I usually look at Priceline to get a feel for all hotels somewhere. This is especially useful if you’re not tied to a certain brand, or somewhere with a lot of independent hotels. I wouldn’t mind booking directly, but I have actually had Priceline give a better rate. I’ve also called the hotel directly to double-check their pet policy, ask if they’d match the rate while I’m on the phone with them, and they refuse. So I book with Priceline.