Foo - Difference between 2 star and 3 star hotel.

Does one give you fancy breakfast burritoes instead of complementary donut holes?

Just curious.

** = Smells like urine
*** = smells faintly of urine?

One you see the roaches running around when the lights are still on....the other one you don't!!:eek::p

I think I stayed in a 1 star one time. The toilet was broken when we went in. All of us guys took dumps on top of dumps and couldn't flush it. They wouldn't fix it so we left a surprise.

Similar to differences between the 105 and Ultegra.

Number of amenities and it really depends on governing body who they "bought" the stars from.

3 - 4 is easier to distinguish. Officially 3 stars does need to offer in room dining, single dial directory, heck they barely need to offer a reception desk. 4 stars is usually required IRD, RC (mini bar), pool, usually a restaurant of some kind, turn down service, on demand housekeeping, concierge etc. While these are listed they are usually at a cost. ;) (including internet btw)

2 stars is pretty much the lowest, think, motel 6. You walk in, you check in, you "sleep" you wakeup and leave. For example in a resort like whistler, a 2 to low 3 star most hotels won't have a front desk. You have no services and no amenities and you likely have to check in at a "Central" hotel "up the road" and then walk to your actual location. While this works well for some people, watching families with crap loads of luggage walk their crap 3 km uphill to their room....it ain't pleasant :)

3 star is kind of the pique imo...(in a bell curve) then again I am a DNDer. I don't want housekeeping/all the misc crap people like. I want a clean room to start and bi weekly turn down (preferably upon request), internet is usually free and the restaurant is usually decent enough but won't break the bank

all that said, this scale slides based on location. a 3 star in mexico/cuba is going to be a 2star in north america. 3 star in big locations will have a lot of the amenities of a normal 4 star.

Hope that makes sense. Each "star" scale measure differently, so this doesn't apply 100% (there are scales based on destination like 4 star ski location for example) so keep that in mind. But it usually comes down to services and amenities.

Oh and 3 star is also a HUGE variety. Take the sheraton (btw sheraton in europe is a 4) and marriott, usually very good 3 stars with some 4 star amenities...then look at the 4 points by sheraton...generally its slightly above a crap hole, marriott also has a "lower" 3 star

so all that said, there is a ryme or reason to it, but you need to know how to read the fine print ;)...start with location, needs (services) and then fluff (amenities) and decide which level you want to stay at

Personally, I never stay less than a high 3 or low 4. Once you start getting into the low 3 and 2 range, lectermans ratio works allllll to well.

[edit]
also, keep in mind most places cater to an income.

5 star - 450,000$ family
4 star - 210,000$ family
high 3 - 100,000$ family
low 3 - 50,000$ family
2 star - go camping, it's safer and more romantic anyways :D

couple of travelling caveats...

"off season" produces better rates across the board, but keep in mind, they run short staffed. Take one of the hotels I am at, winter rate can be 800$ a night. Spring and fall it hits 200ish and summer is 400. Staffing goes by the same ratio. So service becomes a little slower and different amenities may be offered

"walk in rates" do you have the gonads to travel without a place to stay? You might luck out with a walk in. This works especially well on the "odd" seasons. Call a while hotel in the summer, if they are sitting around 90% occupancy ask them what their walk in rate is...if you have suckered someone into telling you...it is usually half price...

Another trick is to travel in large herds......

It gives you a lot of leverage on price if you call direct and start asking about blocks of 15-20 rooms. ;)

I wish y'all had tips for finding a cheap rental car. :p

I wish y'all had tips for finding a cheap rental car. :p

Get to know someone in the business or begin working in the service industry and try and get inside deals :)

Rent a Wreck (http://www.rent-a-wreck.com/)

I wish y'all had tips for finding a cheap rental car. :p

Don't rent at the airport if you can take public transit to a non-airport rental company. Most states have a tourist tax applied at airports that can be pretty steep.

Weekends are usually cheaper because there's fewer business travelers renting.

I wish y'all had tips for finding a cheap rental car. :pStep 1: Be over 25.


Don't rent at the airport if you can take public transit to a non-airport rental company. Most states have a tourist tax applied at airports that can be pretty steep.Yep. The airport locations tend to have a better selection of cars, but the prices, at least here, are 11% higher.

Step 1: Be over 25.

Yep. The airport locations tend to have a better selection of cars, but the prices, at least here, are 11% higher.

Really?

I got my reservation online. Other than normal tax I don't see any huge fee.

I'm getting a car with tax for 160$ For a week. At the airport. The money wasn't different for the airport. What I did notice, SFO vs OAK oakland was 40 cheaper.

Three star = "We'll leave the light on for you."
Two star = "We'll leave the seat up fer y'all."