| Booking a hotel online has never been easier, but only | | | | websites of airline companies, car rental firms and |
| if you know what to look for and what to avoid. One | | | | other travel sites who are likely to have links to hotels |
| of the major advantages of booking your hotel online | | | | at special rates and you can check these out too. |
| is the sheer variety of choices available. Do a simple | | | | It is also worth checking your credit card company and |
| search on the Internet for a hotel in any location and | | | | any loyalty cards you might have as they could have |
| you are likely to be faced with hundreds of thousands | | | | negotiated special deals with hotels in certain areas. |
| of results to choose from whereas if you limit your | | | | Once you've managed to identify several possible |
| choice of hotels to holiday brochures, newspaper | | | | hotels that might suit you, read all the online reviews |
| advertisements and third party referrals then obviously | | | | you can find about each one, this will give you a |
| there will be fewer options. | | | | general idea of their popularity and efficiency and could |
| Online, you basically have access to just about every | | | | highlight any areas or reasons that might put you off |
| hotel that is out there and all you have to do is find the | | | | staying there, then locate the hotel's own website. You |
| right hotel for you. | | | | will often get a far better price by booking through the |
| Booking a hotel through an operator | | | | hotel's website directly as the tour operators are |
| There are some advantages to booking your hotel or | | | | usually selling the hotel rooms at a more expensive |
| entire holiday package through a tour operator, for | | | | price than the hotel is as this is how they get their cut. |
| example, everything is done for you which can save | | | | Once you've located the hotel's own website you can |
| you a lot of time but you have to trust that their choice | | | | check the small print or the 'about us' section of their |
| of hotels are suitable and up to standard. | | | | website to see if your booking is financially protected |
| If you intend to travel to one of the major tourist | | | | or not and of course you can email them with any |
| destinations then a tour operator is likely to have some | | | | questions you might have, book online directly through |
| excellent price deals on offer as they will often buy up | | | | their site or even give them a call to negotiate a better |
| all or most of the rooms in the main hotels in a major | | | | price. |
| tourist destination. This means you could have access | | | | Tips for a smooth free trip |
| to hotels through an operator that might not otherwise | | | | Once you have booked your hotel, remember to |
| be available if you wanted to make a booking yourself | | | | phone the hotel directly before embarking on your trip |
| directly with the hotel. | | | | to make sure they are expecting you, this can save a |
| When booking your holiday through an operator it | | | | lot of frustration later on if you arrive only to find they |
| worth checking that they are a licensed ATOL (Air | | | | don't have a room for you |
| Travel Organiser's Licence) tour operator then if | | | | Always pay for your hotel by credit card as you can |
| something goes wrong with any part of the booking | | | | always take up any dispute later with your credit card |
| you have someone to help you sort it out and won't | | | | company, and make sure the site you are paying |
| have to battle it out on your own. Most companies | | | | through is secure |
| selling flights must hold an ATOL Licence by law. | | | | Take a copy of any correspondence from the hotel, |
| Booking a hotel yourself | | | | booking confirmations or any other related |
| First of all, the results of any Internet search is likely to | | | | documentation with you on your trip. |
| bring up at the top of the search all the travel booking | | | | Conclusion |
| companies and operators offering hotels, sometimes | | | | Booking a hotel online, whether you book it yourself or |
| even the same hotels at what they say are | | | | through a tour operator needn't be a daunting task. By |
| discounted prices. You can narrow these results by | | | | following a few simple precautions you can avoid |
| searching for specific criteria, perhaps facilities you | | | | some of the more obvious pitfalls. It is important to |
| would like a hotel to offer or those that cater for | | | | check out all available information and read any small |
| children or pets, or who provide entertainment and so | | | | print in relation to your booking beforehand so that you |
| on. | | | | are fully aware of all the terms and conditions and can |
| Another way of locating hotels online is to go to the | | | | embark on your trip with confidence. |