Q: I find that booking a flight is pretty straightforward, but do you have any tips for booking hotels? There's quite a selection out there.
— Jeff B.
A. Jeff, I love hotels. People pick up after me; food magically appears after one phone call; no one can blame me for the decor; and I get to try out new shampoos. What's not to love? But you're right, the choices in hotel offerings are a plenty.
Growing up in the era of the motel, I welcomed our summer road trips, where each day my parents would pore over the pages of the AAA hotel book to figure out where we'd stay each night. Dad required vacancy; Mom needed cleanliness; Sis pined for a place to mope and I sought an establishment where one quarter could buy me a ride on a shaking bed. (It was an allowance well spent.) Yes Jeff, just like you suggested, there's a lot to consider in selecting a motel or hotel, as the case may be.
As a business traveler, your tastes are likely more demanding and sophisticated, selecting accommodations based on location, price, amenities, company policy and ambience.
There really has been a hotel content revolution over the last few years. As a traveler, I can investigate every hotel choice before I book it. When I arrive at the hotel I've already mapped its location, taken a dip in the pool, checked out local venues and worked up a healthy glow in the gym-virtually of course, but I've experienced the hotel's offerings nonetheless. Here's how I select and book a hotel booking on Expedia Corporate Travel.
Log on Select Hotels Location, location, location: I use "search near address". Or search near city, airport, or attraction if applicable Sort the results to your liking: Expedia Picks, Price, Hotel Name, City, Hotel Class or Distance (I usually opt for distance). Narrow it down to a couple choices Click hotel name to visit it virtually and check out the following hotel info: Overview: get a feel for the place Location: Map and Points of Interest. (I've found "walking distance" is a subjective term.) Hotel Features: hotel description and amenities (Room service: are there two more perfect words in the English?) Traveler opinions, ratings from 1 to 5 In addition to checking out the traveler ratings summary, I often visit sister site Tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews. Whether scathing or gushing, the hotel reviews are not only informative but equally entertaining (lots of references to the Bates Motel). Former hotel guests give you the straight and skinny on their stays. You can get a real sense of the property. I tend to discount adjective-laden reviews chased by an army of exclamation points; makes me think the front desk clerk is dallying online during his/her graveyard shift.
Booking a hotel these days is relatively easy and online profiles and reviews have taken much of the guesswork out of hotel unknowns. I'd have to say Jeff, that online resources, like hotel offerings, can be most accommodating.
Have a question for Tom?
Tom Conway, whose in-room mini-fridge bill once equaled what he had paid for his first 10-speed, looks forward to your comments.
Each week we select a city and ask our fellow business travelers to tell us about a favorite hotel and why it's a great place to stay. 
