.com or direct communication with host

we are presently on a 2 month trip in europe with approx two dozen different bookings. we did a similar thing two years ago and the year before that. what I noticed has changed is the B&B and some small hotels etc seem to have stopped looking after their own web sites and using .com sites for their bookings??
in previous trips I preferred to book direct but when planning this trip I found it easier to mostly use a .com site because it is easier to see their cancellation policies and whether they had pre-payment etc. information that individual web sites seem to lack at times.
on the topic of getting a discount for booking direct, I found they often were no cheaper than just using the .com site anyway?

that said not all accomodation comes up on the .com sites, so its often better to check other sources to see what is available in the area you want to stay.
hope this helps.

Agree that booking.com is an easy and efficient way to book hotels for a multi-location trip -- reviews are done ONLY by actual visitors and you can see a listing of all your reservations in chronological order (so any gaps or overlaps show up)
One place we stayed had a card in the room that promised a 10% discount on repeat stays or referrals if booked directly with their website.

don't forget if you are using companies like booking.com, there is no problem emailing the accomodation to find out extra details and if required (maybe not) the bookings you make can also update on your phone.
with some accomodations I have noticed some places wanting huge deposits/ prepayments etc ( worth checking) it makes me wonder if this is a result of people booking numerous places, at once, and then cancelling them ( before the cancellation date) ??? not sure but I for one don't like having pre payments etc.

I reserved a room at a small, independent hotel in Vienna as part of a package deal with my flight, on Travelocity. Later I decided I would prefer a slightly better room, so I contacted the hotel directly via the email address on their site, provided my confirmation number, and we agreed to a small additional per-night charge for the upgrade, which I will pay when I arrive, on top of the prepaid amount I've already paid. Nothing prevents you from doing both. They're not going to mind, either. They just want paying guests, however they get them.

Thank you for these helpful suggestions and reflections on your own travel experience. I so appreciate the direct contact information provided in RS travel guidebooks. Even if I decide to use a .com, I start with a search for the RS recommended lodgings. I have begun asking the host, via email message/introduction, which method they prefer, direct or .com. I will add anecdotes to this thread based on the predominance of responses to my inquiries.

IME in Germany, some family-operation hosts have indicated they prefer direct bookings (no fees to .coms) and even today some have no internet presence outside of the local tourist office website. I like booking directly myself. The only time I've been shortchanged was on a booking.com booking... Upon arrival I was told about a family emergency that prevented the apartment owner from renting to me (I'd been emailed that very morning, apparently.) I still book on .coms where advantageous. Before booking directly in Germany you really need to ask whether there is a cancellation policy and what it entails. Once booked, you are liable for paying the entire amount for the nights booked unless there is a cancellation policy that protects you in that event.

I've had good experiences with Airbnb, which really isn't a B&B.

Another option is to use Tripadvisor, their search allows you to specifically search for B&B's. You can book through them.

If you know where you would like to stay, a phone call is the best way to contact them. Most Americans use email and don't understand why they don't get an immediate reply.

Booking.com allows you to filter by type of lodging (hotel, apt, villa, B&B) and many amenities as well. I use them often, and once they intervened when I needed help.

If I am returning to a place, I usually book directly. The only time I have had a problem was when I did NOT go through booking.com, and dealt directly with the property for a first-time stay.

Thank you for the valuable insight. I must say I am confused by the "freeloader" response. That seemed to came out of left field with a bad hop. Curious how to field that one.
Will employ the good advice and guidance country by country, host by host.
Good travel, everyone.

If you choose to use booking.com, you should always confirm the price and dates with the hotel or B&B.

This doesn't mean that you will pay higher prices. Just be sure to confirm, because a third-party platform like booking.com might possibly double-book a room.

We are in our mid 60's. Our first trip to Europe was in 1982. Lodging ranged from a virtual closet in London to sleeping on a cloud in a cozy Swiss B&B. It was a role of the dice. Don't know if Rick had started up yet, and if he had, we didn't know to access his savvy. Thanks to technology and the many considerate travel gurus, the world is at our fingertips and the quality of the experienced is enhanced by shared perspectives. I assume positive intent and appreciate civil discourse. Thank you for all the considerate guidance specific to my inquiry. Wishing you good travel and to our hosts, thank you for the comfort you ensure as the world gets smaller and we all come to understand and appreciate one another more truly.

Quite often, the hotel or B&B will give you a discount rate, rather than pay for the third-party platform website. That's why you should call and verify the rate.
Sometimes there are last-minute special deals with hotels and if B&B's have a "hole" in their calendar, they would be glad to fill it.

For the small hotels and Pensionen in Germany, I don't use booking.com but rather deal with the hotel directly by calling them up on the phone be from from home or while I am in Europe. After giving them the needed info, I don't have to do anything further, no credit card to hold the room (what if the Pension does not accept credit card payment , then there is no use for a credit card to either party.)

For the 3 star hotels it's a toss up. I use booking .com to book the room or I call them up too...just depends. If the hotel has its own website, then I may use that too. One thing is for sure, regardless, of the price I pay for the room and how many rooms the hotel has, when calling up to reserve, I am not asked to give them the credit card info as a means to hold the room.