Melissa

All things related to America bad; all things related to Europe good. If you say otherwise, Lester, you'll get bashed on this forum. (On another post, there is bashing because the writer complained about toilets in Spain.)
There are things I love about Europe & things I don't love about America. But when it comes to comparing hotels overall (at least the 3 star in which we usually stay), I think America wins hands down in terms of comfort. When in Europe, we spend our days out & about & only retreat to our hotel at night for, hopefully, a good night's sleep. So give me quiet over quaint & tiny. In the day, I'm a wanna be European - at night, I'm a comfort loving American.

Flagg

The fact that you listed "poor TV" second in your list speaks volumes about what kind of European traveler you really are.

toby

Anytime anyone expresses their preference that endorses American comfort on this site is opening themselves up for a butt kicking. Those same people are the ones that kick and scream when something isn't perfect during a stay in any American hotel. Luxury American hotels have it all over comprable Euro hotels.

curious

OK, I'm trying to understand, here. Maybe I should not expect an enlightening discourse after the thread has reached this level, but it does raise a couple of questions.

1. TV: except maybe once to watch the news, I don't think I've ever turned on the TV in a European hotel room. As I tend to be a budget traveler, I don't usually notice if the room even has a TV.

2. small beds: they do seem to be smaller in Europe, but what does this have to do with the individual hotel? All the beds I've enccountered in 10 years of regular travel, from hotels to private houses, have tended to be small. And, as I am very tall, it does bug me a bit, but what can you do?

3. vending/ice machines: I can't even understand why this is an issue. Please, I am not slamming anyone, but I just don't get it.

4. no soap: I've encountered this in hotels both in Europe and America. I just ask for it.

5. service: have never noticed a general standard of lower service.

In terms of noise and uncomfortable (rather than just small) beds, I do see the point and it would bug me. For what it is worth, I am American.

dont

Why is it outrageous for a hotel customer to want a clean, quiet place to stay? I'm not sure what Lester hoped to get out of his post, but it seems to me that a hotel is in business to furnish travelers with a place to sleep and prepare themselves for another day of experiencing the wonders of a different country and culture, so why shouldn't you expect a clean, comfortable bed, a quiet environment so you can sleep, and a clean, comfortable bathroom? I like charm, views, etc., as much as the next guy, but let's not forget that the principal purpose of a hotel is to provide a clean, comfortable place for you to spend the night.

curious

An addendum: what is the complaint about the showerheads? I've travelled over most of Europe and have never encountered a bathroon in which I could not take some sort of bath or shower and get clean, which is the whole point. What difference does it make if it is the same system as in the US or not? truthfully, I can't say that I can even remember what the shower/tub arrangment was like in most of the places I've stayed.

Randy

A basic charming place in Europe is fine if they are charging $50.00 a night (MOTEL6), but to call a place 4 star, charge $400 a night and call in luxury, when it is really a dump, then you cross the line.

I agree, most European hotels are poor for the money.

My Two Cents

Here's what bothered me - in Italy recently I stayed in a hotel that was listed as borderline 4 star (I didn't care about that, just thought the location looked good). When I checked in, the room I got was dingy, had smudges and handprints (and smashed mosquitos) on the wall, some mold in the bathroom tile, sparsely decorated, etc. I asked for a different room because the noise from the traffic outside was quite loud. The second room had a balcony over a quiet street, a beautiful city view, was beautifully decorated and virtually spotless. Same hotel, same price.

If that second room was unavailable the original room would have been a real downer. At least in the US you are reasonably sure what the room down the hall is like. In Europe it's a crapshoot.

Kerry

I think there are some nice hotels in Europe. In the US, however, you have more choices at a much lower price. I can understand where Lester is coming from, you pay a certain amount therefore you expect that you get a certain amount..not unreasonable.

Lisa

I agree with you Melissa. Some people on this forum go way overboard praising anything European and bashing anything American, and the worst offenders are often American posters.

Greg

In America, most places are chains with strict standards about quality, staffing, services, etc.

In Europe, many places are family owned which can be good or bad.

liz

I participated in a Marriott focus group in NYC a few years back and they were surveying US travellers on their expectations of hotels when going overseas. Most of the people in the group that was a wide cross-section of ages, incomes, etc. wanted a hotel room just like what they get in the US. I think Marriott does provide a high level of consistency in all its properties, and I believe they are now the largest chain worldwide. I really don't think it comes down to WHERE as much as the management in charge, and this particular chain really has its act together. I agree with you fully, Lester, than customer satisfaction is an American concept and still lacking in many places outside of the US. On the other hand I have had wonderful experiences everywhere and believe me, they were NOT dependent on how much I was paying or WHERE I was. Worst experiences ever: Grand Intercontinental Hotel in Paris and another horrid hotel in Madrid called Euro II something. Best ever, Claridges in London which defies description almost in its excellence.

Capo

In my eleven trips to Europe, there has only been one hotel, in Paris, that I was very dissatisified with.

I've felt that every other hotel, locanda, auberge, pensione, and bed & breakfast I've stayed in has been a very good value.

You have every right to feel that places you've stayed in have not been a good value, to you. But you can also then choose to not stay in hotels in Europe if you feel they're such a terrible value.

loved it

European hotels and hostels are MUCH better than in America. I'm serious. When was the last time you made a friend for life in a sterile American hotel with all its in-room amenaties?

pj

To loved it post

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uncle Sam

"I agree with you Melissa. Some people on this forum go way overboard praising anything European and bashing anything American, and the worst offenders are often American posters."

Lisa, you are absolutely right. And those folks are called European Wannabes!

US

jose

I cannot talk about ALL european hotels, but in Spain you get wonderful 3-4 and 5 stars hotels for reasonable prices. Have you ever been in National Paradors? There are more than 40 historic castles from the middle ages, convents, fortresses, panoramic old buildings... converted into 4 and 5 stars hotels. So, if you prefer a panoramic TV with 300 chanels and silk sheets, I´d suggest you go to those cool, big factory style Hilton and Sheraton malls in mediocre american towns.

sha

I live in the UK and travel extensively throughout Europe for both work and holidays. Its my experience that, with the exception of the v. v. v. expensive hotels, we don't live up to the quality of US hotels. There's many other things I think we probably do better, but really comparisons are pointless and taint the whole travel experience. I don't think I'd have as much fun if I spent my time in Eastern Europe thinking "wow this hotel doesn't have half the features of those in London". One point that may be worthy of consideration is that the tourist services (as a whole) in Germany (albeit the former West Germany only) are of a standard that I believe equates with the US. I think our main weakness is that we are expensive, compared to the States, and so people quite rightly think that they'll get something worthy of the price that they're paying, sadly that just isn't the case, in this aspect we are simply expensive and this is something that has to be taken into consideration when budgetting. One of those unavoidable facts of life, I suppose.

ryt

What difference does it make, everybody always claims they spend next to zero time in the room anyway. I think the better question might be who has the best bathrooms. Thats a place where quality time really is important. And lets not make bidets one of the measures, just for once.

Art

For 5 years I traveled for business in the US. My territory was everything west of the Mississippi and for at least 3 of those years I was in a different city almost every week. I have also been to over 20 countries, not much compared to some of you. For the money as pointed out above the US hotels are more comfortable then their European counterparts. I don't go to Europe for the hotels though. I go for the history, different cultures and atmosphere. I like to have a clean room and usually get it. The older hotels are usually more interesting than hotels in the US but do not have the amenities that US hotels do in general. I certainly will not stop traveling due to hotels though.