| If you've decided you will be more comfortable on | | | | make a note of the following guidelines... |
| your holiday with hotel reservations in hand but also | | | | If you e-mail the hotel directly, tell them the number of |
| need budget travel, then you're going to have some | | | | rooms you want and how many people per room. |
| decisions to make. How are you going to get those | | | | They will need to know the date of your arrival and |
| reservations? Let's look at the options. | | | | the date of your departure... so the number of nights |
| You could use a travel agent. If you're planning a trip to | | | | you will be staying. |
| an exotic location, this might be your best bet. Travel | | | | Remember that in most places in the world, dates are |
| agents know the hotels and lodging in the areas of | | | | written with the day/month/year, not with the month |
| their expertise, and they can give you good guidance | | | | day/year as it is in the U.S. To avoid confusion on any |
| and advice for budget travel. | | | | continent, we write the month out rather than using |
| You could use one of the big Internet booking | | | | numbers. |
| agencies. Those can help you get pretty good deals. | | | | Once you hear back from them, if they have a room |
| It's worthwhile to check two or three of them to see | | | | at the price you want, accept the reservation. You |
| how they rate different hotels, so you'll get what you | | | | may have to send your credit card number. We're |
| want. Whenever you're looking at hotels and | | | | reluctant to send our credit card number in e-mail. You |
| bed-and-breakfasts on the Internet, remember, any | | | | can call and give them your credit card number. |
| place can look good with some creative photography. | | | | If you have used the hotel's own site to contact them, |
| We recommend avoiding the companies that don't tell | | | | make sure it is a secure site before you send your |
| you the name of the hotel until after you make your | | | | credit card number to them that way. |
| reservation. Also remember that when hotels are tied | | | | Be sure to read the hotel cancellation policies carefully |
| to booking agencies, they lose a cut to that agency. | | | | before you make a reservation. |
| You might be just as well off booking directly with the | | | | If you make hotel reservations with one of the big |
| hotel. | | | | travel booking sites or with the hotel itself, beware of |
| It pays to find a good budget travel guide. If you like | | | | non-refundable reservations. |
| their philosophy, you will probably like the hotels they | | | | When you make your hotel reservations, you will |
| recommend. You can call the hotel directly. Chances | | | | receive a confirmation by e-mail. Print it, and take it |
| are you will be able to talk to someone who speaks | | | | with you. Don't delete the original e-mail until you have |
| English. You can contact almost all of them over the | | | | completed your trip, and you know you have been |
| Internet these days, either by e-mail or by contacting | | | | billed correctly. |
| them through their own web site. | | | | If your travel dates are firm, you'll find that to get into |
| Although budget travel tips are on top of the agenda, | | | | the most popular and best value hotels, it's worthwhile |
| you need to take so many other points into | | | | to make those hotel reservations ahead. |
| consideration to avoid a disappointing vacation, so | | | | |