Good avenues to finding good deals

If you’re looking for bargains in hotels in London, Paris and Rome, here are some things to consider:

* The star rating systems in Europe are neither standardized (what one establishment considers four-star quality may be considered only two stars-worthy by another) nor reliable and are often awarded by the hotels themselves. Those ratings are best used as general indicators of amenities.

Find a guidebook writer who personally inspects hotels and has well-honed budget travel sensibilities. Among them are Sandra Gustafson, creator of the “Great Sleeps” series; Rick Steves, founder of “Europe Through the Back Door”; or Alastair Sawday, author of “Special Places to Stay” guidebooks.

* In Europe’s low season -- November to March, excluding holidays -- you can sometimes get budget rates at moderately priced hotels. This is particularly true in Rome, where rooms often are priced according to season.

* Outlying hotels are generally less expensive than those in the city center. Just make sure your accommodations are near public transportation.

* Look for package deals that include airfare, transfers and hotels, sold by airlines and tour companies, or specials offered by moderately priced chains such as Thistle in London or Best Western.

-- Susan Spano