hotelclub.com is a great website for finding cheap hotel rates
 

My sister-in-law is going to Italy in March and has reserved several 4* hotels through this website, including Hotel Metropole in Venice for 120 euros a night. The only downside is that you have to pay for the rooms when you reserve them. This site is very easy to use.

BAD EXPERIENCES...Watch this space

While I haven't had any experience at all with hotelclub.com, I certainly appreciate the benefits of not having to pay for my hotel until I stay there and being able to cancel my reservation if need be up until 48 hours prior to my stay which is offered with venere.com.

Be careful! You're much better off to get a price from them and then deal directly with the hotel! Tell the hotel the price you were quoted (you may want to forward the online information to them) and ask if they will match it. 99% of the time they will be delighted to do so. It's a better deal for them (they don't have to discount it to the wholesaler) and it's a much better deal for you. If there are any problems with the reservation, if you have to cancel it or if there are any complaints, it's MUCH easier to deal directly with the hotel than through a non-caring third party vendor. I'm speaking from very recent experience

Folks -- Sally posted this almost <b>three</b> years ago. rsup has topped several old moldy threads to say exactly the same thing . . . . .

Yes Janice, I noticed that too and am interested to know about the negative experience as his/her trip report on Northern Spain recommends the site. I am confused - rsup4429, can you report back with details please?

I used Expedia a couple of times and although I could not fault their help line and customer service, both times I ended up with the worst room in the house. Although both were four star hotels, I ended up in a one-star room - the maid's room, I think :(

I have been able to get an equivelent or better rate than any of those hotel sites by either contacting the hotel directly by e-mail, using the hotels' website or going through a TA, all of which gave me the option of cancelling 48-24 hours before date of arrival and no pre-paying, which I detest.

janisj So waht!! to you work for them?
I sure did post it several times people need to be aware, and be able to find answers easy, via the search engine.