If you book a hotel over the internet yourself, without using a travel company, you may find some real bargains - but if you encounter problems with your booking or the hotel itself, you will have to battle it out with the hotel or the site you booked through, as you won't have a travel agent or tour operator to help you.

So it's essential to do some thorough research. Check a selection of websites before you book - I've listed some of the most impressive, but there are dozens more out there - and also visit your prospective hotel's own website, and email or phone the hotel to ask for their best rate. They may have a special offer running which makes it worth booking direct. Establishing a personal contact this way also makes it easier to request a quiet room, an upgrade, late check-out or other extras.

Some of the most useful hotel booking websites include:

www.hotelconnect.co.uk, a specialist which features properties in cities and resorts, mostly in Europe

www.hotelclub.co.uk, which has 15,000 hotels in 71 countries and posts customers' reviews online

www.laterooms.com, offers late hotel deals at more than 50,000 hotels in the UK, Europe, North America, Australasia and India

www.lowcostbeds.com, offers hotels in cities and resorts across Europe and the USA, plus ski resorts throughout the Alps and North America

www.medhotels.com, now part of Lastminute; this site specialises in hotels in mainstream summer sun destinations across the Mediterranean

www.octopustravel.com, hotels in more than 100 countries; also promises to match any lower price you can find elsewhere on the internet

www.priceline.co.uk, 45,000 hotels worldwide plus reviews written by customers

If you fancy some gorgeous, inspirational hotel suggestions dropping into your inbox from time to time, sign up for newsletters from companies that hunt out the most luscious designer and boutique hotels worldwide, and which often have special offers. Sites such as www.i-escape.com, www.mrandmrssmith.com and www.travelintelligence.net offer plenty of inspiration.

Another way to search for hotel rooms is to use "price comparison websites". These compile hotel prices from a range of other websites and hotel chains, and as each uses a different combination of sources, prices can vary from site to site. However, their prices may not be as up to date as the prices offered by sites that deal direct with the hotels, and which have direct links to the hotels' reservations systems. Try these: www.cheapaccommodation.com, www.hotelscomparison.com, www.kelkoo.co.uk, www.nextag.com, www.traveljungle.co.uk, www.tripadvisor.com.

Once you have found a hotel you like, it's worth looking for reviews posted by other customers on sites such as Priceline, Hotelclub and TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.co.uk) - these form an "early warning system" in case the hotel's a stinker. But bear in mind that most people are motivated to post a comment only if they have really loved or really hated a place. It's also sensible to check your prospective hotel out by consulting guidebooks.

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