| What is that "four star" rating all about? Oh, there is | | | | these tainted reviews and even the customer could be |
| "five star" and then I saw one that was "2 1/2 star." | | | | at fault. So, to be fair, review several comments and |
| What the heck is that?! It is all confusing, but it is the | | | | choose them in no specific order for a full evaluation |
| hotel rating system that they have. This begs another | | | | of comments before choosing a hotel. |
| question; who are "they?" This is a mystery of life. We | | | | Next, be aware of review dates. The ability to see the |
| may never truly understand who "they" are or why | | | | history of an establishment is important. If past |
| "they" care or how "they" score to develop these | | | | experiences were poor but present ones are |
| hotel ratings. So, I am going to share how I explain to | | | | improving then it is easy to deduce that this is a caring |
| my mother the method of making an informed decision | | | | and improving hotel concerned with quality. One can |
| before booking hotels with an online hotel search. | | | | try to identify any trends that may exist. Perhaps they |
| The key is customer review. Customer comments are | | | | are lackadaisical on the continental breakfast, for |
| added to every reputable travel site that you can book | | | | instance. One can also search the reviews to see |
| hotels with. A customer is prompted to provide | | | | how they operate during a holiday weekend. Do they |
| feedback about a hotel so that a future customer can | | | | respond well when they are busy? Choosing hotels |
| know what to expect concerning service, cleanliness, | | | | that fare well when busy provide wonderful off |
| appliances and even local eating establishments. This | | | | season service. |
| feedback provides valuable information for the next | | | | The final area of concern, when overlooked can lead |
| traveler, and for the hotel. If it is a good and caring | | | | to disaster. I have seen this done too often. Be aware |
| establishment they will address areas that are quality | | | | of who is leaving the comment and this is why. Hotels |
| concerns. This is where one wants to book a hotel. | | | | monitor these reviews. If there are negative reviews a |
| I told Mom it is wise choosing hotels with many | | | | hotel proprietor will simply leave several bogus positive |
| reviews, for two reasons. If there are many good | | | | reviews to effectively bury the negative. This is partial |
| reviews then you can feel confident. Usually people go | | | | reason for the random selection idea, and one should |
| out of their way to leave negative feedback and not | | | | be wary of this trend when searching reviews. All |
| so easily for positive, When they do leave that positive | | | | hotels are going to have some negatives for various |
| feedback this means they must have been very | | | | reasons. A reputable hotel understands this and will do |
| satisfied. Book that hotel. If there is negative, consider | | | | all that is possible to correct and address concerns, as |
| price (what do you really expect for $29.95) and what | | | | opposed to hiding them. |
| is the overall experience of several customers. Get all | | | | This is a very effective tool when deciding on where |
| available information to make an informed judgment | | | | to book hotels. I have found budget hotels that provide |
| call when choosing hotels for budget concerns. All | | | | wonderful service. I have found older establishments |
| things are relative to expectations, after all. | | | | that discount rates, but they are clean (the number one |
| Then, consider the overall comments, not just one. See, | | | | concern, right?), and I have found some that I am |
| at times individuals might have personality conflicts or | | | | happy to miss. I will leave you with one final thought; |
| perhaps a client is just an angry person. Maybe the | | | | beware of the high price hotel just because the building |
| airline has lost a traveler's baggage. This one bad | | | | is beautiful. That does not guaranty that the building is |
| review should not be allowed to taint a whole hotel | | | | matched by the service or amenities. Happy journeys! |
| rating, not in fairness. There are many reasons for | | | | |