Websites for Accomodation Booking in Ireland and Scotland
Oct 17th, 2010, 01:43 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 645
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Websites for Accomodation Booking in Ireland and Scotland
Can you please tell me your favorite website for booking accommodations in Ireland and Scotland? This could be for hotels, B&B's or guesthouses. Thanks!
Oct 17th, 2010, 02:31 PM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
trip advisor. It helps to have an idea of the area or town you want to go. For example: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g1...nd-Hotels.html
Oct 17th, 2010, 03:15 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oct 17th, 2010, 03:52 PM
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Most all of the B and B's we used on our Ireland trip only took bookings by e-mail or phone. We found Trip Advisor a great resource to help with selecting and reviewing properties, but then one is re-directed to a site such as Orbitz or Expedia for booking-which most small B and B's don't use. I found it worked best to select a few properties in each town I was planning to visit, peruse their website, and then request accommodation via their "inquiry form". The owners would usually respond by email within 24 hours with availability. Then either call or email them back to make your reservation.
Oct 17th, 2010, 04:25 PM
#5
I don't regularly use any booking site - don't really see the benefit.
If I know I want to stay in - say Ballachulish - I just google Ballachulish B&B, or Ballachulish hotel, or Ballachulish accommodations -- and then do my own investigating/booking.
Why use a middle man?
If I know I want to stay in - say Ballachulish - I just google Ballachulish B&B, or Ballachulish hotel, or Ballachulish accommodations -- and then do my own investigating/booking.
Why use a middle man?
Oct 18th, 2010, 07:03 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you are asking which website is best for booking, it's almost always best to book directly with the place you plan on staying. The websites I listed are useful if one is looking for accommondations. janisj's suggestion of googling the town you plan on staying in is also one I use, along with others, in order to get the broadest range of options.
Oct 18th, 2010, 08:02 AM
#7
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g1...nd-Hotels.html
We just returned from Ireland and used the above site to find all of our B&B's. After choosing a property, we went to them direct to book. Each booking was successful in every way.
For the rest of our Ireland trip we used "Fodorite" reccommendations (ex: Dan Dooley car rental)and read the guidebooks and trip reports from Fodors and Rick Steeves.
Good Luck!
We just returned from Ireland and used the above site to find all of our B&B's. After choosing a property, we went to them direct to book. Each booking was successful in every way.
For the rest of our Ireland trip we used "Fodorite" reccommendations (ex: Dan Dooley car rental)and read the guidebooks and trip reports from Fodors and Rick Steeves.
Good Luck!
Oct 18th, 2010, 11:40 AM
#8
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oct 19th, 2010, 05:29 PM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,009
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While I book hotels directly 99% of the time, I have sometimes found better prices for UK and German hotels by using www.booking.com or www.hotel.com.
Oct 21st, 2010, 04:25 PM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,009
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oct 21st, 2010, 06:02 PM
#14
Most of the sites mentioned are semi-OK for hotels but pretty much useless for B&Bs.
B&Bs are one-off, individually owned and quite small. 2 or 3 bedrooms usually. You don't get those sorts of places through expedia or other on-line booking engines.
And TA is really not very reliable for B&Bs since they are so small and might have a couple hundred visitors in a year - maybe 10-20 % of whom even know tripadvisor exists. Whereas a 30 room hotel may have 3 or 4 thousand visitors and a 100 room hotel upwards of 10,000. TA just isn't useful for small properties.
B&Bs are one-off, individually owned and quite small. 2 or 3 bedrooms usually. You don't get those sorts of places through expedia or other on-line booking engines.
And TA is really not very reliable for B&Bs since they are so small and might have a couple hundred visitors in a year - maybe 10-20 % of whom even know tripadvisor exists. Whereas a 30 room hotel may have 3 or 4 thousand visitors and a 100 room hotel upwards of 10,000. TA just isn't useful for small properties.
Oct 22nd, 2010, 09:01 AM
#17
"<i>so it is possible!</i>
Yes, it is <i>possible</i> -- but the VAST majority of B&Bs are not bookable through those sorts of sites.
"<i>There are also specific websites that only have B&B listings in the UK.</i>"
Sure, there are general B&B sites. But my question is why is it necessary to use a middle man when you can e-mail most any B&B directly and get individual answers/service?
Some may want to rely on these sorts of sites - which is fine. I've even used them a time or two. But I generally have MUCH better results finding my own place. Those sites do not guarantee anything - and do charge the owners which does tend to raise rates.
Now, when booking self-catering cottages -- I do use agencies maybe 1/2 the time. But 'non-agency' rentals tend to run 10%-20% cheaper.
Yes, it is <i>possible</i> -- but the VAST majority of B&Bs are not bookable through those sorts of sites.
"<i>There are also specific websites that only have B&B listings in the UK.</i>"
Sure, there are general B&B sites. But my question is why is it necessary to use a middle man when you can e-mail most any B&B directly and get individual answers/service?
Some may want to rely on these sorts of sites - which is fine. I've even used them a time or two. But I generally have MUCH better results finding my own place. Those sites do not guarantee anything - and do charge the owners which does tend to raise rates.
Now, when booking self-catering cottages -- I do use agencies maybe 1/2 the time. But 'non-agency' rentals tend to run 10%-20% cheaper.
Oct 23rd, 2010, 10:20 AM
#19
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
But Janis is right. When I plan my trips I type in the name of the town/village and look under Accomodations. I review them, send e-mails and make my own booking. Very easy and I have not been dissapointed provided I stay at 4 * B&B's, although some 3* places can be a good value.
Oct 23rd, 2010, 03:19 PM
#20
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,009
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
rogerdodger, you and janis aren't the only ones who do this. I was just offering the OP another option since she was looking for websites.
When I book hotels for Germany and Austria, I always go to the town's own website and check accommodations that way. But I use other websites also to get the most diverse number of hotels, etc., to choose from.
When I book hotels for Germany and Austria, I always go to the town's own website and check accommodations that way. But I use other websites also to get the most diverse number of hotels, etc., to choose from.
