Agree, annhig. Often I ignore those posts because I don't have the time to search.

Excellent point annhig. How many *Grand* hotels does Amsterdam have? (Rhetorical question. Do not answer.)

One problem may be that some folks don't realize how easy it is to post links. Some are not so tech savvy and assume it must take some voodoo html coding/super secret skill

In fact right now as we speak there is a thread on the Help Forum asking how to post links . . .

That is why I often go to the trouble of trying to find the link to the flat/cottage/hotel/guided tour/whatever (even to other threads/TRs a poster says to to go look for) and post the link.

Not always possible - but I do try.

annhig - how are rooms at the Hotel of Hard Knocks - I hear it's a doozy in London - but are rooms worth 500 quid? And is the location safe and convenient?

Amsterdam has many grand hotels.

Ann - can you provide an example of what you are talking about please?

I immediately found these threads where the poster is asking about a tour and did not provide a link.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/sojurn-tours-to-turkey.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/anyone-travel-with-smithsonian.cfm

I'm guessing this is for a hotel:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/have-you-stayed-at-montebuoni-in-siena.cfm

I've seen many threads where people ask for thoughts about hotels and apartments but do not give links.

I completely agree, but sometimes I forget or am in too much of a hurry. My bad.

Cold - here's another apartment thread.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/apartments-to-rent-in-barcelona-and-good-base-town-along-costa-brava.cfm

And another.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/hotels-in-bellagio.cfm

And often there are horels with alomost the same name.

Annhig, Your point is very valid, and I'm gullty of often not bothering if there isnt a link. The real problem is that this thread will probably sink without any of those people reading it. It would be good if your suggestion could be added to the Fodor's guidelines.

Polite request 2 - your question might be taken more seriously if you leave out the !!!!!, the happy faces and the use of all caps. Just noting politely.

Thanks Adrienne - I wish Ann had provided that information. It would have saved us both some searching.

what have you got against

I've been searching the google world for Hotel Eingang on Einbahnstraße for so long it hurts. I know there are thousands of them but all that google has are photos of front doors. Jeeeesch! I know -- silly, but it's Friday night, I think.

Oh I love me a good emoticon janis, but when they pepper a long thread of 'where should I go, where do I eat', my brain just turns off.

What I wish I had a link to is a photo of cold wearing his purple bum pack. I've been wishing for this for a long time!!!!!!

Ann - can you provide an example of what you are talking about please?>>

sorry, cold, oh course I should have posted a link!

one thread, and I'm in breach of my own suggested guidelines. Duh!

but there was a lovely fodorite there waiting to catch the ball when i dropped it.

thanks, adrienne.

of course, I could claim that I deliberately failed to post a link to make my point, but sadly I'm not that sophisticated ......[space left for sobbing emoticon]

annhig--I could not agree more with your point. However, I agree along the lines of janisj: new posters don't have a clue anyway.

In fact, they probably would not even NEED our help at all if they knew how to post a link or do a search. Or read a map. Or buy a guidebook.

Shameful Disclosure: Once, not even as a new poster, I posted the question "Where should I take my kids in Europe on Spring Break?" Yeah, within the post I gave my guidelines (e.g., no car rental possible), but still...

I think I got 20 answers, not one of them rude (!!!!). And I used one of the suggestions!