sometimes it is hard to book

It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t booked a hotel online nowadays. Thanks to hotel reservation services, you receive the added convenience of complete room photos and hotel tours, discount specials, and last-minute booking capabilities if you just find out you’re leaving on a business trip to LA tomorrow. But, before choosing an online hotel booking site, consider these pointers.

• Hotel Selection-If you’re booking ahead, look for a service that offers you the most extensive room listings on your designated travel dates. A search for a room in New York this fall on the Hotels.com website yielded hundreds of page results!

• Trip Cancellations-Make sure you know the site’s policy on reservation cancellations and refunds. Some services like Hotels.com allow you to cancel anytime in the event that ‘something suddenly came up.’

• Reviews-Look for a site that provides a plethora of reviews from customers with firsthand experience. Trip Advisor, for instance, boasts millions of personal recollections of dream hotel stays and nightmare visits alike.

• Room Photos & Tours-Hotels.com gives you 360-degree virtual tours, on top of photographs of standard rooms and suites. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting before you throw down the cash.

Whether you’re planning a weekend snowboarding trip in Denver this winter or wish to try out a local bed and breakfast, the best hotel booking services will make planning your stay a cinch. As always, book early and keep your eyes peeled for special room rates. It isn’t uncommon for a room at some five star stunner to last mere hours if it’s on sale. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save when booking online.