Booking Hotel Rooms in Europe

ABOVE: Hotel Negresco in Nice, France..

Hotels, like any other commodity, are subject to the rules of supply and demand. The more flexible you are about where to stay (and when to stay), the more money you can expect to save.

For lowest rates, use a consolidator.

Hotel managers know they'll seldom fill all their rooms at the published "rack rates," so they often negotiate discount rates with consolidators like our advertising partners, Venere and HotelsCentral.com, which offer competitive rates in all hotel categories. (Another partner, Travel Intelligence, specializes in bookings at first-class and luxury hotels.)

You might be able to match consolidators' rates by showing up at the last minute and negotiating your own price for a vacant room, but you can't count on doing so--and you might not find a room at all.

Tips:

• Be patient. Computerized bookings aren't always in "real time," and it may take up to 48 hours (sometimes longer) for the booking service to get a confirmation from the hotel.

• Let the booking service offer an alternative if your first-choice hotel is full. This will save time, and it may save money during periods of high demand.

• Don't be surprised if you don't get your first choice, especially if you're booking far in advance or during busy periods. (Hotels may decline discount bookings if they think they can fill their rooms at standard rates. To put it another way, discounted room rates are like bargain air fares: They can be hard to get during periods of high demand.)

• Remember that rooms will be cheaper during low season, whether you book through a service or on your own.

Next Page > More booking tips - Page 2

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