Top Travel Myths | 2008
Reality: Virtually every major booking engine and hotel chain, airline, and car rental agency guarantees that its Web site has the absolute lowest price available, and typically backs up the claim by matching prices and offering additional discounts or coupons if proved wrong. First, these guarantees come with many caveats—packages, discounts for AAA membership or military personnel, opaque bookings through sites like Priceline, and prices quoted over the phone typically aren't included—so the rates often aren't the absolute lowest possible. Secondly, it's solely up to consumers to keep shopping for a better price after they've booked—which no one wants to do.
Current Advice: Continuing to shop after making a booking is the only way to hold these companies to their word. It's especially important to check on hotel and car rental rates, because they fluctuate quite a bit, and reservations can typically be changed without penalty.
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