Booking the Hotel Over the Phone
The advantages of booking over the phone is that if the Manager is at the property, he or she will know the hotel well and can get you the best room for your money. You also get more personalized service, possible upgrades, and valuable information about the area. The disadvantage of booking a hotel over the phone is that there are usually no discounts so the lowest rate is “rack rate”. Some hotels have a reservation system where the agents are not on property and probably have not seen the hotel, in this case you may as well have booked online.

Booking the Hotel From the Internet
The advantage of booking the hotel online is discounted rates. Many hotels offer a block of discounted rooms online, but once those rooms are gone you will likely pay the standard rack rate. Another advantage is that the internet offers pictures of the room so you have a much better idea of the room you will get. A picture speaks a thousand words. The disadvantage of booking online is you miss out on personalized service that may include valuable information about the area.

Whether you book your hotel from the internet or over the phone, the most important thing to do is to verify your reservation before arriving. This ensures that you will not have any surprises at check-in.