Tips for getting a great hotel room -- Part 1.
An old real estate adage says to buy the cheapest house in a great neighborhood. And while that might be sound advice for house hunters, those looking for the perfect hotel room would do well to ignore it.You want to be in a great neighborhood, that much is true. But getting the cheapest room you can find is probably a mistake.
If you've spent any time reading traveler reviews on sites like tripadvisor, you know that even the best hotels have some unhappy guests. Read between the lines and it's almost always clear that the poor sap who had a bad experience booked the least expensive room.
Unlike modern American accommodations, older properties and hotels abroad have rooms that vary widely. And pretty much every hotel, no matter how nice, has some rooms that are losers. These are euphemistically named "classic," or "standard." But, by any name, they're not as nice. That's why they're cheaper.
When you visit sites that compare rates, like Expedia or Travelocity, don't search for properties at the absolute top end of your budget. Choose something a little less and then upgrade yourself to a superior room instead. A superior room at a four-star property is often more desirable than a standard room at a 5-star place.
Lately, Expedia and Travelocity have been featuring "special rates" that require prepayment at time of booking. Unless supply seriously outweighs demand, this is usually a bad idea. We prefer going through booking.com which takes a credit card only for reservation guarantee and charges no booking fees.
When you find a hotel to your liking that fits your budget, do a little investigating before you make your reservations. Tripadvisor has millions of reviews - literally - but do put those reviews in context. Remember, there are lots of people out there who would give Olive Garden five stars. If you wouldn't, be so advised.
Once you've settled on a property, go to google maps and enter in the street address. If you select the satellite view, you'll see exactly what the area's really like. And also check the hotel's web site - some times they'll have Internet-only rates or specials that are the best deal.
If you book directly with the hotel but don't receive a confirmation back, be sure to follow up. Some hotel web sites aren't as functional as you'd hope.
