Obtaining the Best Hotel Rates

Therefore it is time to book a hotel in some foreign city that you have never been to before. <br>Like most people you'll go to TripAdvisor or booking. com, ratestogo. com and similar sites. The particular nagging question you'll have is "did I get the best deal? " Sometimes the best deal is not just the price you pay, but the room area, a special offer that has nothing related to price but everything to do with conserving money--like getting a free tour rather that may actually be worth more than the particular discount on a booking service. <br><br>What I do when I travel since the large booking engines never give you the website or e mail of the hotels they list, is immediately go to the country's national tourist board website or maybe the city's official website. These sites have always an amazingly complete list of all the hotels--and it gives their e mail and web address, not to mention their direct line cell phone and fax. <br><br>If you have Skype or some other VOIP (voice more than internet phone), and you've examined the best offer on the booking service sites, it's time to call the hotel and simply TELL them what offer you have got on booking. com or what ever other site you used plus say that you'd like to book direct in order to save them the commission (which is 6-15% so you do the math as to how much you can ask for--like an area upgrade, free meal at their own restaurant, etc . ). <br><br>Last although not least there are a growing number of within city and in country hotel sites created by locals who don't get the commission but simply charge a listing fee. Sites like these allow and encourage DIRECT booking to the hotels they list.