Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
booking engine). Booking services extract a commission from the hotel, which logically
closes the door on special deals. Book direct.
Staying in B&Bs and small hotels can sometimes be a great way to save money over
sleeping in big hotels, but lately the big, impersonal chain hotels are offering rooms even
cheaper than the mom-and-pop places (but without breakfast); see “Big, Good-Value,
Modern Hotels” on
here
. When comparing prices between these chain hotels and B&Bs,
remember you're getting two breakfasts (about a
£
25 value) for each double room at a
B&B. Some fancy hotels rent for a third off if you arrive late on a slow day and ask for
a deal. Official “rack rates” (the highest rates a hotel charges) can be misleading, because
they often omit cheaper oddball rooms and special promo deals.
All of my recommended hotels have a website (which often has a built-in booking
form) and an email address; you can expect a response within a day (and often sooner).
If you're on a budget, it's smart to email several hotels to ask for their best price.
Comparison-shop and make your choice. This is especially helpful when dealing with the
larger hotels that use “dynamic pricing,” a computer-generated system that predicts the
demand for particular days and sets prices accordingly: High-demand days will often be
more than double the price of low-demand days. This makes it impossible for a guidebook
to list anything more accurate than a wide range of prices. I regret this trend. While you
can assume that hotels listed in this topic are good, it's very difficult to say which ones are
the better value unless you email to confirm the price.
As you look over the listings, you'll notice that some accommodations promise spe-
cial prices to Rick Steves readers who book directly with the hotel. To get these rates, you
must book direct (that is, not through a booking site like TripAdvisor or
Booking.com
),
mention this topic when you reserve, and then show the topic upon arrival. Rick Steves
discounts apply to readers with ebooks as well as printed books. Because we trust hotels
to honor this, please let me know if you don't receive a listed discount. Note, though, that
discounts understandably may not be applied to promotional rates.
In general, prices can soften if you do any of the following: offer to pay cash, stay at
least three nights, or mention this topic. You can also try asking for a cheaper room or a
discount, or offer to skip breakfast.
Looking for Hotel Deals Online
Given London's high hotel prices, using the Internet can help you score a deal. Various
websites list rooms in high-rise, three- and four-star business hotels. You'll give up the
charm and warmth of a family-run establishment, and breakfast probably won't be in-
cluded, but you might find that the price is right.
