Can You Pick a Great Place to Stay from its Website?
Travelers complain about websites that promise far more than they deliver. "The
place looked great on the Internet," they say, but the reality was a "real
disappointment." The Three P's will help you pick out the good inns:
- Professionalism: Attention to detail is the hallmark of top lodgings. If
typos, poor spelling, incorrect grammar, incorrect or out-of-date information
comprise the website's text, you may find equal inattention to the hotel or
inn's maintenance, housekeeping, and upkeep. If such in-room amenities as
telephones, televisions, fireplaces, and whirlpool tubs are important to you,
look for specific details about their availability. Membership logos from
AAA and/or national and/or state lodging associations or inspection programs
indicating that the property has been inspected are also important.
- Personality: For many independent lodgings, especially
smaller properties, the innkeepers make the inn. A good website will explain
how the innkeepers' personal attention and knowledge will enhance your visit.
Seeing the innkeepers’ or managers' names are an indication of the pride
they take in their property. Watch for recommendations of area activities,
favorite restaurants, and insider tips to tell you how much the innkeepers
really know about their area.
- Pictures: Look for detailed, current photos of the property's
exterior, interior common areas, and many of the guest rooms. Pay attention
to such details as good bedside lighting, a typical indicator of the innkeepers'
concern for guests' comfort. If you see frills and lace on the website, don't
expect to find understated sophistication upon arrival. Look for furnishings
and décor appropriate to the inn's price range.
The website or brochure of a hotel or inn shows reality at its best, with strong
points emphasized, and weak ones minimized. (After all, you’d rather have
your picture taken when you’re dressed in your party best, wouldn’t
you?) For example, a lodging property’s materials are unlikely to proclaim
that traffic or train noise may awaken light sleepers, although they may note
that their location "is convenient to the interstate" or that you
may hear the "romantic sound of a night-time train whistle." Be on
the lookout for these tell-tale signs.
What to do? Tell the innkeeper what you're looking for, and ask if their property
suits your needs before you book your reservation. As much as they would like
to take your reservation, no innkeeper wants to host an unhappy guest, and the
way your questions are answered will give you a good idea of the level of hospitality
you can expect to find. |
