Travel advice: Comparing hotel rates

By Sophie Butler 1216PM GMT fifteen March 2010

Comments 2 |

Sophie Butler compared online and representative prices for a road house in Rome Photo Alamy

"Advice please," contend a integrate from Devon who wish to applaud their marriage anniversary in style. "We have flights to Rome in April, but no accommodation. Should we hit the road house directly, or book around an online agent?"

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Unfortunately, there"s no decisive answer, but it"s positively loyal that the approach you book a road house can have a big disproportion to the cost you pay. For example, the road house competence have a special graduation usually advertised on the own site. Or an online representative competence have negotiated a quite good rate. Or you competence come opposite a "best-price guarantee" that will review or kick any alternative understanding around.

Time outlayed comparing prices on the web will roughly regularly save income infrequently a good understanding of money, quite where top-end hotels are concerned. The range of rates I"ve picked up next show how you could have a saving of some-more than �150 for the same place to live requisitioned over the same week end dates.

Based on a stand in room with a queen-size bed at The Inn at the Roman Forum (a five-star road house in Rome"s city centre), these prices are for dual people pity a two-night week end mangle in Apr (9-11) and embody a smorgasboard breakfast. Note that rates are theme to accessibility and can shift at any time.

When comparing prices it"s critical to check either breakfast is enclosed (breakfast can supplement �20 per chairman in smarter hotels and websites don"t regularly have the house basement clear). There competence additionally be taxation and use charges to pay. Read by the conditions and conditions, quite when it comes to the reinstate and termination small print, since agents competence levy their own restrictions. For example, Ebookers says cancellations or changes done up to 4 days prior to the day of attainment are theme to a 100 per cent charge, whilst Travel Intelligence adheres to the hotel"s own some-more kindly termination policy, with no additional penalty. How prices for the same road house in Rome review

�491.79 Ebookers (ebookers.com) �513.32 Hotelclub (hotelclub.net) �522.44 Expedia (expedia.com) �522.44 Thomas Cook (thomascook.com) �590.02 Travel Intelligence (travel intelligence.com)�645 Hotel"s own website (theinnattheromanforum.com)

J P, by email, writes

I"m 80 and have a not prolonged ago renewed pushing licence, nonetheless cannot find a car-hire association peaceful to rent to my age organisation in Scotland.

Sophie Butler replies

Try Avis (08445 818181; avis.co.uk), that doesn"t have a extent age extent as prolonged as you have a current pushing licence.

R Y, from Bath, writes

Are there any small journey ships that concentration some-more on ominous talks than on "live entertainment"?

Sophie Butler replies

MV Minerva, operated by Swan Hellenic (0844 871 4603; swanhellenic.com), offers lecturers and after-dinner speakers.

S R, from London, writes

Are there "learn to shoot" holidays accessible for groups of friends? We need to master the basics.

Sophie Butler replies

Loyton Lodge in Devon (01398 331051; loytonlodge.com) offers a "Shooting Etiquette" week end from �360 per chairman formed on groups of 10.

R G, from Isle of Wight, writes

My physically means but widowed aged mom needs a shift of scene. Any ideas?

Sophie Butler replies

Manor Farm in Wiltshire (01666 840271; verygentlebreaks.co.uk) offers relaxing, useful breaks for single, comparison people.

G F, by email, writes

Do you know of a association that organises grassed area tours in France?

Sophie Butler replies

Brightwater Holidays (01334 657155; brightwaterholidays.com) has grassed area tours to the Loire, Brittany, Riviera and Giverny.