Making reservations is no longer a simple chore

By Howard Shapiro
Knight Ridder Newspapers

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Time was, not long ago in America, that bedding down in a new and strange place took little planning. You'd call a hotel in a big city, ask the room rate, get a simple answer and make a reservation. Or you'd tire on the road, pull up to a motel, drive to the door of your room.

Nowadays, you could lose your equilibrium just trying to make reservations.

About the hotel: Do you want traditional or boutique? A place with rooms or an all-suite? A deal with or without breakfast? Will you need to exercise in the morning? Smoking or non?

And, the unsettling question: Are you paying too much for any or all of this?

Relax. (After all, that's the basic idea of a hotel.) We have a few simple tips to help you sort it all out.

Know the retail rate of the rooms in the area where you'll be staying, and at the hotel level you seek, before you make a reservation. All it takes is a few minutes' Internet search, either on the hotel sites or such travel bookers as www.expedia.com or www.hotels.com.

Ask questions. This seems obvious, yet it's amazing that many people fail to do it. They assume that all Internet hookups are free. They believe that when they arrive at 11 p.m., room service will be ready and waiting. They figure that the price they've been quoted includes all taxes. Ask the questions that pertain to your specific circumstances.

"Do you have any specials or promotions right now?" After a reservations agent quotes you the price — which may be the "rack rate," or the standard cost of a room on the hotel's pricing list — always ask this question, whether you're phoning a Four Seasons or the Holiday Inn.

 
Sign up for hotel "rewards clubs." Membership is free, and you can join in a matter of minutes either by phone or on the hotel Web sites. These clubs probably won't get you reduced room rates unless a promotion is in full swing — but they will allow you to build points toward a free room or room upgrades when you stay at the hotel brand.

Ask about any extras you require, because these may boost the price. Many hotels charge extra for cribs, cots, a small refrigerator, parking and more than two people in a room.

Does your AAA or AARP card get you a lower rate? In many hotels it does, as much as a 10 percent discount. Here's the catch: In almost all cases, you need to mention that you're a member to get the lower-rate quote.

Avoid holiday weeks and weekends if you can. If you have school-age children or a tight work schedule, this may not work. Note that at city hotels serving business travelers, weekends may be cheaper than midweek. (Tip: Many hotels have much cheaper rates in the periods just before and just after holidays.)

Be cautious about non-refundable reservations. These are offered by some hotels for lower rates — sometimes by 10 percent or more — than the "regular" room rate you'll be quoted. But are they worth it to you, if you need to cancel?