How Do You Use Online Review Travel Websites?

Do you use online review websites when you travel?

This week’s travel tip, I don’t obsess too much over online hotel and supplier reviews.  I know as I say this, I may not be too popular with many review websites.  Please know I will quickly scan reviews looking at the comments so I know what people are saying and if the supplier is still in business. I follow my own strategy now when I travel and I never really have to give a negative review of any supplier.

I won't say I have never had any unusual experiences – like finding a really funky older bed and breakfast hotel in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska or getting a tiny room you could barely move around in with a balcony and the best view ever of the river and downtown Luzern, Switzerland.  

I have learned, even sometimes in the most uncomfortable way, to make sure I understand what I want from each trip first. Three points I follow now are:

• Create my own goals and expectations of each trip, as I do with my business plans.  Why am I really going? 
• Plan. Research. Hire and talk to a local person. Don’t obsess too much with reviews by others. Do learn the weaknesses and prepare solutions for yourself. Thin walls?  Turn your radio on to soft music or run the water in the sink. A supplier or hotel may not be perfect in every aspect.  If your goal is to hike, you may only need the convenience of a bed, shower, and breakfast.
• Do communicate on the trip.  If you are upset about an incident, it is most likely because this one item is important to you and was an integral part of the initial list of reasons why you want to go on this trip.  Tell the leader, supplier manager, or person in charge. And, tell them while you smile. I find people like to help solve problems, let them help you.  Don't be stubborn.

If you are the supplier, be patient with travelers. Don’t rush people. Each person has their own focus and speed – they want to have their own unique experiences.  Remember what may be important to one person may not be at the top of the list of another traveler.  I wouldn’t skip the experiences I found because a friend did not like them.  This is true with everyday life activities too, don’t rush other people.

Fairbanks, Alaska

I remember staying in a fun, funky, friendly, and a really inexpensive hotel in downtown Fairbanks which became one of my favorite memories.  The hotel was located in the center of downtown close to all shops, restaurants, activities, and information center.  And, when I was tired, it was a short walk back to my room to relax and re-energize. 

Would you stay here?

Yet, when the shuttle driver dropped me off at midnight (it is 24 hour daylight) the day I arrived, I was a bit nervous if I should be staying here on my own. I wasn’t used to these Alaskan wilderness characters roaming the halls in this small hotel. I did know there was a modern, updated hotel across the street, I could check into. The next morning I got up, went down to have coffee in the lobby, and chatted with the hotel owner who shared inside tips with me, and met other travelers.  I was set to explore.  

Lobby

My goal, was to experience the Alaskan Summer Solstice festival and go to their midnight baseball game without lights.  (Note: I recently found out, unfortunately, this hotel was torn down because of the recent downtown expansion of Fairbanks. A real shame!)

Luzern, Switzerland

A second memory is in Luzern. After leaving my friends I traveled with, I arrived in Luzern, Switzerland by train, and finding my hotel was a trip in itself.  The hotel was located along the main river in town. I walked across the fun wooden bridge and started my search.  Oh yeah, you need to go down the street behind the hotel to get to the main entrance! 

It was a great European hotel in the middle of downtown in a safe area.  I walked upstairs and into my room. As a single traveler, sometimes these European hotel rooms are unusually small. This room was very small. Although bigger than a ship cabin, it was long and narrow, I could stretch my arms out and almost touch both walls on each side.  Hotels have smaller connecting rooms they used for children or even hired help long ago. 

Yet my memory, is sitting on the balcony gazing at the best view ever of the city of Luzern, watching people below me in the sidewalk cafes, the covered wooden bridges and river activities. I was almost close enough to jump into the river.  My goal, was to see as much as I could while I was in town one day and night. The view was more important to relax and enjoy, not the size of the room. I really wasn’t in the room very much.

I am careful about how I use the information I find with online travel reviews.  Make sure you follow your own goals of what is important to you. Be sure to extract only the information helpful for your own trip.  When in doubt, ask a local person to help.

 

Why do you really want to go on your trip?  The Fun Tour Guru