Much to some people's dismay, it's still necessary to interact with the real world to get certain things done. But that doesn't mean you can't use the web to facilitate finding said chores. Many great sites can help find restaurants and businesses, though some are better and more reliable than others.
To aid in your search, be it a babysitter, a doctor or an oil change, here's a list of six top-notch booking sites that will help you get the most bang for your buck.
The dinner reservation is a time-honored tradition, but trying to score a table for two on a Friday night six months from now can be tough. With OpenTable, dinner reservations take less than a minute. Pick the city where you'd like to dine and the number of people in your party and find a restaurant you'd like to try. OpenTable lists available times right in your search. Just choose a time, enter your information and your table will be ready when you arrive.
Finding a good doctor is difficult. Finding a good doctor who takes your insurance is harder still. You can go by your friends' recommendations or by a list provided by your insurance company, but those aren't always guaranteed to fit your needs. ZocDoc searches for doctors in your area by specialty and by your insurance provider. The results include a picture of the doctor, his rating and his availability. Booking an appointment is easy and free, with options to specify the reason for your visit or to make inquires.
Gym membership fees can be expensive, especially when you just want to take a single class. Using Classtivity, you can find hundreds of classes and venues close to where you live for relatively cheap prices. You can also look up the rating of the classes and reserve a spot from the website. Finally, look through several venues to find different classes if you want to try something new, or search by specific class.
Picking a babysitter is a meticulous chore, but the web has been instrumental in the process. UrbanSitter prides itself on having professional sitters on hand, at a quick response rate, in case you need someone on short notice. Once you sign up, find local babysitters in the area, post jobs and read recommendations. You can even book a sitter from your smartphone or tablet using its app, and pay online if you're short on cash.
Travel can be a nightmare â€" in between trying to get a good flight without breaking the bank, making sure you can realistically coordinate all the connections and finding a decent hotel, it feels more like you're running a marathon than flying. GetGoing presents a range of prices, lets you pick from specific airlines and books your hotel room in conjunction. It even allows some flexibility by searching for flights departing from or arriving to a city, rather than a specific airport, so you can worry about more important things.
Unlike the other sites on this list, MyTime does not specialize in any one particular type of business reservation. Instead, use the site to book almost anything: oil changes, facials, orthodontists, etc. Everything is listed and organized by location under one of six categories. You can book an appointment for almost any service and specify what you'll be coming in for. MyTime lists them in order of proximity; using sliders, choose which day and time best works for you. Finally, MyTime links to Yelp for ratings and reviews.
Know of other online resources for the best booking experience? Let us know your suggestions in the comments below.
Image: Flickr, Mystic Country CT
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