90% of the time i reserve online because it is much more convenient than anything else. Generally I found, that if I go through Expdia, Orbits, Travelocity or any other respectable online business I can save money and things tend to go much more smooth then if I make the reservation with the Hotel direcly (online or via phone).

I also believe that these travel companies are screening the hotels they are offering and that the hotels are much more likely to take good care of you so they will not loose their good reputation with Expedia.

I have never tried services such as Hotwire or Priceline where you don't know the exact hotel you are getting until after paying. I think only Hotels that do not sell otherwise (for one reason or another) are likely to choose those services.

Andre

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Hi! Andre! Thanks for this reply. 

Now, I am not gonna be worried with reserving online as you have given a very concise explanation of why ticket reservation online is really convenient.  Also, when we plan to go to any place, it is also best to consult the net as there are almost everything that is available in webspace. :) 

 

I usually compare prices on several different sites. The price for the same hotel on Orbits, Travelocity and Expedia can vay quite a bit.

Sometimes I use google earth or yahoo maps to find out whats right next to the hotel (Bus stations, subway, restaurants). I try to find reviews written by other travelers.

Careful: People only write about something when they are upset or when they have something really good to say. Some hotels may enter they own raving reviews somewhere, so make sure there are more than just a handful good reviews.

Andre

Check out my Photos

I ussually made my reservations online. when I travel to Mexico I make my reservations through http://www.cancun-all-inclusive-vacation.com/, and I've never had a problem. I also Have used hotels.com and they provide good service as well.

Good luck.

Alexa

Orbits seems to work for me, makes everything alot more smooth rather then calling up the hotel. But I will have to check out some of those other one's everyone has mentioned.

Also, there are some places that will pay people to run around putting good reviews on review sites.  Take them all with a grain of salt, and the better the reviews are, the more salt you need.

Great point, sometimes you may need to just go there and find one in the general area of where you want to be, although the last time I did that the Hotel was terrible, so I dont think I will do that again.

The site www.bnbstar.com is the best B&B directoiry I am aware of. This site lists thousands bed and breakfast inns all around USA. They have Canadian section www.bnbstar.ca and thre one for UK www.bnbstar.co.uk .
 I reommend you try these links for the best results ...Thanks

I find Kayak.com quite good to quickly find out what's on offer - both hotel and flight-wise.  And, if you're after budget accommodation, hostelbookers.

Not bad. Thanks for the tip.

I always wanted to program a deal search for this site that pulls specials and coupons from tons of vendors, but I am so damn lazy ;-)  Wonder if people would be interested.

 

Hi friends,

I have  great experience regarding online hotel booking.I used to book my hotel during my tour through websites.I can suggest the website,www.asiarooms.com    Actually I prefer more to compare the price of different hotels and their reviews.As asiarooms provides a wide range of hotels it becomes easy for travoholic seeking information.So You can try it!

Not sure exactly what you mean, Toptraveller, but I think that people are ALWAYS interested in coupons and specials.

In short, a search engine that lets you find all the deals and coupons currently available and compares prices of all online booking sites.

Anyways, its just an idea.

Sounds good to me 'cause, at the end of the day, people on the Net are generally searching for the best offers going - and any deals and/or coupons would surely appeal to them.  Plus, it's a novel idea.  All the best with your plans!

Although I haven't used the online booking services for hostels so far, I think that sites like hostelbookers.com or hostelworld.com are reasonably well done. Even when you prefer to do your bookings the old way (or just show up and look around), you can use the online services to find out the names and addresses of many available hostels.

I like the hostel booking sites because you can find out what facilities they have, get an idea of rates, get maps, and see photos.  The photos are usually taken when the place is brand new, but you get an idea, anyway.  I never use them to book, though I would if it were high season someplace where beds are hard to find. 

(If people are advertising a good travel site on here and only have 1-2 posts may be a bad site) Recently came back from a trip and staid in a tent, so if you really want to rough it out there try bringing your own car with your own tent or trailer.

I absolutely agree with you and wish to recommend trivago , which is a premier European online-service for travellers seeking advice regarding their travel destinations. The company partners with leading German and international travel companies and affiliate companies include expedia.de, InterContinental Hotels Group, hotel.de, venere.com, and Bookings.com. Currently two million visitors turn to trivago each month for the ultimate insider destination information and significant savings on travel.

trivago compares prices from multiple sources.

Our search engine helps people find hotels and package deals from travel suppliers all over the world. Unlike other travel search sites we are able to show you prices from different travel agents and supplier sites. This results in a better travel search experience, more complete search results and -best of all- savings for you. Rather than comparing prices from different sites yourself, let us do the work and save you time and money!

Our search technology is designed for rapidly changing data. In contrast to traditional search engines (e.g. Google) that are built to handle fairly static information, trivago's search technology is designed to handle highly fluid data. In the travel industry, pricing and availability inventory change constantly.

For example, hotel room suppliers often change their prices on a daily basis in accordance with fluctuations in their capacity. trivago's search technology is tailored for such shifting in price and availability, enabling us to collect dynamic information from numerous sources in a way that conventional search engines cannot.

Wow, im guessing most of these people with 1 post are probobly advertising there websites lol. Oh well, meaby they are great websites.

Usually I try to remove them, but when people already responded I can't. 

If they need to advertise via fake posts on websites I doubt that their sites are really great.

TT 

I find my experience to be great I book online and get 60% commission from the hotels and all the travel I book. The rates are very competitive with orbitz and expedia. Hotels.com Partnered with us as well as Travelocity.

Here is a link to my website please compare the prices.

Get2Packin.com

If you would like to learn how to get 60% of the commission also write off every trip you take go to the site below.

Get2Packin.biz Learn how to save $$ on travel free info

 

 

 

Perhaps a separate section needs to be set up in the forum where people can  advertise their websites!  They seem very keen to do so!

A problem with online booking of hotels is the fact that the pictures are often not very realistic... too much promotional language and poor design of the webpage is clearly a warning sign. I would choose one of the large established travel sites whenever possible. Or just check availability, and when there are plenty of rooms available simply show up without reservation... then you can pick the best room and also look around at other hotels before deciding.

Most of the online hotel booking agencies will only find the best room rates and best hotels from where they're based I guess. For example, if you want a room in Europe you can possibly get the best rates from Hotels.com or Booking.com, in America from Expedia.com or Priceline.com or in Asia must be Agoda.com, Planetholiday.com or Asiarooms.com. These're leading agencies from around regions. Just only about their geographic specialise that's all. 

I usually made my reservations online. when I travel to Manali I make my reservations through Manali tour and I've never had a problem. They provide good service.

Good luck.

Michael

I always reserve my accommodation online, its quick, easy and i have never had any problems doing so.  I usually check out the hotel reviews first before making a booking, websites like tripadvisor and also Exedia have reviews from peope who have actually stayed at the hotel. 

I usually use expedia to book a hotel, but there is also hotels.com and if you want budget accommodation then try hostelworld for an excellent selection of hostels.

I don't think there is anything wrong with doing it online if you save money, but many times you can get the same rate without having to pay a deposit by calling the hotel directly.

I usually check online then give the hotel a call. Many times the hotel will match the online rate or have one that is even lower. If they don't, I sometimes think it is worth paying a little extra at the hotel to still be able to cancel your reservation if you need to and to not have to pay for it immediately like you do when you go through expedia. 

If you do a lot of traveling during the year, getting a membership to a Luxury Destination Resort Club will pay for itself many times over.  With over 5,000 4 and 5-Star Luxury Resorts to choose from Worldwide, I do not see how you can go wrong.  Please select the URL Link in my signature area for more information!

Hi,

Thanks for all the tips that you have published, yes it is always safe to book your rooms in advance to avoid last minute rush and by booking in advance we may also get some useful offers and disounts too...

 

When reserving a hotel online you take a risk by paying an advance to ensure you're going to use their services. I usually look for those hotels that never ask for any advance money. It's the same for cruises. I got two spots reserved on Celebrity Cruise Line for my parents. They're celebrating their 35th anniversary soon.

I think this one gives you more....You can have more and more people to communicate online...Try this it's really prefarable.

Hi guys

Something you might find useful if you're travelling and need a hotel or apartment, is our niche search, which finds hotels right by places you might be visiting - for example if you're going to London and want to check out Ministry of Sound for the night, we can find you a hotel within walking distance!

Everything can be found from the Skiddle Hotels (www.skiddle.com/hotels/) search page

I suggest you to google some testimonials site or reviews site. Usually they have a big archieve of all of the testimonials. Then you can compare which one is the best and which one that you should avoid.

The first thing I do is go to Google Maps. Type in the city I'm staying and areas of interest that I will be checking out. Then search nearby hotels. Pick 3-5 hotels with the higher ratings, good location, etc. Then look at the reviews and pictures. I know it sounds like a lot, but if you plan on staying for more than just a couple days, doing your research is always best. 

I spent over $150/night in one hotel that I had never even heard of. But they had a lot of reviews and they were pretty good. Good pictures too, of the entire hotel--not just the front lol. And to this day, it's one my favorite hotels I've stayed in. 

cheap flights

Hi Helen, ]

Check this site out. www.ezhotelstravel.com

I recommend this website for booking hotels. As I've booked numerous times with them. Its all booked and prepaid online. Great savings. No cancellation fees. No service fees.

 

Guaranteed you'll be happy.

S.K 

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