| So you're going abroad, you've chosen your | | | | the hotel's own restaurants and bars can play an |
| destination and now you have to choose a hotel. Ten | | | | important part in your stay. You should be aware of |
| years ago, you'd have probably visited your local | | | | choice, style and whether or not they are smart or |
| travel agent and trusted the face-to-face advice you | | | | informal. A good hotel report should tell you this, and |
| were given by the so called 'experts'. The 21st | | | | particularly about breakfast facilities. |
| Century way to select and book your hotel is of | | | | 4. Bedroom Facilities: you should always carefully |
| course on the Internet, by using travel websites. | | | | consider the type of facilities you need from your |
| But how do you sift through the amazing choices on | | | | bedroom and find the hotel that has those you |
| offer? And more importantly, do you really trust the | | | | consider important. The hotel directory website |
| photographs and descriptions of the hotels that they | | | | should elaborate on matters such as: bed size, |
| have awarded themselves with the motivation of | | | | Internet Access (its cost, whether there is WIFI or |
| getting bookings? | | | | wired broadband connection), Complimentary |
| Traveler reviews can be helpful, but you need to | | | | amenities, views from the room and luxury offerings |
| exercise caution. They are often biased, sometimes | | | | like a Pillow menu or Bath menu, choice of smoking or |
| out of date, and may not serve your interests at all. | | | | non smoking rooms etc. |
| How do you know that the features that are | | | | These things really do matter and any decent hotel |
| important to the reviewer are important to you? | | | | directory should give you this sort of advice on |
| Then there's the problem of the reviewer's | | | | bedrooms - not just the number of rooms which is |
| motivation. The more reviews you read, the more | | | | the usual option! |
| you notice how they tend to cluster at the extremes | | | | 5. Children's' Facilities: more important to the family |
| of opinion. On one end, you have angry reviewers | | | | traveler than the business traveler, you should find |
| with axes to grind; at the other, you have delighted | | | | out just how child friendly the hotel is from the |
| guests who lavish praise beyond belief. | | | | directory and make your decision from there. One |
| You'll not be surprised to learn that hotels sometimes | | | | thing worth looking for is whether the hotel offers a |
| post their own glowing reviews, or that competitor's | | | | baby sitters service. For the business traveler wishing |
| line up for the chance to lambaste the competition | | | | to escape children this is of course very relevant too |
| with bad reviews. It makes sense to consider what is | | | | - perhaps a hotel that is not child friendly would be |
| really important to you when selecting a hotel. You | | | | something more appropriate! |
| should then choose an online hotel directory that | | | | 6. Leisure Facilities: the site should offer a detailed |
| gives up-to-date, independent, impartial information | | | | analysis of leisure services within the hotel - spa, pool, |
| that really matters. | | | | gym, sauna - as well as details of any other facilities |
| Here are some of the key facts you should bear in | | | | nearby such as golf courses. |
| mind: | | | | 7. Special Needs: the hotel directory site should advise |
| 1. Location: if it matters that your hotel is, for | | | | the visitor of each hotel's special needs services and |
| example, on the beach, close to the theme park, or | | | | accessibility policy. Whilst again this does not apply to |
| convenient for the airport, then location is paramount. | | | | every visitor, it is absolutely vital to some. |
| Any decent directory should offer a location map of | | | | Finally and most importantly, the quality hotel |
| the hotel and its surroundings. There should be | | | | directory inspection team should have visited the |
| distance charts to the airport offered as well as | | | | hotel in question on a regular basis, met the staff, |
| some form of interactive map. | | | | slept in a bedroom and tried the food. They should |
| 2. Style: it is important to choose a hotel that makes | | | | experience the hotel as only a hotel guest can and it |
| you feel comfortable - contemporary or traditional | | | | is only then that they are really in a strong position |
| furnishings, local decor or international, formal or | | | | to write about the hotel. |
| relaxed. The ideal hotel directory should let you know | | | | Want to find out about weeping willow bonsai and |
| of the options available. | | | | dwarf weeping cherry? Get tips from the Weeping |
| 3. Restaurants, Cafes and Bars: local color is great but | | | | Trees website. |