Hotel Connect www.hotelconnect.co.uk

I sent a letter to Hotel Connect on the 2nd of November, and to this date (28th of November) I have received nothing apart from "we're sorry and will come back to you". So much for their price guarantee and overall quality. I'd rather go with the old way: buy a lonely planet and book directly with the hotel.

Hotel Connect is a great service. I have booked with them 3 times, and each time the hotel has been brilliant, cheap and central. A tip: be flexible over your destination and date and book well in advance. When I look for a city break, I have 3 destinations in mind and a preferred month. Then look at the 3 for 2 offers which invariably mean Friday check-in Monday check-out - perfect for a long weekend. The online chat facility is great, and the information I received about my destination was much welcomed (they even sent me a phrase book!). When you sign up they always send you offers and money off which I have never used, but again, if you're flexible I can see these benefiting you in some way. All you then need to do is marry your trip up with a low cost airline and you can steal a real bargain break. I have been to Budapest, Berlin, and Tallinn, and am about to go to Warsaw. Each trip has cost me less than £120 for 3 nights, Bed and breakfast and flight! I know people will say about the pollution caused by emissions from so many low cost flights, but they do give you the opportunity to see the world before it disappears!