Lastminute.com - whats the catch?

[TW]Fox · 20 May 2009 at 18:38

The great thing about Tripadvisor is that its either 1/5, THE MOST AWFUL PLACE IN THE WORLD EVER OMG I NEARLY DIED or 5/5 THIS WAS LOVELY. Which seems to be the case here.

J1234 · 20 May 2009 at 18:40

Yeah, decent hotel reviews on Tripadvisor are hard to come by. You often get people picking holes in anything they can.

jamoor · 20 May 2009 at 18:41

Yeah, you have to read reviews and see what they are moaning about and look at the candid traveller pics and make up your own mind.

Another good site for reviews is www.booking.com, you have to make a judgement. I have only ever gone wrong once, and I stay in hotels lots.

Which hotel is it?

Liverpool-Lad · 20 May 2009 at 18:41

I stayed in the Hilton in London, large room with flat screen telly etc and breakfast included (which was good), 2 people for 59inc! I stayed 2 nights over Sat/Sun and had no problems, so under £120 for 2 for the weekend.

[TW]Fox · 20 May 2009 at 18:42

I'm not even sure how much it matters whether its a bit crappy. It's the first 6 nights of the trip, after that we are staying in everything from camper vans to youth hostels as the whole idea is budget accomodation = 6 weeks instead of a traditional 2 week luxury break..

jr1104 · 20 May 2009 at 18:52

Are these good people to go with if your booking far in advance as well, or is there a better way to get bargains when doing that? I'm going on a road trip in September, and want to start planning out where we're staying.

Thanks

St0rmer66 · 20 May 2009 at 18:56

[TW]Fox;14114069 said:
It's not, I've been reading reviews of the hotel and it seems a bit shabby which I guess explains the price. It certainly isnt what you'd expect of a 4 star hotel. Hmmmm.

It's in Melbourne.

I would take any hotel over having to sleep in a room full of smelly snoring people.

Berserker · 20 May 2009 at 18:57

[TW]Fox;14114235 said:
I'm not even sure how much it matters whether its a bit crappy. It's the first 6 nights of the trip, after that we are staying in everything from camper vans to youth hostels as the whole idea is budget accomodation = 6 weeks instead of a traditional 2 week luxury break..

How much time do you intend to stay on the hotel? I can understand the day after as it's such a long trip (I generally do the same), but after that? The answer ought to be 'not much' - in which case, does it really matter what the interior décor looks like? As long as it's safe, secure, and a comfortable bed for the night, isn't that enough?

I stayed in all sorts of hostels/hotels when I spent my month in Oz. I didn't really care what they looked like providing they did the job (and they all did). I'll not turn down luxury if offered (I got three weeks in a rather nice Orlando hotel apartment with all mod cons - including the kitchen sink - for c.£800 from lastminute), but the most important factor is always the destination, not the hotel.

Lopéz · 20 May 2009 at 19:01

[TW]Fox;14114235 said:
I'm not even sure how much it matters whether its a bit crappy. It's the first 6 nights of the trip, after that we are staying in everything from camper vans to youth hostels as the whole idea is budget accomodation = 6 weeks instead of a traditional 2 week luxury break..

Just treat it as a bed - it can't really be "worse" than a youth hostel and if it's cheaper it's a no-brainer.

Besides, if it DOES turn out to be some Fawlty Towers style calamity hotel you'll have more amusing stories to talk about in years to come.

[TW]Fox · 20 May 2009 at 19:05

St0rmer66 said:
I would take any hotel over having to sleep in a room full of smelly snoring people.

I'm booking double rooms in the hostels, there will be no sharing, we'll have a private room.

Berserker said:
How much time do you intend to stay on the hotel? I can understand the day after as it's such a long trip (I generally do the same), but after that? The answer ought to be 'not much' - in which case, does it really matter what the interior décor looks like? As long as it's safe, secure, and a comfortable bed for the night, isn't that enough?

True enough but obviously we'll want to spend a couple of evenings there etc?

Berserker · 20 May 2009 at 19:12

Also true, but you're not tied in to spending them at the hotel if that doesn't work out.

Monster · 20 May 2009 at 20:16

Its a pretty good idea to have a decent hotel for a couple of days after the flight over as you will be knackered and gives you time to get used to the heat/cold etc. Once you go travelling the hostels are actually pretty nice and you should meet lots of cool people.

Just get a review book of the hostels and you will be fine, once in a while pick a room just for you etc to wash your clothes and have a good rest and let the good times flow. This is what me and my gf did, generally had no problems etc - apart from bed bugs in a cheap hostel in Noosa which sucked. Just check the beds for bed bugs and enjoy the trip

Viper² · 20 May 2009 at 20:32

Melbourne has it's good areas and bad areas. Some of the place feels like you've teleported back to the UK.

eidolon · 20 May 2009 at 22:16

[TW]Fox;14113658 said:
Whats the catch? I'm not expecting the Hilton

Neither was I when I booked with them but that's exactly what I got, 4* Hilton

Burned_Alive · 20 May 2009 at 22:37

What hostel are you looking at that costs £27+ a night? It should be a hell of a lot cheaper than that.

I can recommend Nomads Industry in Melbourne, had a great time there and it's all really new (flashpackers) with good facilities. Also a really great location.

Berserker · 20 May 2009 at 22:38

Now I come to think about it, the one I got in Orlando was... a Hilton.

Guest2 · 20 May 2009 at 22:40

I hear Gaza strip do really nice 4 * hotels

[TW]Fox · 20 May 2009 at 22:51

Burned_Alive said:
What hostel are you looking at that costs £27+ a night? It should be a hell of a lot cheaper than that.

One of the YHA ones comes out at $540 for 6 days. I'm only interested in a double room preferably with a private bathroom.

I can recommend Nomads Industry in Melbourne, had a great time there and it's all really new (flashpackers) with good facilities. Also a really great location.

Sounds good, any more info? Do they have double rooms? Dorms are out of the question.

Edit: Just found them. $100 a night. Seems expensive for a hostel?

Guest2 · 20 May 2009 at 22:57

[TW]Fox;14116015 said:
One of the YHA ones comes out at $540 for 6 days. I'm only interested in a double room preferably with a private bathroom.

Sounds good, any more info? Do they have double rooms? Dorms are out of the question.

Edit: Just found them. $100 a night. Seems expensive for a hostel?

I recommend Victoria Hall on Russell street. Clean, cheap and centrally lacated. Had a nice cinema room and gym too! Think i paid $24 for a night

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...=-37807556,144966087,1513796336961186536&cd=9

Stay away from Base hostels. YHA are expensive and more for families. Its more fun in a dorm, you actually meet people and have fun instead of being a loner

Jez · 20 May 2009 at 22:58

The catch is that stars does not equal quality or really indicate anything at all. It merely indicates the level of services which the place offers. I have stayed in loads of awful 4-5* places, yet lovely 2* ones.

Its probably just an old hotel which has trouble filling itself these days, so they offer huge discounts to vendors who will be able to shift lots of space on the back of the price.