In my experience it used to be direct booking was often more expensive. Often absurdly. Now I find it is almost always the opposite. Outside some more super

In my experience it used to be direct booking was often more expensive. Often absurdly. Now I find it is almost always the opposite. Outside some more super low budget hotel options. Booking direct on the direct site more often than not is cheaper than the travel / third party sites. I like the new trend, the third party sites were too disconnected and wonky.