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Choosing the wrong hotel can have a major impact on your holiday. It can mean sleepless nights, or expensive taxi fares or being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no entertainment. Sometimes things go wrong suddenly, things that cannot be planned for a flood in the hotel, a traffic accident outside the door but with some research you should be able to find the hotel that's right for you.

The most important thing to remember is not to book the first thing you see. This applies whether you are booking independently using the Internet or using the services of a travel agent. Earmark a couple of hotels that interest you, then spend some time doing a bit of research before you make that reservation.

There are loads of specialist websites - such as Helium - that give the low-down on hotels and guest houses; don't just trust the agent's recommendations, these sites enable ordinary people to write reviews on places they've stayed. The sites are independent meaning that there's no bias.

If you are in the travel agent's office, ask the agent to consult the "Gazetteer"; this publication contains the information the brochures don't usually list and can sometimes alert you to possible drawbacks.

Draw up a list of your requirements and mark them "essential" or "desirable". Now you can start to match your requirements against the facilities and location of the hotel. If you can't find some points listed in the brochure or website, then telephone or e-mail the hotel and ask. For the time it takes to do this you could save yourself a lot of heartache. You may find that a hotel does not say that it has rooms that are accessible for wheelchairs but you find out it does when you contact them. Some hotels will be extremely accommodating so do have a try if there is somewhere that you'd really like to stay.

The following points are the ones that should be your main concerns:

Price remember to shop around. Don't go for the first price. Visit a price comparison website that might be able to find a cheaper room rate for you. Looking to reduce costs by sharing bathroom facilities? How many bathrooms are on each floor? How many rooms share a bathroom you don't want to be waiting to get into the shower when you have dinner reservations.

Location do you want to be in the heart of the city or somewhere more quiet? If you are planning a weekend in the country can the hotel meet all your needs? If they don't serve meals, is there somewhere nearby to eat? If you are arriving by car is there parking

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