Booking Travel Reservations Online


Savvy travelers use the Internet to book all their travel reservations plane tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and more. To book reservations, all you need to know is where you're going and when and all the numbers from your favorite charge card.

The Web's general 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 24.6) let you search for the lowest rates or for flights and lodging that match your specific requirements.

Figure 24.6. Shopping for airline and hotel reservations at Expedia.

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When you make reservations online, look for a site that employs real people behind-the-scenes and 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.


Here are the best of these "online travel agents":

  • 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)

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.

  • Internet shopping is very safe, especially if you buy from a major merchant that offers a secure server and a good returns policy.

  • To find the best prices online, use a price comparison site such as Shopping.com or Froogle.

  • If you have an item you want to sell, use an online auction site, such as eBay. (eBay is also a great place to buy merchandise especially rare collectables!)

  • Online shopping isn't limited to small items; you can also purchase airline tickets, new cars, and houses over the Web.




Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics
Absolute Beginners Guide to Computer Basics (2nd Edition)
ISBN: 0789731754
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 253

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