Shandelle Battersby: Booking before you travel is half the fun

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A few years ago, a couple of mates and I schlepped our way around Italy over four weeks. It's fair to say we were not as organised as we could have been: only one of the three of us had been there before, we knew about three words in Italian, and we'd hastily arranged the trip from different sides of the Tasman.

The biggest problem, though, was we didn't realise quite how busy Italy gets in August when half of Europe flocks there for the summer break.

This meant finding accommodation on the fly was one of the most stressful travel experiences I've ever had. As as result, I'm painfully nerdy and like to book almost every night's accommodation online ahead of time, getting the odd great rate, and best of all, paying as much in advance as I can.

This is also part of the fun of organising a trip for me, and my main travel buddy has a knack for finding great places in a range of budgets so we can mix up a touch of luxury with more basic options. This has led to some memorable experiences where the hotel has meant much more than just a place to sleep.

Travel website Expedia has compiled a list of handy tips to help Kiwis get the best deals when shopping for accommodation online. If you've got where you're staying sorted ahead of time, you can get on with the serious business of relaxing once you arrive.

Before you leave home

Travel website Expedia.co.nz has released its top tips for getting the best accommodation deals online.

A little bit of research can count for a lot when you arrive at your destination and know what you're in for.

1 Take the time to plan and consider your accommodation options.

2 Research the area and what activities you intend to do before you travel to help you choose accommodation that is affordable, comfortable and convenient. There's no point choosing cheaper accommodation if it's miles out of town and you have to pay just as much in transportation to get around. Obviously, if you're into hitting the clubs and shops, a place in the 'burbs is not really going to suit your needs.

3 Once you've an idea of the area, bundling your flight and hotel together is a great way to stretch holiday funds - the savings on popular destinations like Fiji, Bali and Hawaii can be huge when booking a holiday bundle.

4 Additionally, look to save on unnecessary surcharges. Some websites have no booking fees, which can instantly reduce costs. Also, check cancellation policies.

5 For families, it's worth considering experiences such as cruises and all-inclusive resorts. These can often protect against a falling dollar as you lock in the price at the time of booking.

6 It's also a good idea to sign up for your preferred travel provider's newsletter to get access to offers that may not be available to the general public.

7 It's always best to travel in low or shoulder seasons to avoid two hassles: high prices and crowds. Try to be flexible with your travel dates so you can secure off-peak deals - they come around often.