Book Direct for the Best Rates on Blue Mountains Accommodation

Looking for the best price on Blue Mountains accommodation? Here’s a tip that could save you hundreds: always book direct.

As a small, family-owned guesthouse in the heart of Wentworth Falls, we want to let you in on something many travellers don’t realise—booking directly with accommodation providers gives you better rates, better service, and keeps your money supporting Australian businesses.

Dick Smith has been speaking out about a big issue affecting small accommodation businesses like ours.  Some of you might have seen some press last year about third party accommodation booking sites.  In case you didn't, here's his video.  Please watch!:

In recent years, global booking platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and HomeAway (now owned by Expedia) have come to dominate the online accommodation space. These foreign-owned giants charge small operators like us up to 20% commission per booking—sometimes more.

To put it in perspective: we recently received a booking where the commission alone was $750. That’s money leaving Australia and going straight into the pockets of overseas corporations.

When we launched Glen Isla back in 2015, many of our guests found us through Stayz, which was then an Australian-owned platform charging reasonable fees. Since being acquired by HomeAway and later Expedia, it's become another cog in the global booking machine.

These companies now dominate search results thanks to massive advertising budgets and aggressive SEO strategies. Even when guests search for Glen Isla Blue Mountains, third-party listings often appear above our own website. This makes it harder for people to find us—and more likely they’ll pay inflated prices on third-party sites.

To encourage guests to book direct, we’ve made a simple promise:

You’ll always get the best price when you book directly through our website.

In fact, we deliberately set higher rates on Airbnb, Booking.com, and similar platforms. By booking through our official site, you’re not only getting the best deal—you’re helping support a locally owned business, Australian jobs, and sustainable tourism in the Blue Mountains.

So skip the middlemen and book direct with Glen Isla. It’s better for your wallet, better for your experience, and better for Australia.

This isn’t just an accommodation issue. Delivery platforms like Menulog and Uber Eats charge restaurants huge fees too. So whether you’re booking a stay or ordering dinner—whenever you can, go direct. Every dollar makes a difference to small businesses doing it tough.

Booking directly with us is quick and easy.
👉 Check availability and book instantly here

Thank you for supporting small Aussie businesses. We can’t wait to welcome you to Glen Isla, your Blue Mountains home away from home.