A plethora of hotel options is a good thing, but it can also make finding the best one difficult. From luxury resorts to cozy boutique hotels, each destination has its own distinctive charms and amenities. In order to find the perfect place to stay, consider each option carefully and compare prices on several sites before booking.
A recent study by CivicScience found that a majority of respondents trusted none of the top review websites for lodging advice. That shouldn’t be a big surprise; many people are wary of trusting online reviews for everything from cars to restaurants to hotels. In some cases, it’s a matter of fakery, but even honest reviews can be misleading. It can be impossible to tell who’s behind the scenes and whose intentions are at play in most of these comments.
To help you weed out the good from the bad, keep an eye on how recently the review was posted and whether it was written by a real person. For example, if a guest writes that the hotel wasn’t cleaned properly or that staff was rude, it’s reasonable to assume that these issues are likely to have been remedied by now. It’s also worth noting if the hotel responded to the review with an apology or offer of a free room; this can be an indication of how seriously they take customer feedback.
Another key to filtering out bogus reviews is paying attention to the location of the hotel you’re considering. Different parts of the country have different standards when it comes to what constitutes luxury. A hotel that is considered luxurious in La Jolla may be viewed as ordinary by a traveler from Memphis. It’s also helpful to consider the season, as weather conditions can drastically impact a hotel’s appeal.
The best hotels will take the time to respond to both positive and negative reviews, and they should be transparent about what steps have been taken to address concerns. This is a sign that the property takes its guest satisfaction seriously and wants to improve its reputation. Those are traits that many travelers can appreciate.
Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, finding the right hotel is important. A great place to start your search is with a site that compiles prices and availability from several major booking sites in one convenient location. Once you’ve narrowed down the list of potential accommodations, it can be a good idea to monitor the prices on multiple sites over a period of time so that you can react quickly when a deal pops up.
A few of the more well-known hotel booking sites include Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity. While these three are owned by the same parent company, each offers a slightly different user experience and pricing strategy. Regardless of which site you choose to use, it’s always a good idea to check out the hotel’s own website to see what deals might be available.
