Shopping for space in cyber space . . . .

A large part of the business conducted over the Web involves the purchase of travel services. From airfares to tour bookings, we are are shopping the net. Booking an airline ticket from a company web site is a fairly straightforward deal. It isn't much different from picking up your phone to make a booking, except you don't get to listen to elevator music while you wait for a human voice.

I feel a certain sense of security when I scan the prices for chain hotels or travel services that I recognize. To paraphrase Gertrude Stein: A ticket on British Airways is a ticket on British Airways is a ticket on British Airways.

But, what happens when you go off the beaten track in cyberspace?

I've had some good experiences, specifically with Greek Sun, a small travel agency in the UK I'll tell you about them over the next weeks, along with some bad experiences. For instance, last year I thought I'd secured a room in London at a budget bed-and-breakfast only to find that my reservation was lost in cyberspace. I got to play the ultimate budget travel game: find the affordable hotel room in one of the world's most expensive cities in a rainstorm.

Come with me on a virtual journey to the real world . . . .

While you read this week's article I should be staying at the Grasmere Hotel, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. I first read about the hotel at http://www.kasbah.com and it seemed like a reasonable, middle-of-the-road option - not a dream bargain, but certainly very nice for the price in a tourist area. Its advertising describes it as a Victorian house set in mature gardens with views from the conservatory restaurant looking across the river to Salisbury Cathedral.

Well, then I checked out the hotel on Smooth Hound (the link is just over there to the right). Smooth Hound lists the hotel at £62 per night for a single. I immediately decided to look elsewhere. After diddling around for several days and putting in room requests at other properties, I was getting desperate. Huge groups of people seemed to want to be in Salisbury over the first weekend in July. Hotel after hotel, B&B after B&B returned my inquiry with the dreaded "sorry, no room" message.

I checked out http://www.hotelworld.com. Hotel World listed the Grasmere Hotel as having a price of £49 for a single, bed and breakfast. While not what I am normally interested in paying, that is certainly within reason. After multiple turndowns, this particular property began to look very enticing. I sent off an emailed reservation request. Within 24 hours, I received a confirmation verifying the price at £49 per night.

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