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Fodors Weekly Poll suggestion

Message: I have always wondered about the kind of European travel which fodorites use most. A question like...Which kind of accommodations/travel mode most closely fits your most recent European vacation? A) Backpack/hostels/trains B) B&Bs or Hotels/rental car or trains C) Travel tour group/everything prearranged D) 4 or 5 star hotels/money is of little consideration Any comments?

We prefer 4 or 5 star hotels and money is a GREAT Consideration. We look for good deals where a 4 or 5 star can be had for less than the price of a three star. This frequently takes a lot of time and work, but it can be done. We like a restaurant on the premises for a variety of reasons.

I think Fodors would never post a poll like that because they would be afraid of too many people answering (A) and losing advertisers.

B. I prefer inexpensive (which, for me, is less than $125/night for a double) accomodations with some offbeat character and a great location. I generally take the train between major cities and like to rent a car to explore smaller villages and the countryside.

Anonymous, Fodors just did a poll last week that was very similar to the message that Jor mentioned.

For what it's worth, I'd never answer a poll like that because the choices are too narrow. Were you trying to suggest: A) On the cheap B) Got a little disposable cash C) Lead me around and I'll pay for it D) Got cash, ready to spend it I don't think you can break the travel public into financial classes. I like to stay in small cities in Europe where you seem to get more bang for the buck and I always rent a car. But I will stay at a $75/pp hotel one night and the next night spend $400 just for the heck of it.

With all due respect to Jor. I believe the Fodor poll was easier to answer because the categories were more accurate.. 1. under $100.00 2. between $100.00 and $200.00 3.$200.00 to $400.00 4. over $400.00 I believe that Jor answered that poll, so maybe Jor had something different in mind with this poll.

Snoopy - yes the choices are narrow and they are somewhat based on money. What isn't? Have you ever seen a fodors poll which had more than 4 choices? Its a totally valid poll for travelers. And 'Anonymous' makes a good point.

We are B travelers. We like charm, quiet with access to fun and the European life!

Yes, an interesting point by Anon, but I'm not sure I agree with it. Based on the posts I read -- generally limited to France & Italy -- comparing the two extremes, there seem to be a lot more people inquiring about upscale accomodations than about hostels and the like. One should also bear in mind that people who stay in inexpensive accomodations don't always do this because they have to. Some choose to, finding inexpensive places to be -- for them -- a better value.

My last visit... I guess B, since we rented a car, and did no tours. However, we stayed at a resort that was like a B&B, a timeshare spot my dad traded for. It was probably out of MY price range at the time, though! Next trip, it will be 4 or 5 star hotel, but we will still be watching the cash...ALWAYS gotta watch the cash :D It will be our honeymoon, so we're splurging a bit... Normally I do B&Bs and rent a car... so I'm a B person :D

We're a B. Even when we were both working, and more money was available it usually seemed that there were problems" 1. We liked smaller towns/villages where their were no 4 or 5 stars or 2. They were not any with the character or charm of the region or 3. They were not located in the area we wanted to be or 4. The price actually included many elements we would not use (room service, workout rooms, turn down service, etc). Some of the best restaurants we have found are in small Inns and 3*s where we were staying. And one of our most memorable nights was at a B &B over an old restaurant where they only spoke German and we did not. It was amazing what you could communicate and it was one of our best meals in Europe. Happy travels everyone, regardless of your modes. It would get awfully crowded if we all wanted to stay in the same places!!!

Vive la difference. After all, if we were all the same, where would we park all the Harleys?

Used to be an A in my '20's. Now a B, by preference more than by financial constraint, and most of the friends we travel with are B's. Pretty much never a C. Sometimes a D if we're in the mood.

I think a more interesting take on this would be something like: When choosing accomodations which is most important to you: A) Cost B) Location C) Amenities/Charm D) Recommendations of others

I think that A, B, and C are of equal importance to me. D is meaningless to me......what is charming to one person may not be charming to another.

lynlor, would you share how you find 4 & 5 star hotels for the price of 3?

jor: I wish I'd had the chance to be an A when I was younger, but didn't get the chance to travel int'l until years later. Now, I think B suits us better. A evening or two of pretending to be a D is fun on a special occasion, but if I had to be a C, I think I'd just stay home! JohnH: I wouldn't know how to answer that one. All of them factor in, but like lynlor says, I have no idea what people mean when they say "charming". It sounds sometimes like when realtors say a house is "cozy" and has "potential". Translation: Small and run-down. Now, if someone can tell me exactly WHY they say a hotel is charming, then I can take that into account. Recommends that include comments about view, cleanliness, cost, space, service and uniqueness of the room - those I can appreciate and use. Location is great, but not at any cost. And location in the center of things is not always a plus. Low cost is fine, but not if the room is a mess. Never use many of the hotel amenities. We have a pool at home and can swim there. We will probably not eat more than once at the hotel restaurant, unless it really spoke to us the first time, or unless the hotel is removed from other places to eat. We like to experiment.

Wren; Mostly what I am talking about is France and Austria. First, France does not use the five star system, but 4 star and 4star luxe. They have the good deals on week-ends in the cities other than Paris. I will give you some examples: We got a rate of $75.00 for the Sofitel in Toulouse several years ago. This hotel is located about one long block from the train station so we were able to get other places easily. Other cities in France will give you a half price rate on weekends. We stayed in Nimes at the Imperator Concorde at half price with breakfast and an audio tour, via cab ride thrown in. Another one that we stayed in was the Grande Hotel de la Reine in Nancy, France. Again the weekend and half price. Lyon, France has these half-off week end rates and we stayed at the Sofitel there. We like to stay in small towns in Chateaux Hotels and it is difficult to get any rate reduction at these hotels. We have stayed at quite a few of these hotels and several times they have voluntarily given us an upgrade. Also, most Fodorites don't like the Meridien, Montparnasse in Paris, but it is one of my favorite places to stay. They have all kinds of special rates .... airline, military, you name it ... you just have to keep checking and asking. The last time we stayed there they had a painting in our room that I just loved so I photographed it . When I see that photo I have wonderful memories. We choose the time of our trip when we can get the best rates ( with the exception of summer, because we don't want to leave our home town during summer because of our good weather) As for Austria, we were in Vienna in December 2001 and after checking several hotels and hotels rooms, I fell in love with the Imperial Hotel there. We are going to Vienna again in October of this year and I spent many hours looking for an exceptable rate at this hotel. I checked all times of the year (except summer) all combinations of everything I could think of and one day I stumbled on a rate that they called the historic rate ( it seems to be gone now). They had a large attractive room at a low rate for two nights and the third night at $25.00 (historic rate that they charged when they first opened). I immediately called the 800 number. They seemed to know nothing about this, but they finally found it in the computer and I asked for an immediate written confirmation. (I hope it is not by the elevator shaft or other annoying thing, but I am hoping that it will be wonderful). BTW, these hotels are all four or five star hotels and I liked everyone of them.