If you’re looking for other info on hotels, either in terms of stays, reservations, peaks and valleys, deals, or other offerings, there are a few resources to check out. But I’ll stress again the importance of a ‘connected’ hotel; if the hotel you’re looking into is in a civilized part of the world or even if it isn’t; especially if it isn’t; it should offer some connection to the World Wide Web in the form of a website or area where you can find information about the property.

Any of the travel websites usually have pretty good information on any property that’s been around for any length of time. Just be wary, if you’re looking at something that looks like stock photos or if you start seeing duplicates, flawed, contrary, or incomplete information, check with the hotel yourself! It pains me to recall all the people who didn’t check things out before they’d checked into my hotel and spent the night arguing with someone on the phone, listening to another properties answering service take them around in a loop, or argued with me, as if I somehow had the answers they were looking for.

My biggest tip off is that if you see something (especially online) and it looks too good to be true, chances are, it isn’t true. If you’re not booking online a reputable source (always check your URL) or if there is some disclaimer on the bottom that says something like “the hotel may not have record of this transaction before check in” you’ve got to ask yourself, is this right?

The hotel always has info, instantly. Or soon after. If it does not, you’re dealing with an unconnected hotel and they’re the ones who need other information. You might ask, what’s wrong with them not having all the information; let me tell you what: Hotels operate in the 21st century; there is not a property that’s viable that’s been around for any length of time, practically anywhere in the world that doesn’t have an online service. If the hotel can’t verify a reservation that you’ve made online, what’s stopping the hotel from renting your room to someone else?

It’s not a really hard concept to understand if you think about it: Online services (Travelocity, hotels.com, orbitz, etc) all have rates for the properties; once they take your money, they need to be able to communicate with the hotel to let the hotel know you’re coming! If this communication hasn’t happened, what’s to stop the hotel from renting your room to someone else? This unfortunately is the other info that everyone needs that many take for granted.

To get this other info is very simple. Once you’ve made the reservation, call the hotel directly. You can even call before and find out their policy on online reservations, etc. If you ever need help, hotel staff is here to help. If you don’t like the info you’re getting, call back during the day (most hotels have manager type people on 7 days a week) and ask to speak with the manager.