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  #1  
Old 08-08-2011, 05:20 PM
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Reviews of smaller European hotels by Americans

Is it really a big deal that the hallway lights are on a timer (press a button to activate), or it has no A/C and openable windows in a city where the average summer high is 75F? And yes, the rooms may be smaller than the average chain motel in the US, and you'll have a hard time with the shower if you're a 300 lb obese pig. Big. Deal.

As long as it's clean and in relatively good shape, I don't see why people have to knock points off for things that are DIFFERENT without being bad. People on tripadvisor and friends need to get a grip and enjoy the fact that they're (in many places) paying about 60-70% of what the cheapest price would be near the center of a large US city.

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Old 08-08-2011, 06:05 PM
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Depends on your definition of "bad" and "different". To someone like me, having purple walls might be different and to you it might be bad. Having no AC might be bad in a car and I would never buy one without functioning AC but to some, it is not a big deal. To my wife, 75 is ok. To me, 65 is ok. I think they have a legitimate gripe if they don't like what they see be it timer hall lights or smaller rooms or even the decor.
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Old 08-08-2011, 06:12 PM
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You are preaching to the choir, here. I spent the best vacation of my life wandering from cheap French hotel (Etap) to cheap French hotel (Premiere Classe) through Provence, Brittany , Normandy driving a Renault Clio3 cdi, dragging my family around in 2007. Just barely enough room to turn around in those places, but WGAS - all part of the experience.
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Old 08-08-2011, 06:13 PM
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Aklim --> Disagree. Everything has to be judged in local context. Compare a $500k apartment in NYC to a $500k house in Oklahoma and OMG the apartment doesn't have a large backyard or driveway for parking. And you can't walk to the subway or the store from the house. Reviewing things without taking local norms into account is silly.
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Old 08-08-2011, 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by spdrun View Post
Aklim --> Disagree. Everything has to be judged in local context. Compare a $500k apartment in NYC to a $500k house in Oklahoma and OMG the apartment doesn't have a large backyard or driveway for parking. And you can't walk to the subway or the store from the house. Reviewing things without taking local norms into account is silly.
I agree that local norms have some bearing but I would disagree that we have to simply use the local norms, whatever it is, as a standard.

Take the time I was in Nam. It wasn't a big deal to have a river run past the dining area that was black and with a few dead rats. Oh, BTW, there was a crapper (outhouse) upstream of the dining area. Yes, it was the local norm for that restaurant. However, I can't say that I would rate it highly either. However, according to you, it would be acceptable since it was the local norm. Local norm as it may be, I simply don't see how I can recommend that you dine there.

Up to 1996, I have seen food courts in Singapore that had rats running around at night. Again, it was the local norm but would you expect me to recommend it to you? To give you a context, the food was about comparatively priced to the local McDonnalds, less the rats.
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  #6  
Old 08-08-2011, 06:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spdrun View Post
Aklim --> Disagree. Everything has to be judged in local context. Compare a $500k apartment in NYC to a $500k house in Oklahoma and OMG the apartment doesn't have a large backyard or driveway for parking. And you can't walk to the subway or the store from the house. Reviewing things without taking local norms into account is silly.
Exactly. When in Rome.... If you do not want to do as the Romans, stay home. You are visitor. Do your research and act like a guest in someones home. Have a bit of respect for your hosts and stop being a obnoxious douche.
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Old 08-08-2011, 06:51 PM
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Tourists all have different tolerances . . . perhaps those who do online ratings are a bit less patient than others or feel that negativity in reviews is what is expected.
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Old 08-08-2011, 06:57 PM
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Tourists all have different tolerances . . .

perhaps those who do online ratings are a bit less patient than others or feel that negativity in reviews is what is expected.
True.

Or perhaps those that did those specific ratings had different expectations. Besides, this sort of review would give me an idea of what to expect from the place. That way, I can make up my mind as to whether I want to go there or not or more accurately, whether I want to spend my money there or not. Besides, if you are going to accept reviews, you are going to have to take the good with the bad.
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Old 08-08-2011, 07:10 PM
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Besides, if you are going to accept reviews, you are going to have to take the good with the bad.
True. But at the same time you have to use your brain somewhat. If you use reviews as a way of getting an idea of wether or not you'd like to stay in a hotel for a while without understanding that things are different the world over and being able to winnow the wheat from the chaff you are a fool.

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Old 08-08-2011, 08:46 PM
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People complain online, its what they do.
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Old 08-08-2011, 08:51 PM
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People complain online, its what they do.
Uh .... present company and all that. Right?

Right?

OH NO!!!!
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Old 08-08-2011, 10:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Hatterasguy View Post
People complain online, its what they do.
Some like to do it in person too.

As my accommodations have varied from a one-man tent near Hattiesburg, Mississippi one July* to some very nice hotels, I think you have to take it in context and also consider the price you're paying. The Motel 6 is fine at Motel 6 rates, but I'd be pretty disappointed to get Motel 6 accommodations at Holiday Inn prices. Or the Alaska tent I shared with nine other dudes in Afghanistan. It had electric lights and air conditioning (when the generators were working), and a wood floor, and you couldn't beat the price. No complaints here. If I was paying 50 bucks a night stateside and got that, I'd be pretty irate.


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  #13  
Old 08-08-2011, 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted by pj67coll View Post
True. But at the same time you have to use your brain somewhat. If you use reviews as a way of getting an idea of wether or not you'd like to stay in a hotel for a while without understanding that things are different the world over and being able to winnow the wheat from the chaff you are a fool.

- Peter.
Obviously you know that the place will be different which is why you are spending money to go there in the first place as opposed to checking in at your local Holiday Inn. However, when you look at those reviews, you get a hint of whether you are going to be happy there or whether it might be better for you to check in at a larger hotel. It is like a car rental. I know I am going to be uncomfortable in a compact car so I will make sure I don't rent one. That the car company gives certain cars the "compact car" label helps. As such, if I want more space, I know better than to check into a motel with a smaller space.
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  #14  
Old 08-09-2011, 07:13 AM
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Originally Posted by aklim View Post
I agree that local norms have some bearing but I would disagree that we have to simply use the local norms, whatever it is, as a standard.

Take the time I was in Nam. It wasn't a big deal to have a river run past the dining area that was black and with a few dead rats. Oh, BTW, there was a crapper (outhouse) upstream of the dining area. Yes, it was the local norm for that restaurant. However, I can't say that I would rate it highly either. However, according to you, it would be acceptable since it was the local norm. Local norm as it may be, I simply don't see how I can recommend that you dine there.

Up to 1996, I have seen food courts in Singapore that had rats running around at night. Again, it was the local norm but would you expect me to recommend it to you? To give you a context, the food was about comparatively priced to the local McDonnalds, less the rats.
So the rats didn't like McD's? Or rats cost extra?
Tom
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  #15  
Old 08-09-2011, 08:16 AM
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I like to read reviews. I pay special attention to the 'dislikes' and then decide if I too would dislike, or if the reviewer and I differ on the matter.

For instance, a complaint about a small rental car will be valid to me in the US, particularly if I plan to drone all day on the Interstate. A small car on the back roads of Europe may not be a problem, and may actually be a blessing!

It's all about understanding the context.

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