Technical Forum

Hi All,

I've been wondering about this for some time and was reminded again yesterday while writing a new Montreal "Hotel/Accommodation" tip. The number 7 field on the Build Page is:

7. Price Per Person

In the completed page, however, It is shown only as "Prices".

I realize that many people travel solo but rarely do you see hotel rates listed on a per person basis. Most often the first price is for a "Standard Room" usually a room for double occupancy with a queen bed. To clarify the price that I report I've started adding the following tag line at the end of my narrative:

Note: Price range below is for "Double Occupancy Per Person"

Still, I wonder if I'm just adding to the confusion. Does anyone else think the "Price Per Person" method is confusing to people who are not VT member and just doing research?

Tom

I actually find that the whole bit on price difficult. My problem usually stems from the fact that the price of the hotel varies from season to season, if you book directly or through a booking website, etc. So do I put down rack rates or the price I really paid?

I managed to stay at the exclusive Le Meridien in Vienna for quite a cheap rate as they were having an offer, cheaper than a 3 star hotel we found. But indicating the price I paid would not really be reflective of the hotel standard.

So I often just put the price I paid, but if this was an offer I'd mention that in the text area. And I guess I will continue to do so until there is a better way of doing things...

Thanks.

I see your point about the comparative pricing and that is helpful. I guess I was thinking that if in the Build Page we are asked for the "Price per Person" that maybe we make the heading on the tip should be "Price per Person" as well.

No easy answer and I suppose folks should not depend on one source exclusively.

Tom

I don't stay in hotels much, but I've wondered the same thing.

If I have the AAA book for the area, I may put down the price for a single without taxes and added fees, even if it is about the same as the price for two, figuring that two will be less per each.

Or I may say in the tip that we (two of us) paid a certain price including the taxes and extra fees, and then divide that in half for the price per person.

It is the same for restaurants BTW. Do I put the price of an average entree? The most expensive entree? I often order only the cheapest entrees on the menu. Will that price give a good indication of the whole range of the menu? I don't think so. Do I include drinks and dessert? We often drink iced tea or just water, although I do usually have dessert.

My solution for a restaurant is to price everything in the tip, and say what other more expensive dishes there are (with price). Then I take the total bill including taxes and tip and write that in the text in the tip. I divide it in two and put that price down for the average price.

Hotels usually charge very little less, if anything, for single occupancy of a room so to give the rate as half the double rate can be very misleading. Given the broad band of pricing here on VT, which allows for seasonal/booking medium differences, I think it would be better to give the room rate rather than price per person.