if you're booking with a UK airline, you don't need to worry about any fees.

Most hotels will accept bank transfers. I recently needed to make a payment in Indonesian Rupiah from my Australian bank account as a deposit for accommodation. I used Wise Money Transfer and got a really good rate so maybe try that? I always book directly with hotels if I can, you usually get a nicer room, I think they are more likely to try and accommodate requests like “high floor room” or “near the pool” etc. and it can sometimes get you perks like late check out.

Don't pay by bank transfer. If the hotel goes bust (may seem unlikely, but who knows?) your money is gone.

This is what credit cards are for.