Here is something the big booking sites would rather you did not think about too hard: the apartment you found on Airbnb or Booking.com is very often available to book directly with the people who actually run it, for less. We are those people in Manchester, and this is the honest breakdown of what booking direct saves you, and why it is not a catch.
Where the OTA fees actually go
When you book a short stay through an online travel agent (OTA), you are usually paying two markups, not one. On Airbnb, a guest service fee is added on top of the nightly rate at checkout, frequently in the region of 14–16% of the booking. On Booking.com, the commission is baked into the nightly rate instead, so it is invisible, but it is still there, funding the platform rather than your stay.
Book the same property directly with us and that layer simply is not charged. Across a typical Manchester stay, booking direct saves guests in the region of 15–20% versus the OTA-inclusive price, on an identical apartment.
Stay with City Superhost
See our full collection of Manchester apartments and book direct, no guest service fee added at checkout.
Browse properties →It is the same property and the same hosts
This is the part people double-check, so to be completely clear: booking direct is not a downgrade. It is the same apartments, managed by the same local team, backed by the same 4.8‑star average across 7,426+ guest reviews on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and Expedia. The only thing that changes is that you are no longer paying a middleman.
The perks you only get direct
Booking with us directly also unlocks things the platforms do not pass on:
- Free cancellation up to 14 days before check-in, so plans can change.
- Complimentary early check-in from 2pm when the apartment is ready.
- Longer-stay discounts, roughly 25% off weekly stays and 30% off monthly stays, applied automatically.
- A direct line to the local team that replies in under an hour, not a platform message queue.
How to book direct
It could not be simpler. Browse our full collection of Manchester apartments, pick your dates, and book securely in a couple of minutes. Not sure which neighbourhood suits your trip? Start with our where to stay in Manchester guide, or tell us what you need on the contact page and we will point you to the right one.
Same apartment, same hosts, better price. There is very little reason to pay the platform tax.
City Superhost
