Diglossos

One of the first things we do when planning a trip is choosing a hotel, resort or other similar place in which to stay while we are visiting a location.  In some cases, we choose a destination based upon the kinds of hotels at that location.  Many of us rely on rankings like stars or numerical rank systems in order to determine our final choice.

Unfortunately, relying on rankings is not necessarily the best way to choose.  The reason is simple: Not every group ranks things in the same way.  Now, you can consistently use one site or regularly depend on the opinion or rank of one group, but you’ll find that the choices are limited.  Simply put, not every group reviews every place.  In some cases, groups have very specific preferences or biases that exclude places you yourself would consider.

What about reviews, you ask?  Well, there’s a problem there, too, because the reviewer may have certain biases or may not share your preferences.  What bothers one person – like no room service after a certain hour – may not even be a blip on the radar for another person.

So, what do you do?  How can you make sure or at least reasonably determine the best places to reside?  It’s simpler than you think:  Do some homework.  You don’t have to do a ton of research, but you do have to search.  The key is:  Search intelligently.

What do you want to do anyway?

Before you do anything else, write down what you want to do.  That’s right.  Put on paper what your interested in doing.  It can be as simple as “I just want to relax,” or as specific as “I want to play tennis every day and work on my serve-and-volley game.”  By doing this simple step, you simplify your research a whole lot.

Hang on! You’re not done with that paper yet.  Next make a list of the kinds of destinations where you want to go.  Beach? Mountains? Lake? Urban or suburban? Proximity to airport? Do you want to go overseas or do you want to stay in your own country? Do you care if they speak your language, or are you okay with roughing it? Do you want to be in a place which has a lot of things to do, or do you want somewhere remote with limited activities.  Again, you’re just narrowing down your options so that the search goes a lot quicker.

What are the services you need or without which you cannot live?

You’re not done with that pen yet, my friend.  Now we’re getting down to real specifics.  What do you want out of your hotel?  Some people want to have people catering to every whim.  Others want to be left alone.  Still others want to have people in the background.  This is very important.  It means the difference between having a staff at your personal disposal or finding yourself at a place where they whisk you to your own private island or bungalow where it’s just you and a bunch of sea turtles.  Know what you want.

Besides the service, what specific things or amenities should the hotel have or not have? Some people like the 24-hour room service because they tend to stay up late, and at 2:00 in the morning they crave a steak frites.  Other people want a full breakfast included, while others are happy with coffee and pastry.  Beyond that, do you want a place that has concierge service, or are you OK with one that only has front desk personnel?  Do you want a place that has round-trip transportation from the airport, or is taking a taxi OK with you?  Do they have toiletries, or are you OK bringing or buying your own? List everything.  If you have children, and they will be traveling with you then you need to include what you’d like for them to have or experience as well.

What’s in a name?

If you know a few brands that are reliable, or you’ve heard of some that will meet your listed criteria or come close, note them on your list.  Do not look at their websites yet.  Right now what you’re doing is narrowing your focus so that when you finally get online, you can maneuver through the Web like you’re a version of Google but in human form.

One mistake that a lot of people make is that they rely solely on brand names.  “Well, if I stay the The Chicest Hotel, which is a part of Best Hotels Ever family, I will get what I want.”  Then you arrive and you find out that this particular location caters to nudists.  (Sandals resorts in Jamaica has a bunch of hotels, but some are definitely not for people who were looking for “wholesome family fun” à la Disney’s Magic Kingdom.)  Others find that the all-inclusive experience at destination A is not the same at destination P; so, the diving experience you had last time and wanted  this time is not part of your package.

So, forget the fancy names and brands.  They can give you a hint at the kind of service or experience you might have but each also has to maintain the spirit of its location.  Marriott, Intercontinental and the Ritz brands are very different from each other, but a Marriott in Disney is going to have a slightly different feel from one in Ontario.  Keep in mind, too, that the brands may not offer you the best deals or experience.  Sometimes, the smaller chains or boutiques will give you better rates and options.  Plus, you’ll find that local (as in, in country) brands or chains may have advantages over the international rivals if only because they represent their own cultures.

So, where are you going?

You’ve made your list, and you have identified your activities and the kinds of things you’d like to do.  You know in general what kind of destination you want.  So, now it’s time to get online and do some basic searching.

You will begin at a city’s or country’s website.  Almost every country and city in the world has a website touting their history, culture and vacation destinations.  Many even have their cities mapped out and can tell you what neighborhood or district caters to specific things.  For example, the district of San Telmo in Buenos Aires is a historic architectural area evoking the colonial period.  In Paris, besides noting places on the Left Bank or Right bank, each district or neighborhood (called “arrondisement” in French and all identified by a number) has a certain personality and distinct set of activities to be found there.  If you look at New York city, you’ll find a section called Museum Mile, and you’ll also see a distinction among neighborhoods.

The reason you start at the country or city site is because you want to learn some basics, like climate, best times of year to travel, travel restrictions (passports, vaccinations, visas, currency, etc.).  You also want to know if there are any safety issues.  For example, Egypt has been a hotbed of revolutionary activity for the past several months; so, that may not figure in your plans for travel to the Middle East, but is Jordan OK?  Cross reference with your own country’s state department site.  It keeps track of safety considerations.  Another thing you will learn is transportation services, times, regulations and restrictions.  If you are planning a multi-city or multi-country trip, you need to know what passage regulations or restrictions apply.  You also, need to know what times are the best for travel and what times are best to avoid.  (High traffic volume, construction, etc.)

You will cross-reference your country or city choice with a few reliable information sources.  These would be newspapers, travel magazines, newsmedia travel sources (like CBS or BBC Travel) and travel blogs.  While the country or state sites will paint a good picture, they will also paint a very favorable one.  Sometimes public relations gets in the way of complete honesty. So, pick a country or two and see what people whose career is travel and advising on travel have to say about it.

The Match Game

Now we’re ready to navigate through the internet with confidence and efficiency.  You’re going to look for very specific things, like cities and activities available there.  You’re also going to look in specific neighborhoods or towns because you know that these places have what you want.  Next, you’re going to consider certain hotels or accomodations because they are in the neighborhood of the city you chose.

We now can visit websites that would provide the information regarding lodging and amenities.  I’m not talking only travel sites like Expedia and Kayak.  I mean all sites that cover travel.  These could be travel blogs, travel magazine sites or newpapers.  You also want to include travel agents’ sites.  Some agents have specialized in certain destinations or types of accomodation.  Not only can you find agents who can help you organize a bicycling trip through Italy, but there are others who specialize in or represent special luxury properties (like villas or family homes). Don’t be afraid to let an agent help you or organize the final preparations.  After all, you did the research, and that’s 70% of the job.  Sit back. Relax, and get ready for your trip.