[Maritime Q-Scout]

In my experience hotels go the extra mile if you have their rewards card, regardless of how much you actually use it. Just having it gives you a leg up.

Not all rooms are created equal, if you want to avoid the noisy room next to the elevator book through the hotel and get their loyalty card. If you don't care, 3rd party site.

I've had early check in with the loyalty card and "we're full but you can pay extra" with a 3rd party site.

I've had upgrades, and no or extras (like bottles of water) booking directly.

My general rule is book with the hotel, unless they don't have a rewards program, then pick a booking site that has rewards and stick with it. Following this philosophy I'm up to two free nights through Hotels.com.