You'd like to think that any hotel rated with even one star has at least passed the basic clean test. By that I mean that the linens were changed since the last guest, the bathroom has been cleaned and the towels are fresh. Beyond that, I would like to think that the higher the rating, the cleaner the hotel. But that is not always the case.
Elizabeth's Experience in Dallas
A 24-year-old friend of mine booked a hotel through a popular online low-fare travel site. The hotel had 2 stars and was inexpensive (about $71). Upon arrival, she found her room to be dirty, still not cleaned from previous guests. She asked the desk clerk for a different room. No problem, the clerk said. But Elizabeth's second room was even worse. Her room had not seen a thorough cleaning in months and certainly not even a cursory cleaning since the last guest. The bathroom harbored countless health issues starting with vomit on the toilet and floor. The tub had mold and was quite stained. Countertop was dirty. Dresser was sticky. The bedspread hid the visibly used linen beneath. Her list of filth went on and on, supported by digital photos that she took before leaving.
Two Hotel Bills for the Same Trip
Elizabeth could not stay there another minute. She checked into another hotel. But now she had two hotel bills for each night of the trip. She has been unsuccessful in contacting the booking site. She is now disputing the payment through her credit card company.
How Can Inexperienced Travelers Avoid a Hotel Nightmare?
- Visit the Hotel's Own Website. A start, but not always reliable. Elizabeth did check the hotel's site. It sounded just okay. The pictures were mostly of the Dallas skyline.
- Look at Prevailing Room Rates on the Hotel's Site. How do rates compare to the discount site? This hotel listed its regular rates quite a bit higher, giving the impression it was a more deluxe hotel.
- Hotel Description Might Be a Clue. This hotel's description focused on its close proximity to a convention center and hundreds of restaurants but not on its own amenities. Like the photos, the description was vague. And, upon arrival, Elizabeth found the neighborhood was indeed close to the convention center, but in a very rundown area with vagrants milling about.
- Don'tt Go By an Impressive Name. Don't make the mistake of associating a luxurious-sounding name with quality. Ritz, plaza and other similar copycat names are just putting on the ritz!
- Check Reviews. Don't skip this step. Read all customer reviews provided on the travel site. Reviews were mixed for this hotel, most not good. But Elizabeth never read them before booking.
- Check TripAdvisor.com. This site offers forums on various cities. Tap into the city forum you need, search for hotel opinions. Or ask your own questions and someone will answer. It is a very active forum and my experience with recommendations there has been positive.
- How to Get a Refund. Internet commentary seems to say that it is very difficult to get online travel sites to respond. Elizabeth can dispute the charge through her credit card company. Beyond that, she can check with the hotel itself, even though she purchased through an online service. With the complaints she had about this hotel (accompanied by her photos), she can contact the Board of Health, Convention Bureau, Better Business Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce. She can also share her experience on TripAdvisor.com and other similar travel sites that accept comments.
- Do Your Homework Before You Book. Traveling on a tight budget doesnât mean you have to give up basic cleanliness. But choosing a 1 or 2 star hotel may require closer scrutiny.
- Don't Count on Stars. Three major online discount sites rated this hotel with 1 or 2 stars. Only one major site did not list this hotel. Doesn't anybody check on the hotels they sell to unwary travelers?
Without a personal recommendation, choosing a hotel can be a gamble. I recently discovered a customer-focused online site that actually visits its Quikpick recommended hotels. Plus it does not require prepayment, permits cancellations and is very competitive with the other sites. You'll find it on my regular blog, along with additional information about the hotel rating systems.
Tish (Guest Blogger)
Travels with Tish -- Girlfriends' Getaway Guide
Next: More about hotel rating systems
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