Booking a Hotel Online - Simple Strategies for DIY Room Booking

If you are planning a free and easy trip overseas, booking a hotel online for accommodation can be exciting yet most frustrating. There are numerous websites that promise you guaranteed accommodation bookings with great discounts. However, not all online hotel sites are the same and one should adopt some strategies to ensure successful booking of accommodation.

It is advisable to make a booking in advance rather than try to get a room after arriving because it gives the traveller peace of mind that they will have somewhere to sleep once they arrive at their destination. It is also a good idea when travelling to a popular tourist destination, especially during holiday seasons.

To book a hotel room online, you can do it at home from the hotel's own web site or at the web site of an agency. Nowadays, most hotels have their own web site. However, the information may not be updated often and busy periods are not shown clearly. In that case, look for the "Contact us" page or send an email to enquire about room availability. There is a checklist to follow:

1. Check whether your preferred rooms are available.
2. Request for price quotes for the specific period that you wish to stay.
3. Provide all personal details of other people who will be staying with you.
4. Directions to the hotel
5. Any other special requests.

You should get a response in a few days. In countries in which English is not widely spoken, it may be a good idea to send your email questions in batches, rather than fire off all questions at once, as this may lead to lengthy delays or non-replies.

Payment for booking a hotel online is usually made by credit cards without exceptions. In cases of cancellations, hotels usually charge you for one night if you cancel less than 24 hours before arrival. In popular tourist locations such Las Vegas, this minimum notice may be as long as 72 hours. Sometimes, a simple phone call may be enough to cancel a booking, provided enough notice is given to the hotel.

It is believed that the best hotels are those just newly opened or renovated. Beyond being new and modern, they need to attract clientele, and may strive to offer more comfort or services for less money. Go to internet forums or YouTube to solicit testimonials from visitors who have stayed in new hotels. For people looking for bargains, many hotels try to sell off their unsold rooms at discounts to specialist 'last minute' travel portals such as Priceline or Zuji. The reduced rates available from these portals are not usually advertised in the hotels because the hotels do not want to advertise these lower rates to guests who are paying full rates.