| The world of hotel reviews can be a double edged | | | | is 4.3, yet you only center on the two 'bad' reviews |
| sword. They are fantastic for uncovering problem | | | | (one of which may claim staff was rude when 6 |
| hotels or motels, are great for the tips they provide | | | | other reviews praises the friendly staff and the other |
| about the area near the hotel or local attractions and | | | | claiming they were overcharged and it took 8 weeks |
| they can help you watch out for certain recurring | | | | to get credited) and avoid the property based upon |
| events that you want to avoid. But are they all | | | | these two reviews, you will be missing a hotel or |
| honest? Are they all legitimate? Are they all applicable | | | | motel with a rather high average score. You do want |
| to your situation? | | | | to read some of the reviews but you should be |
| I do not believe so. After researching hundreds if not | | | | looking for things like how clean the room and |
| thousands of reviews, I find a very common and | | | | bathroom were. Avoiding a hotel because the 'carpet |
| disturbing pattern. People who (may) have a | | | | was stained' will cause you to pretty much avoid |
| legitimate beef tend to exaggerate problems to the | | | | ANY hotel because short of replacing carpet every |
| extent that an otherwise exemplary hotel may seem | | | | year, hotels cannot keep up with the messes many |
| to reside within the very jaws of Hades if you | | | | guests make. |
| believe everything you read. And people who have a | | | | Reviews should be examined for averages - the |
| problem rarely account for personal responsibility. So | | | | average rating, the average number of reviews, the |
| they will trash a hotel that did not let them cancel a | | | | average comments. Look for rants, where |
| reservation at 9 p.m. on the day of arrival. Or they | | | | EVERYTHING about a property is bad and make sure |
| misinterpret an 'authorization' of a credit card (which | | | | the complaints are legitimate. Use reviews to scout |
| their BANK does, not the hotel) with the actual | | | | out an area if you have never been to it. Avoid |
| charge and claim they were double charged. Yet the | | | | properties if numerous guests point out that linens |
| authorization amount will soon disappear and the | | | | were dirty or the location was dicey. Know that low |
| amount reserved (again by the bank, not the hotel) | | | | priced motels will almost always have problems so if |
| will return to the credit line. | | | | price is your only concern, you shouldn't care if the |
| Here is what you need to know to make sense of | | | | rating is a 2.4. Many people note these types of |
| reviews that sometimes seem to be at odds with | | | | properties by headlining it, "You get what you pay |
| each other. | | | | for". |
| Always make sure there are at least 10-15 review to | | | | These tips will allow you to make better judgments |
| read. If after 15 reviews a motel's score is still 2.1, | | | | about reviews and whether they apply to your |
| you know you are inviting trouble. But if the average | | | | interests or not. |