breach of contract

[CAROLT]

Can anyone help with a general enquiry into what constitutes breach of contract. To cut a long story short I made contact with a hotel on line with regards to a booking for December 2007 (this was in October). I confirmed by e mail that I wished to make the booking. I received confirmation of the booking & was asked to contact the hotel to pay a deposit. I decided against the booking for various reasons & simply did not make contact & pay a deposit (which I thought would make the booking binding). I received no further contact from the hotel until they emailed me in January complaining of a no show & advising that they had turned others away on the basis of my booking. I simply cannot accept that they would have reserved a room & turned others away without having a deposit from me. I accept that I should have given the courtesy of an email to outline my change of mind but dont know (without an expensive solicitor) where I stand.
I have never made a booking before, of any kind, where a deposit has not been a condition of booking
Any help would be appreciated

[MustafaTickl]

You had a confirmed room reservation at the hotel and whether you used it or not you must pay for it. A deposit was not part of the booking. If you wished to cancel the booking and pay nothing it would have necessitated a request by you and an acceptance by them, which they are not obliged to give.The reservation was no doubt subject to the hotels terms and conditions (whether you had acquainted yourself with them or not does not matter) which no doubt includes the term that payment must be made on or before the day of departure and to not do so leaves you liable to both a civil and criminal action.