The Best Way To Book Your Hotel In Thailand

Let’s look at the available options:

Online with your airline reservation, Online form directly with the hotel, Phone call or email to the hotel, Your local travel agent, Online form with an in-country booking agent.

If you book your flight online with a company like Expedia or Travelocity, you will be given the option to add a hotel to your airfare. The prices are usually outrageous and the hotels listed are at the very high end.

Booking directly from the hotel online is a good option if the hotel has an online booking form and it is secure. Check for the little lock at the bottom of your Internet browser.

Phone calls to overseas locations can be expensive and there is no guarantee of an English-speaking receptionist. Even if you make the booking over the phone, there is no guarantee in writing that your room will be waiting for you.

Booking via email can be dangerous if the hotel requires credit card information since your email is not secure.

Your local travel agent may or may not know the current situation or prices in Thailand. Hotels in Thailand have different rates during different times of the year. Prices are greatly reduced during low season and can be much more expensive during high season. There may also be additional fees during Christmas and New Years. Your local agent may not know all of these details.

Booking through an online agent actually located in Thailand is your best bet. They will have access to many more hotels in all price ranges and all locations. They will also be privy to specials and promotions that may not be published outside the country. Also, they will speak both Thai and English, have a secure server for orders, and respond promptly to your enquiries. Their web sites will also publish reviews of the hotels.

Do your homework, check the prices directly at the hotel’s web site, and then visit one of the many in-country online hotel-booking sites. Ensure that the site is secure, find a hotel in your price range and vacation spot, and book your room the easy and safe way.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

Larry Westfall is the owner of My Thai Links – One of the largest collections of Thai web sites on the Internet - Over 10,000 Thai Links

Hotels And Holiday Booking

6 Ways To Save Money On Your Travel

Have you been planning a vacation or a quick getaway? If you are, it is obviously important that your holiday is perfect. For this, the right planning is the first step. If it's a known destination, you could do with planning yourself. However, if it's an unknown venture, you must take the help of a professional, who has the right resources and expertise to help you. Herein we provide some tips on how to plan the perfect getaway without paying enormous bills.

1. Hiring the services of an expert
As mentioned above, unless you're an expert on the destination, it would be a great idea to hire the services of a travel agent or travel company. With the increase in the number of OTA's, you would actually be spoilt for choice. With their domain knowledge and expertise you might actually be able to save some money. Sign up for their newsletters, mailers and travel alerts so you are the first one to know on any special offers that come up. A number of travel companies also provide special deals and discounts on using a certain credit card – so check out on those before you book.

2. Planning ahead
This one is kind of tricky. How early is enough? I'd say that you should start planning at least 2 months in advance. This is especially important if you are planning to travel in the peak season or your kid's summer holidays. Start doing your research online and check out on rates available. The earlier you book, the better your chances of bagging a cheap deal!

3. Travelling during off-season
Unless imperative, skip the actual holiday season and travel
when it is low. Alternately, travel to places that are not likely to be thronged with tourists during your holiday. The lower the season is, the higher your bargaining chances.

4. Selecting an all-inclusive tour package
Unless you are going camping and backpacking, get an all-inclusive tour for yourself. This has two advantages: if you book with all inclusions, you're likely to get a cheaper deal, since separately, various elements like transfers and meals tend to cost more. Also, a pre-planned trip takes the load off your head when it comes to securing inclusions. I recommend packages that at least include transfers, some sightseeing and breakfast.

5. Save money on hotels
You don't always have to stay at a five-star hotel – there are a huge number of 3 star hotels too that provide great service at really affordable prices. An alternate to this would be staying at a service apartment that comes with good rooms, a kitchenette and even the services of a butler.

6. Research online
This is best done by logging on to travel websites that often feature deals and discounts. If you're booking a hotel, you could also research on the hotels own website – they often have lower deals than most OTA's. Not just the price, I recommend checking up on the user ratings and reviews posted by actual customers as well as photos of hotels and rooms.

Budget travel must never be a horrid experience. When done through the right channels, they actually turn out to be really memorable experiences. With some simple tips and tricks, you can actually save enough to spend on really meaningful things – such as shopping or a nice meal for the two of you!

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