Q. When I’m going to an unfamiliar city, I want a hotel that’s as close as possible to my client’s offices – but I have to stay within budget. Is there anything out there that can help me narrow down my options?

A. We recently came across a very handy new web site called HotelMapSearch.com that fills the bill. Its database currently includes dozens of North American cities and a few overseas (like London and Tokyo). It has a Mapquest-type interface so you can zoom in or move around the city map you select. On the selected city map grid, you’ll see scores of little flags with dollar figures in them –those are the average rates of the hotel at each specific location. Move the cursor over a price flag and you’ll see the hotel’s name, address, a photo, a star rating, and a link to that property, which you can use to check on its specific availability and prices. Instead of biting the bullet and booking a $500-a-night room at a luxury property next to your client’s headquarters, it’s nice to know there’s a four-star hotel around the corner at half the price. You can even use the site to locate and find reviews of nearby restaurants, and to pinpoint the locations of Starbucks shops in the area.