Having the Best Hotel Rates

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