| you begin planning a vacation, one of the most | | | | One way to use the Internet to find low hotel prices is |
| important steps is to book a hotel room for your stay. | | | | to join a travel club. Many airlines and car rental |
| After you have made your arrangements to take off | | | | companies offer deals for repeat customers. Through |
| work and get to your destination, you will have to | | | | these programs, frequent travelers can arrange car |
| figure out an affordable place to stay. There are many | | | | rentals and flights at discount prices, and they often |
| ways to approach hotel booking, the most tried and | | | | thrown in hotel stays for a minimal charge. Some car |
| true being purchasing a vacation package through a | | | | rental companies have partnerships with particular |
| travel agent. However, travel agents are becoming | | | | hotel chains, giving discounts to customers who use |
| more expensive and less practical as Internet travel | | | | both companies on their trips. You can sometimes use |
| booking becomes the norm. | | | | your airline frequent flier miles to pay for hotel stays, |
| Rather than paying a middleman to book your flights | | | | as well. Be sure to check with your airline of choice to |
| and hotels, online travel websites make it easy to | | | | see if they offer special hotel rates with their frequent |
| compare rates, research locations and check on | | | | flier programs. |
| availability. Most hotels have their own websites where | | | | Because making reservations online is a do-it-yourself |
| you can enter your needed dates and get a quote for | | | | endeavor, hotels save money of staffing. This allows |
| your stay. You do not have to enter credit card | | | | them to offer special online rates for those who book |
| information to research rates at most hotels, so it | | | | their stays via the Internet. Most hotel chain websites |
| makes do-it-yourself comparison shopping convenient | | | | have links to special Internet deals that can save you a |
| for anyone with an internet connection. Some hotels | | | | lot of money on your vacation lodging. If you are |
| even post layouts of their buildings, so you can choose | | | | Internet savvy, you can sometimes even qualify for |
| exactly which room you want, rather than taking a | | | | free nights when you book a week at the same hotel. |
| chance on being right next to a pool full of screaming | | | | When you are ready to make your online hotel |
| children when you are trying to get some | | | | reservation, be sure to have your credit card handy. |
| much-needed rest and relaxation. | | | | Because of high security practices, you often have to |
| There are also some websites that will do your | | | | enter the three-digit code on the back of your credit |
| comparison-shopping for you. Sites like Hotwire and | | | | card to confirm your reservation. Though some people |
| Expedia search their databases for hotels available on | | | | are wary of entering credit card numbers over the |
| your needed dates, and they list the best deals for | | | | Internet, most sites take great care in securing and |
| you. You can choose to search according to location, | | | | encoding the information, making identity theft virtually |
| rate range, hotel chain or room size. When using sites | | | | impossible. However, if you are not comfortable |
| like Hotwire, the more flexible your dates are, the | | | | completing your transaction online, many hotels allow |
| greater your chances are of getting an inexpensive | | | | you to reserve the nights and to call and complete the |
| rate. However, even if your dates are set in stone, you | | | | booking over the phone. Unfortunately, sometimes |
| may still be able to find a cheaper hotel rate using | | | | completing a transaction this way disqualifies you from |
| these sites than you would on your own. | | | | receiving special Internet rates. |