Thursday, July 19th, 2007  »  Family Fun

Know Before You Go

The first time I used hotel reviewing sites was on the eve of our family’s last Christmas Mystery Trip. By 2005, I had planned and conducted more than a dozen of these surprise trips for my wife and two daughters. Since my oldest was to be married the following October, the December, 2005, MT was to be our last. So I wanted it to be special—with no surprises. The destination was Kansas City, and I found what sounded like an ideal hotel. Even the name was intriguing, the Raphael. Since so much was riding on my hotel choice, I decided to do a bit more than make a pick and hope for the best.

I started reading reviews and was instantly confused. Some reviews sang the Raphael’s praises. Others called it outdated and dilapidated. They all agreed that the location was superb. It was literally across the street from the Country Club Plaza, blocks of premier shopping and restaurants. To make a long story short, I ended up calling the manager and laying it on the line. I recited some of the bad reviews and asked what she had to say about them.

We had a long talk, and I ended up choosing the Raphael, and I have nothing but good to report. Management upgraded us to a larger suite and had a special gift basket in the room upon our arrival. On our first morning there, the manager presented us with a blown glass ornament, a likeness of the hotel. It was perfect since we collect an ornament from  every trip. Was our special treatment just because I had made such a fuss about it? I’ll never know, but I’m sure they were being extra alert because I had made such a point of explaining how important this trip was because it was the last in a long tradition of Christmas excursions.

Know before you go

The point of all this is that there are online sites you can visit and read reviews of hotels you’re considering written by real travelers just like you. The one I used is www.tripadvisor.com, and I think it is probably the best. Another one is www.travelpost.com. There are lots of others and you can find them by simply doing an online search. But I’d stick with Trip Advisor. I just like the way it’s organized, and I find it simple to use.

No matter what site you use, be prepared for lots of variation. Remember, you’re dealing with someone’s opinion here. What is quaint to you may be rundown to someone else. To some, historic is just plain old. To counteract this inevitable confusion, I look for patterns. What is the general theme of the comments, positive or negative? And whoever said it first is still right: You can’t please everybody. So keep the comments in perspective. And if you encounter something that really bothers you, do what I did—call the manager and have a heart-to-heart.

Internet technology makes it possible to see photos of a hotel’s lobby, restaurants, guest rooms and the like. In fact, many have 360-degree “virtual tour” capability. It’s almost like visiting there before you check in. Review sites take it one step further by sharing a heads-up from someone who has already stayed there. Check ‘em out.

 

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