'To book or not to book?'

To book or not to book?

Jade from The Net -

How can you really trust the hotel you book is really where you want to stay? Most of the time it seems like the hotel I pick I hate when I arrive. Even after doing research, it just always seems like what I spend per night really isn't worth it. Has anyone waited until arriving to get a room?

Comment #1 Brad from Aruba -

I did that going to San Andres, Colombia once. Waited till I got there to get a hotel. I used the name of the hotel I usually stayed at with immigration.

When I got to that hotel they only had a room for 1 night. I had no idea that I was arrived one day before a major holiday. Since San Andres is a major holiday place for Colombians and only a 1 or 2 hour flight from most of the major cities in Colombia it gets full on holidays.

After I checked in the taxi driver took me around to all the hotels and went in with me. After we checked all the "regular" hotels then we stopped at one which is more commonly used by the families of the locals.

It turned out to be the best places on the Island. A little bit run down, but the nicest staff and owners you could imagine. It was about 2 blocks from the beach and set behind the retail stores so it was very quiet. It was also about 1/2 the price of the other hotels. It was really closer to a bed and breakfast than a hotel.

Each bathroom also had a little note saying what hours the showers had hot water. Hot water being something that is not necessarily in all the hotels and some don't tell you what hours there is hot water. A 4 star hotel on the island didn't have enough water pressure to flush the toilet in the middle of the afternoon. Uh oh!

Comment #2 Tan Me from On The Beach -

What a wonderful vacation that must have been. How homey it must have felt. The things we take for granted like hot water and water pressure.

Comment #3 Caribbean Lover from U.S.A. -

Usually I'll check out tripadvisor.com. They'll give you a lot of information about hotels, etc. from people who stayed there. I do that for a lot of my trips - people are very honest about whether the places they stay at are good or not.

Comment #4 char from denver -

I always do research ebforehand and google for reviews done by people. I find that I get a more realistic idea of what the hotel REALLY has to offer. The websites for the hotels itself would never advertise anything "bad" about their hotels, that would just be stupid. So i really rely on reviews.

Comment #5 raven from somewhere -

I learned to check reviews before I book a hotel. I went on a business trip and booked what I thought was great room at a good hotel. The room was horrible and I ended up requesting another room and cutting my stay short.

Comment #6 DaConciousChick from Blue Flag State -

Yes, I have booked a hotel that looked different from the picture and very far from the attractions. Some of the hotel website details can be misleading. Now, I always read reviews before I book my hotel. I think I would be afraid to go to another country without booking my hotel before I leave for the trip.

Comment #7 Elizabeth26 from Strawberry Land -

I can remember booking a little roach motel during my college days. LOL! We got some rain one day and it rain the whole day. The room was leaking from the rain and front desk said that all the rooms leak.

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