Where can I find a good directory of UK hotels online

Asks magda

A. There are lots of directory sites devoted to finding you a hotel in the UK - some are UK-only and some are international sites that list accommodation in the UK. The best sites are UK only because they often include more hotels in their listings, give more information about the hotel and the area they are located in, and give the impression that they know the country. With international sites, they are often very US-focused and when they are not their search criteria is often so broad e.g. north of England, that you know you're unlikely to find that cosy little B&B you're after.

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Some of the best online hotel directories include the following:

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Smooth Hound

This is a great site to use because it lists thousands of UK-based hotels and many of them offer substantial discounts if you book through the Smooth Hound site - so don't be put off by the layout of the site. It is very basic and seems to have thrown all the information the site holds onto the home page so you find yourself scrolling down forever to take in all it has to offer - but it is worth it if you're after a cheap deal.

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Conducting a search for a hotel is very easy as this site allows you to do it in several ways - either by selecting the first letter of the town name (that's the very lazy option), or by county, town name or hotel name. It also has a great facility in offering information and online booking of hotels near airports - and not just in London either - you can book airport hotels in Birmingham, Cardiff, Gatwick, East Midlands, Glasgow, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Prestwick, Southampton and Stansted too.

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Virtual Hotels

This site allows you to choose hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, pubs etc. throughout the UK and its listings are so comprehensive that it is almost too difficult to choose one. It allows you to search for a hotel by county, town, postcode or hotel name if you know it and is very quick in responding to all your requests. You can also book weddings or conferences with this site - and look at all the facilities available online with the aid of clear, colour photographs.

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Its top ten destinations are London (most sites list London as the most popular destination for internet users), Manchester, the Lake District, Cornwall, Dublin, Blackpool, Devon, Bournemouth, Cardiff and the Channel Islands. You can also book a hotel to stay in near theme parks; zoos and safari parks; museums & galleries; and palaces and castles - which makes it easier to plan ahead.

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This site uses a TravelMate system which it calls your "personal travel management console" which is basically a system that routes out hotels with the best room rates and availability in the town where you want to stay - in real time which means you obtain an up to date room price, as a result of a special offer for example, so you do not have to accept the standard rate.

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Travel Check

This site lists lots of UK hotels but because there appears to be no control over the entries - hoteliers can add the details of their accommodation free of charge so appear to have free reign over the content - you do not feel that you are making an informed choice based on an independent review, it is only based on an advert�- which some people like and some do not. It does however, list guesthouses, B&Bs, motels etc. and not just standard hotels from the major chains so you can find somewhere very suitable to stay if you dig around long enough.

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The AA

The Hotel pages of the AA site offer you the chance to book a B&B, hotel etc. that is recommended by the AA - so you know its going to be pretty good before you go and stay in it - and it rates each establishment with the recognised number of AA diamonds. Each listing has a photograph, description of the hotel and its facilities and its room rates - it is all very precise and professional.

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A 2 B Travel

Another great site is A2B Travel - it lists thousands of hotels, inns, B&Bs and guesthouses throughout the country - all you have to do is enter the name of the town in which you wish to stay in the search box or click a preferred region - it covers all budgets so does not just list the main chain hotels as many sites do. All you have to do then is fill in the booking form and you're organised.

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UK Hotel

Part of the UK Series of websites, this site offers a vast number of hotels with in-depth information on each location. The site is very basic to look at, but easy and fast to use - which is all you need really.

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Last Minute.Com

Good index of hotels that have vacancies very late in the day - but expect to pay higher prices than some of the other UK based sites.

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Places to Stay

This is one of the best international sites available�- it doesn't include many small villages in the UK, so its best to use this if you're planning to stay in a larger town. It is easy to navigate and asks you to search by destination and input the dates of your trip�- this way its colour-coded results listing lets you know if there are rooms available in your chosen hotel when you want to stay. It also includes a photograph of the hotel, with a brief description of its facilities. You can book or cancel your hotel rooms online.

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Hotel World

This is another good international site - which has fewer listings than a lot of other countries, 9,000 hotels in 204 countries - but it has the added bonus of allowing you to choose a hotel because of its facilities e.g. accommodates children and/or pets, sea views, special weekend breaks etc. so is a great online resource. It is a UK-run site (based in Hemel Hempstead) so provides very good information on UK hotels. You can book some hotels online, but if the hotel doesn't have an online booking facility this site lets you know and gives a telephone number instead so you can call and make your booking.

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Best Hotel

Another good international site - it lists 60,000 hotels worldwide - with a very good UK section. Some hotels in its directory offer special Internet rates - up to 65% saving in some areas (mostly in the US though) - so it is definitely a site to check out.

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Hotel Net

Another international site, with good UK listings. It offers good reviews of the hotels (including photos) and allows you to make reservations online.

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By Karen Anderson