I'm researching hotels and it seems like unless its a 5 star hotel and costs over $500 a night, then its "horrid and dirty and noisy". Is there really no such thing as a clean hotel room for $100 a night? :/ Come on now...I'm not expecting Egyptian cotton sheets or anything, I just want them washed. Are these people just being overly critical? Or will we be staying in a germ infested dump if we go with a two star hotel? >

Use Tripadvisor.com instead to review places and hotels. Most reviews come with pictures frin the hotels, but my favorite part is they usually include candid pictures of the hotel from the guest doing the review.
I have usually found the reviews to be honest and accurate.

Remember that there's no official star rating of hotels in the US. And most sites rate hotels based on amenities. You can have a nice 2* hotel, and you can have a dumpy 5*.

I think it also depends on WHERE you are looking for a hotel room $100 won't get you much in NYC, but in upstate Michigan for example it will get you a very nice room.

Where? (is the key as to whether $100 a night can get you something decent).

I also recommend tripadvisor.com as the best collection of hotel reviews on the net.

When is also a factor. High season - $100 is chump change. Off season and you can do much better in many locations.

But - if you're asking for $100 per night in New York in high season - that will get you a hotel far from the city that is used to house welfare families or rents bythe hour.

Sorry - but $100 just isn't much money anymore.

The OP was asking about hotels in San Diego on the other thread. San Diego is one of the more expensive cities for hotels, especially for the nice ones downtown.

Checking biddingfortravel, 4* downtown are about $100-120 + tax/fees on Priceline. Not too bad.

I suggest you try craigslist.com or VRBO.com and search for vacation rentals? If you plan to stay a week or more you may find a nice condo or house to rent at a reasonable price. If you have several people in your party, it can be a great deal. They usually have photos and information on how to contact the owner. You won't get daily maid service but you can often find some very nicely furnished rentals. Off season and last minute deals may be available, if you ask. I've stayed in San Diego, Del Mar, La Jolla, Carlsbad and Oceanside. All are delightful locations.

Just wondering why anyone would recommend craigslist as they were recently busted for promoting prostitution on the web site -- or at least not policing their web site well enough to prevent prostitute and pornography from being promoted there.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...gslist16m.html

If the hotel only has a 2 star rating, you can almost count on a germ infested dump. 3 stars using the AAA system is the minimum I would stay at and I am cautious even with 3 stars.

Can't speak to hotel.com reviews but I have stayed at enough places to know that $100 doesn't go very far. You have to do your research if you are at all picky about accommodations. The pictures on the internet are almost always misleading.

Actually, I find that if the majority of reviews are critical, the place should probably be avoided. In my experience, renting private homes has always been a major disappointment. Most of the rental homes are second homes to the owners and they are furnished with mismatched dishes, utensils, bedding and furniture. I'll stick with searching for a deal on a 4 star+ hotel, with a 3 star as my second choice anyday.