Originally Posted by
darthbimmer
Indeed. If I were preparing for a long term stay I would consider not only the brand standards and benefits but also the specifics of each property within my price range:
- Is this a newer or older property? (Older ones often are not as nicer as newer ones within the same brand.)
- How convenient is the location to my work site?
- How convenient is the location to dining, shopping, and activities. If I'm going to be there for 2-3 months these things are important.
- Is the location susceptible to noise problems, e.g. next to a busy highway or rail line, or near a construction site?
- What are the recreation facilities? (There is variability within brand standards, such as whether a pool is indoors or outdoors.)
- And finally, to what extent is local management will to negotiate on the terms of my long-term stay? It's not just about getting the lowest price; we may be able to agree on other items of value to me like a choice room, an upgrade, or leaving the room unrented 4 days a month when I'm out of town.
Of course, I spend a lot of time looking at Tripadvisor and read all the reviews to learn about the things that interest me. I just noticed that certain hotel chains don't even register in my mind. I noticed their existence now after years of staring at Tripadvisor.
As for factors I look at, they include the location. I look at Google earth to see what's around it. Three months is no joke. I don't want to be stuck in the middle of an outdoor shopping mall. Quiet industrial parks of the hi tech variety, a bit off the highway, are good.
I like new, updated, and modern, and dread oldish, dated and stuffy. Anything that says Best Western or Holiday Inn falls into these categories in my mind but I could be completely wrong about them. That's sort of what I was trying to get at.