Trip Advisor has unveiled what is named their Top Values Index. A news release says the index works on "a proprietary algorithm that analyzes the relationship between a hotel's quality and price – quality as determined by input from real travelers on TripAdvisor as well as third party content, such as star ratings."
So if you type in a destination such as "Orlando," the goal is to show you a list of hotels that best combine good reviews and low cost. You won't necessarily get the top scorer in either category, but the best combination of both factors. The leaders will display a "Top Value" logo in their Trip Advisor entries.
The Kayak review site is called Travelpost.com, where they "search more than 200 Web sites for hotel reviews, hotel information and room rates." Another claim: TravelPost includes data on 134,000 hotels.
Although Trip Advisor has many more reviews from which to draw, Kayak designers are promising refinements to TravelPost in the near future that they say will be easier to use and more reliable.
Can a budget traveler actually find unbiased hotel reviews online?
There is no shortage of message boards where people trade information about everything from the friendliness of the desk clerk to the condition of the bathroom shower curtain. Many travelers post their own pictures to support their claims.
So long as they aren't taken too seriously, these reviews can benefit budget travelers. One review might not mean much, but if there is a pattern of good or bad, it's worth considering prior to clicking "buy my hotel," especially if the purchase will be made on Priceline or Hotwire.
It's clear these and other online travel providers are responding to a clear call for value in the marketplace.
Here's hoping overpriced, inattentive hotel operations will be victims of the tough economic times. Those providing low price, solid quality or a pleasing combination of the two will survive and even thrive.
