Why do and then ask?
 

This is just idle wool gathering, but I am intrigued by many things about this board and they way people approach it.

One thing I'd like to know. If one books somewhere to stay or a flight or something, whay does one come here afterwards for information about whether or not it was good choice? If it wasn't I'm hardly going to say so and have you living in dread of your holiday, or crow that you could have got a better deal elsewhere, am I? (at least, I'd like to think I amn't)

Sheila, we've been enjoying your posts for a long time and we know that YOU wouldn't do that. (Fortunately, we can often find others who are more than willing to handle that "necessary" task. ;) )

Hi Sheila,

I've just bought tickets for my first trip to Europe. I'll be staying in Paris for one week and Madrid for one week.

I managed to get ORD/Frankfurt/Milan/Paris and Madrid/LHR/AMS/ORD for $1250.

Is this a good price?

Also I signed up with a tour group for my week stay in both Paris and Madrid. Are my hotels in a safe area near all of the sights?

I also bought a eurailpass for my train between Paris and Madrid. Is this a good idea?

Thanks for your help.

I haven't a scooby, Ira, but if there are problems, I'm sure you'll work them out!!

Simple, Sheila.
They post these questions because they are daft.
But not IMHO as daft as those who respond to them.

I agree, particularly with those short and sweet, but totally meaningless posts like, "We're staying at the Hotel Special, any comments?" Yea, I have lots of comments -- why are you staying there and what difference does it make if we tell you it's a horrible place?

I am also fascinated by the posts asking if a specific room in a specific hotel is special.
With all of the information ones stores about a trip, I am amazed that people are taking the time to note each number of their hotel rooms.
Does this mean that they will not stay at a perfectly good hotel if they cannot have that specific room?

Some people need to have their hand held; seeking after the fact reassurance is a common phenomenon.

A pet peeve of mine as well, Sheila. But to be fair, sometimes I think maybe they didn't find the Fodor's board <i>before</i> making the reservations-or-thought it was an ok thing to do &amp; then read something negative &amp; now checking for more feedback etc. Unlike you, if it's terrible, I'll say (particularly about something I know well). Sometimes it's worth losing a deposit to avoid. Other times a reservation is cancelleable. What drives me more nuts is someone who won't listen to what <i>everybody</i> is saying despite having asked advice.

I actually find the specifics about a hotel and its rooms very helpful. There are huge variances in the rooms in European hotels (one overlooks a garbage dump, etc.) and it can mean getting sleep vs. not getting sleep. I think everybody has different travel styles - some people are more laid back about where they stay, some are more detailed-oriented, etc. There is no right or wrong, just preferences. The purpose of this board is supposed to be the exchange of travel information - it may be helpful to one person and not to another. What I seem to be seeing lately, is more judgement than exchange. No doubt I am going to open a pile of &quot;do-do&quot;, but I am mystified.

Maybe, Westiedogs, but I for one DO agree with your doo-doo.

And &quot;Amen&quot; to zippo--If you don't see the point of the question, just don't answer. I don't even go further than the posting title when it's obviously a post they'd really rather I not respond to...unless it is to sincerely warn them away from a bad situation.

mclaurie is correct, in my case at least. I made hotel reservations in Paris before I ever knew of the existence of this message board. I am glad that so many contributors are generous w/their help and advice. However, if you want to talk about a pet peeve, I have noticed (in my short time reading and contributing) that many people ask a specific question and invariably there will be a number of responses that begin with something like &quot;well, I don't know about that&quot;--and then they launch into some tangentially related information that does not really answer the person's question. I have a hard time understanding why they do that.

IMHO, many posters are merely looking for validation of their decisions. Of course it hurts when you tell them that they should not have booked the villa near Lucca when they really wanted to see Cortona. Oh well, all you can do is to try.

Just wanting to be talked out of that feeling of buyer's remorse maybe? Or a backhanded way for a bit of validation from a percieved group of &quot;experts&quot; after doing something they're not yet comfortable with and sort of hoping to hear a &quot;well done&quot;?

I picture Ed Koch for some reason - &quot;How'm I doing?&quot;

Just guesses, as I've never fully understood it either.

I think the worst thing is booking several hotels so that when we try to book one of those, they may say it's booked full. A hotel owner told me that this was mostly Americans who do this.

Its called &quot;Buyer's remorse&quot;. It is a well-known phenomena in sales and marketing. That's why, when you buy a car, the salesperson calls you afterwards to assure you that you got the very best deal on the very best car, just in case you decide to change your mind during the &quot;cooling off&quot; period.

In this case, the person may have put down money (sometimes for the entire trip), for something unseen and unknown, because he/she found it on a website, it usually has an expiration date and he/she is afraid if he/she waits, it will be gone next day and they will regret it. Don't you have those TV advertisements that promise if you call now, in addition to getting a 99% discount on the product, they will also ship a set of steak knives (doubtless to slit your wrists after you receive the S*** they have just shipped you)?

He/she then come here looking for assurances and validation that it was the right thing to do, not necessarily looking for other options or, worse, to be told that the hotel they just booked is a dump in a squalid section of the city.

Also, some people find this site AFTER they have planned their trip, perhaps find mixed reviews, and are trying to prepare themselves for the worst so they will not be too disappointed when they get there.

Usually it is the case that when an hotel is reserved a relatively long period in advance, the rates are that much less expensive.

For my Barcelona trip I initially reserved one property which was offered at a &quot;promotional rate&quot;, then after some helpful advice from my delightful friends here at Fodors.com Travel Talk, I changed it to another property, again at a favourable rate. It still hangs in the balance, but don't have sleepless nights worrying about me, I don't travel until July and can always adjust at the last minute.

Flights, well as these are usually non refundable, and to be honest a flight's a flight - A-B nothing more, well for most people anyway (is my British humour too subtle here?), I can book a flight no hassle!

m_kingdom,
Just curious-- Where are you staying in Barcelona? I know you were looking at the Ritz and the Grand Marina. Which did you choose?

I was looking at similar hotels for our upcoming stay (next week!), and decided to gamble on the Omm, which is brand new, and for that reason has pretty good rates. Unfortunately the spa is not going to be open yet during our stay.

Good luck with the OMM, I'm looking forward to hearing your opinions on it!

I'm still sticking with The Ritz - for the position alone. The Claris seems overrated and the rooms apparently have paper thin walls between them! The Grand Marina looks a little hotel international, and they offer too many heavily discounted rates which always attracts the wrong type of clientele, besides which, it's in the middle of nowhere! The Arts seems too nouveau - minor British celebrities stay there, no thank you!

Once again, looking forward to hearing all about OMM and it's MOO restaurant! If you have any spare time would it please be possible for you to pop into The Ritz? Many thanks!

m_k,
If I have a chance, I'll check out the Ritz, and let you know.