VAT in European countries

I have a VAT registered limited company in the UK and my business requires me to organise groups of people travelling to Europe. I book a substantial amount of 5* hotels and am required to pay the appropriate country rate of VAT. Is there anyway that I can either be exempt from paying VAT in these EU countries, or, if not, that I can recover it subsequently? Your advice would be much appreciated as this is costing me a fortune! Thanks.

if you supply your vat number to the company your dealing with and tell them not to charge v.a.t. before they raise the invoice should be ok.