SIgnacio80

Hi! I'm planning a trip to Europe May or September 2010 and I'm looking at the hotels right now. I'm wondering, is it better and safer to reserve directly thru the Hotels or use one of the travel sites. I'm reading bad reviews with Venere.com and some other sites. I'm afraid that when we show up, there's no room reserved for us or we will be given a hard time. When do I start reserving hotels and flights? Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

PeaceOut

Sometimes you get your best rate by reserving directly with the hotel. But some European hotels don't use e-mail, which makes it difficult to communicate without calling and faxing.

We used Venere.com without problems. Except we could have saved 10% by reserving directly with one hotel at least.

If you're using frequent flier miles, start planning now to get the flights you want. Plan hotels and cities after you've booked the flights. You will probably want to book open-jaw RT, so you don't arrive and depart from the same city (avoids backtracking).

Subway_Scoundrel

I have never had a problem with sites and I think I have used venere a couple of times. I usually check both and see which is cheapest and go with that. But what I do, is to watch the rates for a long time. Sept/2010 is a long way off.

MFNYC

I usually book direct via email and fax because the direct rates are generally as good as, if not better than a booking site, although I would consider using a reputable booking site if the rate is significantly better, and I didn't have any special requests.

Special requests being, a quiet room location, a certain kind of bed configuration, that kind of thing. When I booked for my family of 4, I always did direct because few booking sites even list quads, so I had to check directly with the hotels to see how they can accommodate us (my kids don't like sharing beds, so I needed a queen and 2 twin beds which is not always an option).

That being said, I think Venere is reputable, as is Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity.

MFNYC

ALso if you use a booking site, or even directly with the hotel, always make sure you check the cancellation policy. If you book well in advance, and rates do drop, it's nice to have the option to rebook, or change hotels without any penalties.

Trisha1

Try both. You could possibly save more by calling direct remembering the time differential.

dwdvagamundo

One other reason to use a booking service: while researching hotels in southern Italy and Sicily, I found many one star ratings that were based on the hotel's having lost the reservation or simply overbooked. We booked through various booking sites and did not have this problem, even at hotels with bad reps on this score.

Re the special requests mentioned by mfnyc: many of the booking sites let you put in special requests, and you can always E-mail the hotel with your requests.

yestravel

I have used booking sites and never had a problem. I always email the hotel directly a few weeks b4 arrival t confirm that everthing is ok. The one problem I had with a reservation was where I booked directly with the hotel.

Lexma90

I book directly with a hotel whenever possible. In fact, if I can't book directly, I usually look at another hotel. One time, the only option in our price range was to book through venere.com. It worked fine; I actually emailed the hotel directly to confirm that they had on their records the reservation I'd made through venere.com (and they did).

Primarily, I use the hotel websites, rather than call or fax. I usually end up emailing the hotel, as well. As we're often travelling with our kids, and need a larger room, emailing and working directly works best. Also, if you have other special requests, like a room with a balcony if it's available, it's easier to do directly with the hotel.

Re your other post, I would also recommend that lodging nearer train stations isn't usually the best part of town, and also not always centrally located. Allocate your vacation dollars by taking a taxi (or public transportation) from the train station to a centrally-located hotel. From there, you can more easily get to the sites you want to see and visit during your stay (usually just by walking).

Do some searches here on Fodor's, and using tripadvisor, to find hotels in your price range.

If you're going in May, and plan to stay in larger cities (Rome, London, Paris), then I'd probably book those rooms now (but after you book your plane tickets). For smaller cities, you can wait a while.

sheri_lp

I can also vouch for Venere, I've used it twice and everything went well.

2010

For a recent trip to Italy, I booked directly with each B&B/hotel via email, 5 in all. In a few instances, we were given a better rate than was advertised on the website. We were required to provide a credit card number to hold the reservations.

I printed out the confirmation letters to take with us.

Because I had made the bookings so far in advance, I sent emails to reconfirm our reservations about 4 weeks before our departure. I also was able to indicate when we would be arriving at each destination. It was reassuring to know that our reservation was still on their books & that they were expecting us!

Whether you decide to use an on-line booking site or contact the hotel directly, be sure to understand the hotel's cancellation policy & payment options (cc, cash only; some will offer a discount with cash).

2010

MFNYC

To sum it up, it's always good to:
1. Stick with reputable booking sites
2. Compare prices at booking sites and hotel sites.
3. Carefully read cancellation and payment policies before booking anywhere.
4. follow up with hotel directly for any special requests when using a booking site, even if you entered the info on the reservation.
5. re-confirm with hotel before arrival.
6. bring any hardcopy confirmations and/or receipts you may have.
7. If you book well in advance, periodically re-check the rates. Sometimes they fluctuate and you can rebook if rates go down (I've done this on a few occasions)

lmhornet

In my many years of travel and having searched rates many hundreds of times if not thousands of times, I have found hotel booking sites to offer a lower rate exactly 1 time.

Hotel booking site are largely parasite middlemen who charge exactly the same as or more than the hotel. Often, they just quote a price for the most expensive rooms. For a superior double rather than a standard, etc. They also hide fees and taxes in many cases. They just add another layer of complication and things that can go wrong. They offer no real convenience or price advantage. I don't understand why anyone would ever want to use one.

Like everything else, however, there are always exceptions to the rule and I recently found one. Hotels that doesn't have online booking or one which will not let you book far ahead. If you write and ask for a room, hotels almost always quote you the most expensive room that meets your description - if you ask for a double, they will offer you a superior double, etc. I found a case where hotel sites have quotes for lower priced rooms, (a standard double, etc.

basingstoke2

I always check both and have found pretty much an even split. At times when the booking site is cheaper, the hotel will match it or even better it, so it gives you a bargaining chip.

november_moon

I check both as well and sometimes I reserve my rooms directly with the hotel and sometimes through a booking service. Just depends on who has the best rate.

Graziella5b

On the whole I agree with the policy to make reservations directly with the hotel. Specially if they are small hotels. No complains and always I feel more confortable ro have more possibilities of a cancelation on the last moment. We go often to Europe and this way we have stablished personal bonds with some properties with pays a lot. Italians in particular have the tendency of always giving a special rate for those returning clients. It is in their blood and even if it is not much it is a welcoming feeling for me. Even in small properties, the fact they know you , sometimes they send a fruit plate etc is very welcoming.
Instead when I go to a big city like Toronto o New York often to bigger hotels I use different systems including using some reservation sites or priceline.

Paul1950

I guess it depends on the hotel, season, demand, and such, but we usually find better rates using a booking website. They often have better cancellation policies, too. But "usually" isn't always, so I check direct contact with the hotel and several different booking websites before making the reservation.

Paul1950

Oh, you can make reservations now if the hotel accepts them--as long as the cancellation policy is good.

annhig

if i have time, I do a "belt and braces " approach -

1. go to trip advisor and find the hotels they recommend.

2. then compare the rates offered by the booking sites hat come up associated with each choice.

3. then go to the hotel web-site, and see what they offer.

recently, I got what I thought was a good deal with a booking site for a hotel in Bratislava. [better than the hotel was offering!] then about a week before, i checked again, and the hotel's rate had come right down. so I cancelled the website booking, and booked direct.

i have got some spectacular deals with the booking websites, but usually only if I have been prepared to book ahead with no cancellation option.