Your hotel/accommodation regrets
Feb 29th, 2004, 10:59 AM
#41
Well, I thought I would be OK sharing a toilet down the hall (with shower and sink in my own room) first trip to Amsterdam. Won't do that again, nothing against the cute little hotel, just my own comfort and need for privacy. Not as adventurous as I thought, I guess.
I don't know about that specific website, but I post probably hundreds of responses about the small, family-owned hotels I have stayed in and enjoyed. It would never dawn on me to write a review of a Westin, Sheraton, or Marriott for example.
I don't know about that specific website, but I post probably hundreds of responses about the small, family-owned hotels I have stayed in and enjoyed. It would never dawn on me to write a review of a Westin, Sheraton, or Marriott for example.
Aug 20th, 2004, 04:49 AM
#43
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Indytravel, your comment "I'd hate to see what a hostel is like (in Amsterdam)" made me smile. Some years ago my husband went with a group of about 10 men on a stag weekend in Amsterdam and there was a mix-up with the accommodation. Everywhere was full, so it ended up with half of them in a hostel and half sleeping at the railway station, "in the gutter" as they perhaps slightly colourfully describe it. The next day, the consensus of those who stayed in the hostel was, "thanks guys, but can we sleep in the gutter next time ?"
We are coming to think that we regret sometimes staying in villas instead of hotels and I don't think we'll do it again. They are invariably not within walking distance of restaurants, so we don't go out at night as much as we'd like. And who wants to spend valuable holiday time going to the supermarket the whole time ? They are sometimes not any cheaper, either. I think the only advantage of a villa is not having to share the pool.
We are coming to think that we regret sometimes staying in villas instead of hotels and I don't think we'll do it again. They are invariably not within walking distance of restaurants, so we don't go out at night as much as we'd like. And who wants to spend valuable holiday time going to the supermarket the whole time ? They are sometimes not any cheaper, either. I think the only advantage of a villa is not having to share the pool.
Aug 20th, 2004, 07:10 AM
#44
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have travelled a lot, and for many years, and only disappointment was booking expensive properties that were, yes, beautiful but when you wake up in the morning, you could be anywhere. Very generic, no personality. The Hilton in Rome comes to mind. Much more fun to stay someplace that reminds you of where you are, even if the rugs are shabby.
Aug 20th, 2004, 08:13 AM
#45
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1st regret, 1st trip to London
We were flying in from Paris, arriving , much delayed, at Heathrow at 11pm or so, didn't get to our small hotel in South Ken. until midnight or later. It was locked up tighter than a drum, front desk unstaffed, all doors locked. This was well before cell phones, and I was mystified as to how to use a coin phone on the corner. Thankfully I had my trusty map and guidebook and we were in a good area, so we walked a few blocks, dragging our (unwheeled) suitcases,and another hotel gave us a room (after much pleading, it happened to be Wimbledon week). We'd told our original hotel that we'd be arriving in the evening, but neither they nor we had a contingency plan for a very late arrival.
another regret:
First trip to Paris, booked an airfare and hotel package, didn't check out the hotel location in advance, this was pre-internet discussion boards. We were indeed in Paris, but a good 15-20 minute walk to the nearest metro stop, and in a bland, modern, large,tour-group-oriented,chain hotel, with plastic furniture. Moral: check the hotel location, and do the legwork in advance. (We loved Paris anyway.)
3rd regret
1st trip to Florence.
Charming hotel, very good location, a little pricey we thought at the time, but we were looking for a nice place.
Our room was huge, I mean it could have slept 6 or 8 if there had been more beds. The building had lots of charm, we were told it was a former monastery. We had a/c, the staff were helpful, the breakfast great, many good places to eat in the neighborhood. Problem: it was a historic buiding and had no elevator, and we were on the 4th floor. You'd have thought for that price we'd have an elevator, but we didn't and I hadn't noticed that lack mentioned in the literature. Made us think twice about going back up to the room to get a sweater or drop off a package.
Moral: Ask, never assume.
We were flying in from Paris, arriving , much delayed, at Heathrow at 11pm or so, didn't get to our small hotel in South Ken. until midnight or later. It was locked up tighter than a drum, front desk unstaffed, all doors locked. This was well before cell phones, and I was mystified as to how to use a coin phone on the corner. Thankfully I had my trusty map and guidebook and we were in a good area, so we walked a few blocks, dragging our (unwheeled) suitcases,and another hotel gave us a room (after much pleading, it happened to be Wimbledon week). We'd told our original hotel that we'd be arriving in the evening, but neither they nor we had a contingency plan for a very late arrival.
another regret:
First trip to Paris, booked an airfare and hotel package, didn't check out the hotel location in advance, this was pre-internet discussion boards. We were indeed in Paris, but a good 15-20 minute walk to the nearest metro stop, and in a bland, modern, large,tour-group-oriented,chain hotel, with plastic furniture. Moral: check the hotel location, and do the legwork in advance. (We loved Paris anyway.)
3rd regret
1st trip to Florence.
Charming hotel, very good location, a little pricey we thought at the time, but we were looking for a nice place.
Our room was huge, I mean it could have slept 6 or 8 if there had been more beds. The building had lots of charm, we were told it was a former monastery. We had a/c, the staff were helpful, the breakfast great, many good places to eat in the neighborhood. Problem: it was a historic buiding and had no elevator, and we were on the 4th floor. You'd have thought for that price we'd have an elevator, but we didn't and I hadn't noticed that lack mentioned in the literature. Made us think twice about going back up to the room to get a sweater or drop off a package.
Moral: Ask, never assume.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
suezanna
Europe
26
Apr 29th, 2003 11:08 AM
