Internet Hotel Ratings Inconsistencies
What To Look For When Comparing

While you may get a good deal, you will probably also get confused trying to compare the sites. There really is no standard set of criteria for hotel rating systems. With internet hotel rating systems, as with those of different countries, the number of stars depends on each websites' subjective rating system. And remember, you're probably only going to find bigger hotels on these services, not smaller, cozier places.

To add to your aggravation when you're searching for a hotel on the internet, there may be inconsistencies within each site... one three star hotel might be great and in a great location, the next three star hotel you look at might not be a place you'd ever want to stay.

Because of those inconsistencies, we're not as fond of those sites which tell you they will get you a bargain for a four star hotel, but only reveal the name after you've paid for the reservation. Instead of a four star hotel for a three star price, you might be getting exactly what you paid for.... a nice three star hotel.

To try and understand what those stars mean on any given site, read their description of how they arrive at the ratings. You'll really have to go looking for this. Some of them don't publish their criteria. Others only give you generalities.

You want to be looking for things like... Do they judge room service, a concierge, internet connections and a fitness center as important for a four star hotel or do they judge more on location and ambiance? Are the amenities you're looking for always... or only sometimes available for the number of stars you're looking at. And how much does any of that matter to you?

Read what people are saying in forums. Check travelers' reviews to see if a property lives up to its stars. Figure out which amenities are important to you, because that's what really matters.... not which amenities are important to the people that assign those stars.

Not all internet travel booking services have all the same hotels listed. Some have more properties available than others. Check, if you can, to see which service has the greatest number to choose from in the area you're traveling to.

While one internet booking site might be more liberal with its stars than another, and yet another might list more properties, if you find one where the ratings consistently fit your needs, you might just want to stick with that travel site. That way those internet hotel ratings can work for you, and you'll get just the kind of hotel you want... most of the time.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it!   Judy and Mark

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