Online travel sites on where to stay

Ooh, I was reading my week-old newspapers and stumbled on an article which introduced the online world of members-only hotel-booking websites which offer travel perks or home stays instead of hotels.

Great for travel research and reference:

1. Tablet Hotels

Hip hotels in the United States such as Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, and boutique hotels in England, such as the 42-room Number Sixteen, named Hotel of the Year by Good Hotel Guide.

Membership: US$195

Set-up: 2000

2. Mr & Mrs Smith

More than 800 boutique hotels and holiday homes ranging from beach getaways, spa retreats, ski lodges, safari lodges to bed and breakfasts. Notable hotel include the Establishment Hotel in the heart of Sydney.

Membership: Free to book but members get more perks. (US$30 to US$600)

Set-up: 2003

3. Jetsetter

Beach resorts, city hotels, safari lodges, cruise and train journeys with brand names such as Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Capella Singapore and Orient-Express. Vacation range from rafting in Patagonia to cycling tours in Vietnam.

Membership: Free, but by-invitation only.

Set-up: 2009

4. Design Hotels

More than 200 hotels with design concepts based on neighbourhood integration, sustainability and personalisation. Ideal for the architecture buff who appreciates the hotel with unique, quirky interior design and architecture.

Membership: Free

Set-up: 1993

5. Kiwi Collection

For business and luxury travellers. From hip hotels to palaces, ryokans, tented safari camps and inns. (The Lodge at Tikana in New Zealand's Southland. Wynn And Encore in Las Vegas. Hotel Costes in Paris.

Membership: Free

Set-up: 2003

6. Roomorama.com

Rental of apartments in 311 destinations.

7. AirBnb.com

A wide-range of accommodation choices including a houseboat in Amsterdam, an igloo in Greenland and a lakehouse in Thailand.

8. HomeAway.com

Also run VRBO.com, this offers a more luxury option.

9. VRBO.com

Run by HomeAway.Com, this website offers 100,000 rentals in over 100 countries.

10. Wimdu.com

Specialises in providing accommodation in the Asia-Pacific. Although you can rent a castle in the UK for US$12,000 a night, and a 3-bedroom apartment or a hut in the Philippines jungle for US$6 a night.

11. Homelidays.co.uk

UK and rest of Europe. Bed & Breakfasts, villas and cottages.