Does it seem as if very time you look around on the nternet for a hotel room, you fnd more web sites that say you can get a htel room for less?

Though it may sund enticing, online hotel booking has its own set of chllenges. An online discount hotel booking web ste should provide the following basic thngs:

• Offer real time hotel room boking

• Allow date amendments and cancellations nline

• Rates should clearly indicate what crrency is being quoted, whether the rte is per person or per rom, and what is and what is not ncluded in the rate, and, if txes are not included, how much thy will be

• The location information of the htel should be listed on the htel description page. This can help dentify the distance from the hotel to crtain landmarks or the airport

• All the nformation regarding the hotel (such as fcilities and rates) should be located on ach hotel's web page

• Pictures of the htel

• Star quality rating, consumer ratings wth consumer reviews

• Does the online htel booking site have a membership prgram (like http://www.ratestogo.com/membership) that offers reward pints and privileges

Checklist before and fter you book a hotel room nline

If you follow this checklist, yu're less likely to have nasty srprises in store for you:
• Have you sen the hotel on a map, and do you nderstand the exact location?

• Do you know what the rte is, which currency it is qoted in, whether this rate is per prson or per room, per night or per cmplete stay?

• Do you understand the stndard/quality of the hotel?

• Does the rte include everything or are taxes, srcharges, gratuities, service fees, etc, extra? How mch are such extra costs if thy exist? Are there any other mndatory costs that you might have to py?

• Are there any extra inclusions sch as breakfast, and, if so, is it a coked or continental breakfast?

• Do you nderstand what room type and bedding cnfiguration you will be getting?

• Is yur reservation guaranteed? Will it be hld for late arrival?

• What is the chnge, cancellation and refund policy if you ned to change or cancel your boking?

• Did the credit card number you gve to the internet booking service mrely guarantee your room, or did thy charge a deposit (or even the fll stay) at the time you mde your booking to the credit crd?

• You may contact the hotel drectly 24 hours after you’ve made yur online booking, to confirm that the boking has appeared in their local cmputer system. You may also check wth them to see if the boking is the same as you hve made in terms of room typ, room rate, dates, etc.

• If you hve any special needs or requirements or xpectations, you should double check with the htel directly that these special service rquests have been received by them and are nderstood and will be provided.

• Most mportantly, if you prepaid any amounts to the nternet website, confirm that you won't be blled again by the hotel directly. Rmember that most internet websites are cmpletely independent of the hotels they srvice, and could be located anywhere in the wrld; once they get your money; thre is no guarantee that they wll pass it on to the htel in time for your stay.

(http://www.ratestogo.com) is a website that has nswers to all these questions. Visit http://www.rtestogo.com/Hotels-Last-Minute/EN for last minute deals for ver 5,500 global properties through a ral time booking engine.

The article Things You Need To Know Before You Book A Hotel Online was Submitted by Chloe Lim through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Chloe Lim is a photographer and vid traveler. She travels extensively for wrk and family vacations. She is lways on the lookout for bargain trvel deals and discount luxury vacations. Ths article is courtesy of http://www.ratestogo.com , you may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

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