Trip Advisor Panic!

[Escape2Disney]

While I'm waiting for HOJO to release the Entertainment Rate for December, I thought I'd start checking other hotels through Trip Advisor. In reading the reviews, I started to panic! EVERY one of them (including HOJO) had some pretty frightening reviews. How much stock do you put in the reviews? :eek:

[TTFN92]

I look at what most of the reviews say. There can always be a bad experience but is everyone having a bad experience. Just look at the opinions of places on this board. We all have different expectations so rate things differently. Go to a place you've stayed at and read the reviews. See if what you experienced is the same or different. If everyone is saying the same thing about a place then it probably is correct. If its mostly good with a few bad mixed in its probably ok.

[bennette]

I put the review into context. If the reviewer has clearly not traveled much, their expectations can easily be inappropriate.

If they are coming from another country, their expectations of what a hotel will provide can be off.

Some people are simply never happy.

And sometimes it's just a bad fit. I am personally not a big fan of Hojo's for reasons very specific to me but I still don't hesitate to recommend it to people whose needs I think it will fit. It has a lot going for it.

Remember, you can't make all the people happy all the time...also, people are much more likely to report a ad experience than a good one.

[adriennek]

Here's my perspective: Every person comes with a different set of expectations. Some people would have expectations that can NEVER be met. Some people would be able to tolerate things that I simply couldn't.

FWIW, a few years ago, I was working with my personal travel agent to plan a trip and the first suggestion she had was a hotel I'd heard HORRIBLE things about. And I told her so. I told her I was very paranoid about this choice. She simply said: Those people have unrealistic expectations. I know you. I know what you like, I'm here to tell you, those people are wrong.

Now. Sure, EVERY property can have an off day.

But... just keep it in perspective.

[letshavefun]

If the same complaint is on mulitple reviews, that's when I start to think there might be an issue.

[Escape2Disney]

Thanks! You're all absolutely right. I needed a reality check! Sometimes that site makes me have nightmares about bugs, theft, and horrible customer service! HAHA

There are many people who have unrealistic expectations. I certainly don't expect the Ritz for the price of Motel 6.

I think my problems are 1) I've got severe back problems and am paranoid about getting a room with a terrible bed, and 2) I have a couple of immune system issues, so cleanliness is a MUST. Staying in an unclean or uncomfortable room could mean a unplanned hospital trip, which I want to avoid.

That being said, this is going to be a budget trip, so I have to pinch pennies.

I've heard good and bad about HOJO, so I'm not tied to that particular hotel. I just need to find something clean and comfortable since I will likely need to spend time in the room more than most.

To explain my idea of a decent hotel, I can say I was fine with the 3 different Best Western properties we've visited over the years, though their beds were uncomfortable (which is why we're looking for something different this time). The decor, cleanliness, and service were just fine with me. I get a grumpy if the walls are thin enough to hear the conversations next door or if we have to travel through a seedy area to get to our room.

With this in mind, what hotel would you suggest (on a budget)?

[oregontraveler]

To date, I have only stayed in hotels (off-site) on 3 different trips: 2005, Super 8 on Katella. 2007, Del Sol on Harbor. 2008, Motel 6 on Disney Way. My needs are simple, good bed & a shower, hopefully close enough to the parks. I have no complaints with these choices.

Hotels, on a budget no less, is rather subjective. Check out the Cost vs. Comfort thread for more ideas. You could probably get a room at Motel 6 or Super 8 for under $100 for a standard 2 bed room.
Up a level: Candy Cane Inn, Jolly Roger run around $130-$140 a night. (basic rates, no discounts taken into account) The Best Western is $114 a night in December.

[SigalTchelet]

Not sure what your budget it but I am staying at The Anaheim Marriott for $119 a night next month. Marriott generally has the Tempurapedic (sp?) beds and are always comfortable to me.

[Escape2Disney]

Thanks for all of the great advise! I finally just made a decision. <yeah!!>

I appreciate you all putting my mind at ease. Sometimes I just obsess over the details...

[DwarfPlanet]

Alot of the time I do not pay much attention to the individual reviews, because as other folks have said you can't make everybody happy and some of the reviews I have just shook my head at. While I do pay attention to the overall score a place has received such as "Ranked #9 of 106 hotels in Anaheim". It's not exactly budget its our personal favorite the Anaheim Islander Inn and Suites.

[kiwifuz]

Another thing to pay attention to on TripAdvisor is the number of reviews a person has, and what the person has reviewed (hotels, restaurants, etc). I'm not saying to totally discount everyone with only one review, but I tend to take reviews from people with multiple reviews more seriously. That said, if someone has 10 reviews, all of restaurants in what appears to be their hometown, I don't know that I would take that person's hotel review any more seriously than someone else with 1 review.

Between hotels specifically asking guests to review their hotel, and people who are paid by hotels to post reviews, you have to be careful to watch for bogus reviews.

I do agree with letshavefun, if everyone mentions the same "problem" with a hotel then it's probably "true". Sure, one person can complain that his/her room was dirty, but that could happen at any hotel because of poor communication between housekeeping & the front desk. However, if every person says something about dirty sheets, hair in the tub, bugs, etc., then it just might be true.

All that said, my husband & I usually just use Hotwire. If you check out www.betterbidding.com, there are lists of hotels to match the Hotwire amenities and a ton of "tips" that will help you determine (or attempt to determine) what hotel you're going to stay at. But we always rent a car and do things other than DL so staying not within walking distance is no big deal to me.