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Book Online with Confidence!

In order to bring you a fast, reliable, value-for-money and above all secure service, the hotel/flight reservation system on our website is brought to you in association with World Choice Travel (WCT). The company, which is a subsidiary of Travelocity, a Sabre Holdings company, continues to be among the most popular travel service on the Web, giving consumers access to hundreds of airlines, thousands of hotels and cruise, last-minute and vacations packages, and best-in-class car rental companies. Flight bookings for North America and Europe are handled separately by Qixo.

Of course, by offering hotel rooms and flights through with well-known (licensed/fully bonded) travel companies, our customers are able to book with complete confidence using the very latest secure server technology.

Help for our flight booking system can be found on the relevant booking pages. A basic guide to our hotel reservation service, including a detailed FAQ section is given below.

How our Hotel Booking System Works (in Plain English)

So you've read our introduction and all the "legalese". Now here's the translation into plain English!

Once you find a place to stay and verify room availability, you'll then be asked to enter personal information and your billing details (along with details of any special requests such as airport-transfers, non-smoking rooms etc.). When booking, a credit card is required to guarantee the room. This means that, unless specified otherwise (see "Hot Rates" and "Advanced Purchase" below) the hotel will not charge your credit card immediately - it simply secures the room for you. Of course, it's up to you how payment is finally made, although normally this is done when checking-out. 

For certain properties a small service fee may apply, in which case the fee will be charged to your card immediately. All such charges (normally around $3.50 per night) are set out clearly when booking. Of course, extra changes may also apply in respect of cancellations and/or no shows.

For "Hot Rate" reservations, you'll be charged the full amount for your proposed stay including all taxes at the time of booking. For "Advanced Purchase" rates, you may also be required to pay the full amount, or a deposit. 

All other bookings will usually have tax and local service charges included in the room rate. If not, tax will be determined by the property and added to your final bill when checking-out (or whenever it's settled). Either way, our booking system provides a clear breakdown of the room rate, taxes that are included/excluded and any other charges that may apply.

Charges may also be levied for additional persons i.e. for one extra adult in a double room. Again, any additional charges will be clearly set out when reserving your room.

Once you've made a reservation, an e-mail confirmation will be sent to you. We're able to provide this instantly for most bookings, although in some cases it may take up to 24hrs to confirm availability with the hotel.

You should, of course, check your reservation information carefully. It may also be useful to print the page for your records (and to bring a copy when you check-in).

Changing or Cancelling a Reservation

Reservations can often be changed or cancelled (without charge) before 4pm or 6pm on the day of arrival, or 24, 48, or 72 hours prior to arrival. Before doing so, check your reservation confirmation to determine the property's cancellation policy. Cancellations made after the cancellation policy period has lapsed (or no shows) will usually be charged one night's room rate plus tax. Some "Hot Rate" and "Advanced Purchase" bookings may also be non-cancelable and non-refundable, so be sure to check when making a reservation.

To cancel or verify an existing reservation visit: http://reservations.talkingcities.co.uk and enter your name and confirmation number (or the last four digits of your credit card number). With certain properties, modification/cancellation buttons may not be available to perform these functions. In such cases, please contact customer service on 1-888-254-0637 (US and Canada Toll Free) or 00-800-84469370 (International Toll Free) or +1 972-894-1181 for assistance.

Upon arrival and check-in to your hotel, you are responsible for the entire length of stay. No refunds or credits will be issued for any nights reserved but not consumed.

Things to Know about Bedroom Types, Occupancy, Hotel Amenities and Special Requests

Hotel Room Types:

• Single - room has 1 Single bed, strictly for 1 adult only. No extra beds are available.

• Twin - room has 2 Single beds accommodating 2 adults. A third adult requires an extra bed.

• Double - room has either 1 Queen or King sized bed to accommodate 2 adults. A third adult requires an extra bed.

• Double for Single Use - Room has either 1 Queen or King sized bed to accommodate 1 adult only.

• Triple - room has either 3 Single Beds, or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed (or equivalent) to accommodate 3 adults.

• Family/Quad - room has either 4 single beds, or 1 Queen and 2 Single Beds (or equivalent) to accommodate 4 adults. Typically, no extra bed is available.

• Junior Suite / Suite - Bedroom with a small living area. Accommodates 2 adults, unless specified otherwise. A third adult requires an extra bed.

• Extra Bed - Roll-Away bed to accommodate 1 person.

When making a reservation, remember to include all members in your party (including infants) so that you can be accommodated accordingly. Special requests such as roll-aways, cribs, or other extras may be subject to additional charges. Unfortunately, requests cannot be guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are Rack Rates?
A. The term "Rack Rack" refers to the cost of a room when approaching the hotel direct. In other words, it's a non-discounted rate.

Q. How do your rates differ from those offered directly by hotels?
A. By affiliating with World Choice Travel, we're able to bring you specially negotiated discount rates, seasonal offers and last-minute deals. In addition, we offer rates that require membership or affiliation to certain organisations, such as AAA members, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) members. Furthermore, some discount rates also apply to US, Canadian or Australian federal government employees/military. Note: proof of eligibility, i.e. a membership or affiliation ID card, may be required upon check-in. 

Q. Am I eligible for the Corporate Rate?
A. If you're travelling on business, then yes, you can reserve rooms at the corporate rate. The rate also applies to self-employed customers.

Q. What does VAT mean?
A. VAT stands for Value Added Tax. Most rates on Talkingcities.co.uk are inclusive of VAT/local taxes, unless otherwise stated.

Q. Can I book a room without a credit card? 
A. No. Hotels require that you give a credit card number as a form of guarantee when reserving a room. This provides them with a safeguard against customers who do not cancel their reservation(s) within the cancellation notice period, but who fail to arrive at the hotel ("no shows"). Under such circumstances, the hotelier is able to charge the credit card for the first night's accommodation, thus avoiding the risk of being left with an empty room (and a loss of potential earnings).

Q. What is a Hot Rate?
A. Whenever you see a Hot Rate icon, you are assured that the site has negotiated a special rate with the hotel. Our Hot Rate program offers special rates that will save you up to 70% off retail rates at thousands of brand name and quality independent hotels. When you book through the Hot Rate program, you can be confident you are getting a great deal.

Q. What is a prepaid reservation and why are Hot Rates Pre-paid?
A. Pre-payment from guests allows hotels to extend their deepest discounts. The hotel room is charged to your credit card at the time of the booking. Hotels typically collect payment information separately for incidentals such as meals, movies, parking and phone calls. Cancellation terms and fees apply to pre-paid bookings. Prepaying your hotel room assures the deep discount rate is "locked in" and paid, so you will not be subject to room rate increases.

Q. How does the hotel know I have already paid for my room?
A. After you confirm your reservation you will receive a pre-paid voucher via e-mail. Simply print this voucher and present to the hotel upon check in.

Q. What if I find a lower price after booking a Hot Rate?
A. If you find a lower price on anther website within 24 hours of purchasing a Hot Rate reservation we will cancel the reservation and waive all penalties provided that the reservation does not fall within the hotel's cancellation penalty period.

Q. My credit card number is correct, but the system is not accepting it. Why?
A. There are a few possibilities:
i) the card expiration date precedes the reservation date.
ii) you've reached your credit limit.

Please call one of our customer agents on 1-888-254-0637 (US and Canada Toll Free) or 00-800-84469370 (International Toll Free) or +1 972-894-1181 if you are not able to resolve your problem.

Q. I need more than one room. Does your system handle multiple reservations?
A. Yes. You can book up to four rooms as part of each credit card transaction. Simply make a choice from the drop-down "Number of Rooms/Suites" menu on our initial booking screens. For larger bookings (including groups) please speak to a customer service agent on the above numbers.

Q. Is there a hotel shuttle service to/from the airport?
A. Many larger hotels offer shuttle services to/from the airport. Please check the property's 'Hotel Services' or 'Overview' information for further details. If in doubt, please contact the hotel direct or speak to a customer agent on 1-888-254-0637 (US and Canada Toll Free) or 00-800-84469370 (International Toll Free) or +1 972-894-1181. Note that, in some cases, there may be a charge for the airport shuttle service.

Q. Is parking available at my hotel?
A. Many hotels offer free parking to their guests or, when their is limited availability, parking for a fee of around $10 per day. Long-term parking is offered at the discretion of the hotel. Check the property's 'Hotel Services' or 'Overview' information or again, contact us for further details.

Q. Can I specify where I would like my room located (preferred floor, river view etc.)?
A. Yes. Use the 'Special Request Information' on our booking screens to make a request. Hotel staff will do their best to accommodate you, although it should be noted that, as room location is subject to availability, it can never be guaranteed. Of course, rates which explicitly describe rooms as being "river view", of a certain size, or featuring non-standard amenities (such as DVD player, jacuzzi etc.) should be set-aside by the hotel. After all, the hotel is obliged (and under contract) to supply you with the services described (in the same way that you're required to settle the bill at the end of your stay). However, in the unlikely event that problems do occur, take the matter up with the concierge or hotel management, insisting upon a discount or accommodation voucher if necessary.

Q. What if there are more than two adults in the room? 
A. Most hotels allow extra adults to stay in a room for an additional charge (anywhere from $5.00-$60.00 per person). Hotels do, of course, have a limit on how many people can stay in a room. This will be listed in the 'Rate Description' section on our hotel booking pages.

Q. Our kids will be travelling with us... do they stay free?
A. Most hotels allow children under 12 stay to stay for free in their parent's room (usually using the existing bedding). However, as age requirements vary from hotel to hotel, you should check the conditions that apply by calling the hotel direct (numbers are given for each hotel) or by speaking to a customer service agent on 1-888-254-0637 (US and Canada Toll Free) or 00-800-84469370 (International Toll Free) or +1 972-894-1181.

Q. Are rollaway beds/cribs available?
A. Most hotels offer rollaway beds and cribs (typically at a charge- $5.00-$25.00 each). Some hotels have restrictions on what room types will allow rollaway beds. Call the hotel direct or speak to a customer service agent (on one of the numbers listed above) for further details.

Q. I don't have 24 hours to wait for a confirmation. What can I do?
A. Most hotel reservations are made in real time, meaning that you'll receive your confirmation (by e-mail) within a few minutes. However, for some (usually smaller hotels) there can be delays. In such cases you'll receive an initial notification showing both the reservation status and confirmation number as PENDING. Just as soon as your booking is confirmed, we'll send a second e-mail providing you with a confirmation number. While we ask for 24 hours, it usually doesn't take that long. However, if you can't wait, you may need to contact the hotel direct.

Q. Is the room rate per person or per night?
A. All room rates shown are per night. The rate will reflect the number of persons you inputted into our booking page. However, should you add an extra person (over and above the number normally accommodated for a certain room type i.e. 3 people in a double) then an extra charge is levied on the rate - normally of around $5.00-$60.00 per person.

Q. What are the directions to the hotel?
A. Maps are provided (within our main pages) for all Prague and London hotels. Currently, for Budapest hotels, only directions are provided, although we will be introducing a mapping solution in the near future. In the meantime, we'll gladly provide maps to customers on request.

Q. Is breakfast included?
A. Most hotels offer free breakfast. However, where discount rates are offered, breakfast may be charged separately. Check the 'Rate Description' on our booking page for more details.

Q. Can you recommend hotels?
A. Yes! Travel experts are on hand via our 'Live Help System' to give advice on the most suitable hotels in each city for your needs. This is because the very people who write our guides, actually take turns to answer questions via 'Live Help'. That way you're assured of good local knowledge, unbiased opinions and friendly service!! Please note: hotel recommendations are only available via 'Live Help' and e-mail (to support@talkingcities.co.uk). Customer service agents (on the numbers given below) principally handle general enquiries/reservations and, in most cases, may not have the local knowledge to recommend properties.

Q. I have a question that's not answered here. Who do I contact?
A. For instant answers use our 'Live Help' system - available on every page of our website - or contact customer service on 1-888-254-0637 (US and Canada Toll Free) or 00-800-84469370 (International Toll Free) or +1 972-894-1181. Alternatively, e-mail us at: support@talkingcities.co.uk and we'll provide you with a reply within 24hrs.

Safe and Secure Server Technology!!

Of course, when making hotel/flight reservations via our website, your security and privacy are of the highest importance to us. See our Shop Safe Guarantee and Privacy Policy for further details. Please note: unlike certain companies, we do not sell or make available your personal information to hotels, travel agents or other organisations and have no intention of doing so in the future.

Our Commitment to You...

• We will treat you with courtesy and respect.

• We aim to provide you with a meaningful response to letters within 5 working days.

• We aim provide you with a meaningful response to e-mails within 24hrs.

• If this is not possible, we'll pass it on to someone who can, and inform you of progress.

• We'll take responsibility for dealing with your request, making sure we do whatever is necessary to expedite a speedy and satisfactory response.

• We'll look for ways to improve our services and will learn from comments and complaints.

• We will reply in plain English.

• We'll give you honest advice about the goods/services offered on our website and endeavour to meet your requirements as best we can.

You are in: Online Booking Help

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