Just wondering how folks around here choose and book lodging, when they’re paying for it themselves. Sometimes it feels like I have analysis paralysis and look at all the hotels and locations and they all sound fairly similar and I have no idea how tiring it will be to walk from the hotel to the conference or meeting and back. Sometimes one is MUCH cheaper than others, so that’s fairly easy but other times, I really can’t distinguish between one and the others.
I do try go download a map of the area so I have some idea of the distances involved but don’t have any good sense of the area so we often end up staying at places time and again if we’ve been there before and no idea which to choose if we haven’t been to an area.
I do have a Hilton credit card, so I guess it would be good to try to book at a Hilton affiliate to see whether I get any special “perks.” Anyway, whatever brilliant strategies folks have, I’d love to learn how to do this better, since I end up booking at least 2-4 places per year in different cities for meetings. If the meetings are all at one hotel, I stay at the hotel and get the hotel rate (if it is at all reasonable), but if they are at the conference center or the hotels for the conference are sold out, I’m on my own.
Yes, I sometimes read reviews, but it can be a bit overwhelming at times. I also prefer when I can cancel without penalty, just in case plans change, because sometimes they do (rarely, but sometimes).
I usuallly stay with one of the 3 loyalty hotels where I have perks, the quality is pretty consistent. If I am not sure I use trip advisor. I sort out the extremes and look for reviews that mention things that are important to me. I travel at least once a month and sometimes use time shares. Trip advisor is great for those.
To answer one of your questions, I put the hotel address and destinations in google maps and look at times at various points in day, ie. During commuting hours if that’s when I’ll need to travel. You can select walking too.
Otherwise, I use reviews through hotels.com and subjectively figure my budget based on rates in the area. Sometimes $100 is expensive and sometimes $200 is cheap. The less I’ll be in the room or the shorter the stay, the more I’m just concerned with a comfortable bed and safe parking. If I’m lounging around room on leisure, I’ll spend more time researching.
It is not that hard. I pick my hotel based on location, price range, loyalty programs, pictures, and reviews. I usually check 2-3 sites to get the best price. Expedia has flash sales for their “good customers.”
I use trip advisor a lot, and look at the ratings. If I see a hotel that is rated highly and has a decent price (you can get all of them at the same time, don’t have to check individually), then I start looking at the comments. Of course, there’s always someone complaining about something, so you have to take it with a grain of salt. Oh no, there was no crease in my bedsheets! Well…is there supposed to be a crease in the bedsheets?
If it’s not that important to have the exact perfect hotel and I just want a good deal in a certain location, I book through Hotwire. Of course, it’s non-refundable, so you have to be sure. You will know the area within a few miles, so if knowing the exact location is important, I wouldn’t do it. But I’ve gotten some amazing deals. I figure, shoot, if I can get a 4 star hotel with an 85% approval rating for less than $100, do I care if it’s a Hilton, Crowne Plaza or whatever?
We stick with Marriotts. Mr. B loves that the bed quality is consistent. I make sure to read the reviews to figure out which properties do not face major freeways or noisy streets. The loyalty perks are decent: wifi access and breakfasts.
Thanks for everyone’s thoughts. I do try to base on location, price range and reviews. Loyalty programs are also a factor, but I seem to get them all jumbled between hotels connected with meetings (often Hyatt) and the CC I have (Hilton), plus Wyndham, Marriott and a few others. Sometimes the loyalty ones are very far from the destination or their prices are MUCH higher than the other places.
Google maps can help. I am picky about location and will check out walking times and distances to activities. Then satellite view or google earth can help see how the area is for walking. Maybe distance is short, but destination not accessible due to a highway or area without sidewalks.
Then, once I find the neighborhood, I search in that area for the type of lodging preferred for that particular trip: inn, small hotel, “generic” hotel, star number, etc. That helps narrow it down faster and then I can read reviews for the ones that appeal. It can be a lot of research, but getting the location part right seems to narrow it faster. If I am going to enjoy a city for the first time, I read about neighborhoods or talk to people who have been to see where we might be happiest.
I like Hilton, because they are always fine (as are all the big names), but I’m not willing to pay a bunch of extra money for a loyalty hotel. I have an account with all of them, and would pay a few dollars extra because I know they’ll be fine. But I also go to hotels.com and check out the prices. I look for nice hotels with good ratings overall that don’t cost a lot. It can take forever to do this if you read every review, but sometimes it’s fairly obvious. Hotels.com will also show you how far you are away from a landmark, so it’s easy to figure where it’s located. But I might find the hotel from hotels.com, and then book it on the hotel website, because sometimes you get a better deal.
I’m pretty good with Hilton, but some of them are quite ancient and badly in need of renovations. Generally, the reviews will tip you off. I try to work directly with the hotel, but sometimes, yes hotels.com or others will have better rates.
I, as most others have said, check out the reviews. I use trip advisor as well as other sites that rank. Then you narrow it down by price, location and other amenities you might want.
Sometimes we look for the best in the area or boutique hotels. Maybe you are looking for a good inexpensive hotel. It all depend on what you want.
My problem is that I want 4 star hotels at 2 star prices. Or for free, thank you very much (via hotel points or company paid). Typical cheap airline crew, can’t help it. I’m not that terribly picky, but I want it to be nice, offer decent amenities and be in a safe area. And I want a deal. A free breakfast is even better. This can make finding hotels difficult.
Yes, I try to at least make a reservation that I can cancel and then look more carefully for other options that might work better for our budget while still not requiring excessive walking in case we’re tuckered out from being tourists.
If I am going to a city, I will read trip advisor reviews and find something with good reviews in a neighborhood where I need to be. If it’s a road trip, I am a fan of hampton inn for reliable, clean, and comfortable without a huge price tag. I live in that uncomfortable space where I hate paying a lot for a room because I am only going to sleep there and having a special fondness for finer things (like high thread count sheets and rooms with character. ) 8-}
Ah, I do that too! Make cancellable reservations, but keep looking for a better deal. Sometimes you find them. I do that with airmiles tickets, too. In fact, I just checked on an airmiles ticket I’d booked for August, found one on a little later flight for half the miles. Pays to keep looking.
I have often found that a VRBO is often the best deal; for a conference in San Diego I once found a 1 bedroom condo 1 1/2 blocks from convention center for about 3/4 of the conference hotel rate and I had a full kitchen.
Recently used tripping dot com to find a place in SF for an upcoming visit with DD. Cheaper and closer than the nearest hotel.
My husband always wants to try AirBnB, but I’ve read reviews and am alarmed. Apparently the owner can cancel on you at the last minute with no penalty, for the first three times, then they. charge them something minuscule, like $50. People have been cancelled on the way over to the property. But you don’t read about it in the reviews on that home, because they won’t allow you to review if you don’t stay there!
Apparently in hot areas, people will list on multiple sites, and if they get a better offer (even at the last minute), they just cancel you. Terrible for the customer. Though I’ve talked to many people who have had good experiences, can you imagine that happening at the last minute?
I also prefer when I can cancel without penalty, just in case plans change, because sometimes they do (rarely, but sometimes).