| There's one specific type of online shopping that deserves special coverage. I'm talking about shopping for travel reservationsplane tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and more. Fortunately, there are lots of web sites designed to help you book the perfect trip, including the following: Expedia (www.expedia.com) Hotwire (www.hotwire.com) Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) Priceline (www.priceline.com) TravelNow.com (www.travelnow.com) Travelocity (www.travelocity.com)
tip  | When you make reservations online, look for a site that employs real people behind-the-scenesand offers a 24/7 800 number to contact those people if something goes wrong. Talking to a real person over the phone can be a lifeline if you're stranded somewhere without a reservation. |
These online travel sites all offer similar content and services, including the ability to book airline tickets, hotel rooms, and rental cars all in one place. Most of these sites (such as Expedia, shown in Figure 22.3) let you search for the lowest rates or for flights and lodging that match your specific requirements. Figure 22.3. Shopping for airline and hotel reservations at Expedia. 
The Absolute Minimum Here are the key points to remember from this chapter: You can find just about any type of item you want to buy for sale somewhere on the Internet. Shopping online is a lot like shopping in a traditional store; you find the product you want, go through the checkout system, and make your payment. To find the lowest price online, use a price comparison site, such as Shopping.com or Froogle. Internet shopping is very safe, especially if you buy from a major merchant that offers a secure server and a good returns policy. The Internet is also a great place to make your travel reservations by using an online travel site such as Expedia or Orbitz.
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