Don't pay unnecessary fees

Many short-term accommodation booking sites charge a sizeable fee for the priviledge of facilitating your booking. This is generally on the basis of a percentage of the booking value. Unreasonably, booking sites also don't reduce their fees for longer term bookings. So, if you're staying somewhere reasonably nice for a week or more, you could be paying hundreds more by using a third party booking platform.

Instead, if you discover a property you like, try and see if they have their own, dedicated website. Booking directly with the owner/manager can save you most, if not all of these fees. The Willows lake edge holiday home at Kawaha Point on Lake Rotorua has its own website and booking capability - www.thewillows163.com. Book through this website and you will pay no additional fees.