Hotel Reservations

Before using any method to reserve a room at a hotel, do your background research on the hotel by reading traveler reviews and experiences on websites like Start Local.

Go through the full list of services offered by the hotel and address any special features or conditions you're looking for. For example, if you're traveling with young kids, you'd be on the look-out for child entertainment & minding at the hotel, high chairs in restaurants, and so on. If you're looking for a honeymoon hotel, you might be searching for romantic couple items, such as in-room music or nightlife. Also decide if you want to stay in a luxury hotel, a hotel chain (generally more standardised), a mid-range hotel with discounted deals or in a cheap hotel with the bare necessities.

Once your basic research is complete, you may want to consider the following questions:

• If you are a little flexible with your travel dates does the price differ dramatically from week to week? Do they even have vacancies when you want to stay?
• How much for one night at the hotel? 3 nights? 7 nights? What room discounts can the hotel offer you? Do they have any special deals during the period of your stay? Are you eligible for media discounts, student discounts, senior discounts, off-season discounts or any other special traveler discounts? ?
• What are the different room rates available? Ask about the different rates according to the room's placement within the hotel, e.g. a room with a view vs. one facing a brick wall, a renovated hotel wing vs. the non-renovated one, a top-level room vs. one on the ground floor.
• What kinds of services are available during your stay? Will you have wi-fi in your room, travel tours desk, etc? Make sure the staff notes any important particulars you want them to know about you (e.g. wheel chair access required) when making the final booking.
• When does the hotel's check-in and check-out start? Can you get a late check-out? Do they have shuttle services from and to the airport? Can you easily get public (cabs, buses) or private (limos) transport from the hotel?
• Do all the online reviews & recommendations about the hotel concur with one another?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you get the best possible hotel deal and ensure you receive the best (and cheapest) rate while making a reservation.