When I travel, I prefer the fewest number of surprises possible. But how do you check out hotels, their environs and travel tips when the location in question may be half-way around the world?
My advice would be to check out TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com). The site is an amazing amalgam of travel information, advice and experiences. I use the site to see what other travelers think about specific locations, hotels, attractions, etc. As well, I pick up travel tips that are invaluable. (E.g. where to buy a cheap bug net in the Australian Outback – made my sightseeing much more enjoyable than those who didn’t know that the little flies outdoors perpetually try to get into your eyes, ears, nose and mouth.)
A word to the wise: Take the reviews with a grain of salt. Some are submitted by those with an axe try grind. Some people have no patience and expect the world to always bend to them. Some reviews are fakes. However, if there are a large number of reviews and they are pretty consistent in their tone, praise or condemnation, then you can probably rely on the information.
