Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
example, an international association of dentists is in town, finding a room can be
difficult.
Until recently, many tourism industry observers said Glasgow suffered from a
shortage of hotel rooms, but new places such as the Radisson SAS have changed the
equation. Whenever you're coming, it's recommended that you reserve a room in
advance. Some rates are predictably high, but many business-oriented hotels offer
bargains on weekends, and the number of budget options is increasing.
The Glasgow and Clyde Valley tourism office (www.visitscotland.com) offers an
Information & Booking Hot Line
(
&
0845/225-5121
from within the U.K., or
01506/832-121 from outside the U.K.). Lines are open (local time) Monday to Fri-
day from 8am to 8pm, Saturday from 9am to 5:50pm, and Sunday from 10am to
4pm. The fax number is 01506/832-222. The fee for this booking service is £4.
Tourist Board Rankings
VisitScotland ranks the lodgings at hundreds of hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, and self-
catering apartments. While helpful, these stars are largely based upon available
amenities, such as 24-hour room service, ironing boards, or spas, which may not be
relevant for each and every traveler. Also, not all hotels and guesthouses are part of
the scheme, which costs them money to join, although they may be no less
attractive.
Saving on Your Hotel Room
The
rack rate
is the maximum rate that a hotel charges for a room. Hardly anybody
pays this price, however, except in high season or on holidays. To lower the cost of
your room:
W
Ask about special rates or other discounts.
You may qualify for corporate,
student, military, senior, frequent flyer, trade union, or other discounts.
W
Dial direct.
When booking a room in a chain hotel, you'll often get a better deal
by calling the individual hotel's reservation desk rather than the chain's main
number.
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Book online.
Many hotels offer Internet-only discounts, or supply rooms to
Priceline, Hotwire, or Expedia at rates much lower than the ones you can get
through the hotel itself.
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Remember the law of supply and demand.
Resort hotels are most crowded
and therefore most expensive at weekends, so discounts are usually available for
midweek stays. Business hotels in downtown locations are busiest during the
week, so you can expect big discounts over the weekend. Many hotels have high-
season and low-season prices, and booking even 1 day after high season ends can
mean big discounts.
W
Look into group or long-stay discounts.
If you come as part of a large group,
you should be able to negotiate a bargain rate. Likewise, if you're planning a long
stay (at least 5 days), you might qualify for a discount. As a general rule, expect 1
night free after a 7-night stay.
W
Avoid excess charges and hidden costs.
When you book a room, ask whether
the hotel charges for parking. Use your own cellphone, pay phones, or prepaid
phone cards instead of dialing direct from hotel phones, which usually have exor-
bitant rates. Finally, ask about local taxes and service charges, which can increase
the cost of a room by 15% or more.
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