Bournemouth is a coastal town in Dorset and is home to well over 160,000 people – making it Dorset’s largest town. It was also voted “The Happiest Place in Britain” in a 2007 survey. And – with close to 200 hotels in the surrounding area – it’s an extremely popular tourist destination. However – with so many hotels, what is the best way to go about sourcing a hotel in Bournemouth?

My favourite method for finding a hotel in an area that I have never visited before is always to start with the Internet. There are numerous comparison websites that will break down the choice for you. Are you looking for budget accommodation, family, business or pure five star luxury? Bear in mind that many hotels give great deals if you plan your stay well in advance and book and pay at least 21 days before your stay.

Remember –when looking on the internet, don’t only use the comparison websites – one can often get a better deal and more precise information if one goes directly to the hotels own website.

Another way of sourcing good hotels is to pay a visit to, or simply phone, a good travel agent. Many people avoid this option as they tend to think that travel agents will be more expensive than Internet deals as they need to earn commission etc. However – I have found that sometimes I can get a better deal through a travel agent and, if you find a good one, they often have a great deal of knowledge about the area that you are planning to visit.

Another good place to source a hotel Bournemouth would be to contact the Bournemouth tourist board. They are extremely helpful and, aside from giving good hotel advice, they can also give you lists of places of interest, good restaurants and local galleries etc.

And finally – there is the good old-fashioned way of sourcing hotels in Bournemouth; simply take a drive and trust to fate! If you like the look of a place, go in and ask if they have a room available, strangely – I have found some of my best hotels this way but I don’t recommend it for the faint of heart – you may end up sleeping in the car!