Also, if you are staying mostly at one or two chains, sign up for their "frequent stay" program where you receive points for your stays...Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites are both Hilton properties (HHonors Program), Marriott has Courtyards and Fairfield Inn and Holiday Inn Express, Intercontinental, etc. all have such programs. Sometimes being a member entitles you to free upgrades or breakfast. And joining is free. Even if you don't think you will ever use the points you earn for free room nights, most of the programs offer the opportunity to use points for merchandise, gift certificates, etc.

Hmmm...that's a good point about the third party issue. I can see why I'd get grade B service when I should be getting grade A...

Should I just call all these hotels up? And I think I might sign up for the frequent stay program. Has anyone seen "Up In the Air" with George Clooney? I'd like to book a million rooms in one chain :) And then receive some sort of exclusive cryptic club card haha

Then again, when do I have the time to travel a million times :/

I use www.kayak.com to compare hotel prices and look for discounts. I put in my dates and do a quick check. I prefer to book on the hotel website but have gotten very nice rooms at a discount, by booking through third parties. I always check the cancellation policy.

I also use Hotwire and Priceline when I stay in large cities, I bid 4 stars and have always been happy. I do check www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com to see what hotels are showing up and the amounts of the winning bids.

Where have y'all traveled to? I really want to go to Alaska next to visit my friend. Has anyone been there yet?

I've used Priceline before to book flights, maybe I'll book a hotel too.

You don't need to call up "all" the hotels. I narrow it down by doing research on the internet, then contact just the 2-3 finalists. I don't stay at chains so have never been part of a 'frequent stay' club.

No I've never been to Alaska (no interest). I like places with beaches and palm trees myself! You might want to start a separate thread with that question, since the title of this one is only about booking hotels

Since you are traveling with you parents, have you considered renting a condo instead of a hotel room. You can view the individual units, price them, check availability, and book the unit online over the web very simply. www.ExclusiveGetawaysHawaii is a good site for multiple islands and is very functional.

Since you are traveling with you parents, have you considered renting a condo instead of a hotel room. You can view the individual units, price them, check availability, and book the unit online over the web very simply. www.ExclusiveGetawaysHawaii.com is a good site for multiple islands and is very functional.

Yes, I have thought about renting a condo, but it all depends on the location and price. And we love love love Hawaii!

After reading everyone's opinions on booking hotels online, I did a little research and came across this bizarre site called victimsofexpedia.com. It's all nightmare stories on how folks were scammed! I'd like to believe that this doesn't happen frequently, but it sounds like it does. I think I will indeed book directly through the hotels to be safe :)

I always book directly with hotels, have for years, in Europe, Hawaii, Mexico. It's not that I hate or do not trust Expedia, I have simply never seen any benefit to using them. And potentially problems arise that never come when you book yourself with a hotel.

By the time I walk into a hotel I have had extensive emails back & forth with a person I'm on a 1st name basis with in their reservations department. So if something isn't right, I can say "When I talked to Sonia, she said xxx" or whatever. It's always very friendly and I've never gotten a bad room or bait & switch using this method.