Getting 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 head to TripAdvisor or booking. com, ratestogo. com and similar sites. The particular nagging question you'll have is "did I get the best deal? inch Sometimes the best deal is not just the price you pay, but the room area, a special offer that has nothing to do with price but everything to do with preserving money--like getting a free tour instead 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 these people list, is immediately go to the state'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 website, not to mention their direct line 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 possess on booking. com or whichever 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 a room upgrade, free meal at their restaurant, etc . ). <br><br>Last however, not least there are a growing number of in city and in country hotel web 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 hotels they list.