Is it ok to check out hotel rooms before committing to the reservation?

[cjhampton]

All the favorite places (CCI, BWPPI, HOJO, etc) are out of our price range. So,I went ahead and made reservations at 4 less popular places because I couldn't decide.

But here is my dilemma...

Our vacation is 13 days total, and we going to San Diego before DL for 7 days. So we'll be passing through Anaheim a week before our actual DL stay. I am wondering if it would be OK to go check out the four hotels I've made reservations for?

I realize we'd only using 1 out of the 4 and canceling a week prior, so it won't free up rooms for others until pretty late. Do you think our level of service will be comprised because of this? I don't want any bad karma on our trip!

BTW: the four options are:
Motel 6 Maingate: Price is unbeatable and good reviews ($57)
Anaheim Plaza: Location (bugs reported on tripadvisor has me worried though)($85)
Holiday Inn on Walnut: Location and good reviews($92)
Holiday Inn Resort on Manchester: Most hotel like($98)

I'm really struggling...so thanks for your opinions and sorry for the long post.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I can't see how it would effect your level of service. YOu are going to cancel 3 hotels. They are not going to have a chance to give you bad service. The hotel you keep will be happy you found the room acceptable and stayed. Should be fine. And, since most only require 24 or 48 hours to cancel you are well within your rights to cancel.

Personally, I can't imagine spending my vacation time running around looking at hotels. Don't forget to factor in parking or transportation to the park from your hotels. A couple of them are too far to walk. Sometimes that could make up the difference to stay at one of the hotels you ruled out.

 

[RangerPooh]

I don't know if you want any imput about previous experiences but ere is some anyways. DH and I have statyed at Anahiem Plaza a few times over the years during budget trips and have never paid more than $50 a nite for it. It's usually in the $35 ball park. I could not imagine spending close to $90 for it. It's old and when we went outdated (between 2002-2004). The rooms were bigger but it wasn't anything to write home abaout. They said that they had a continental breakfast but it was mearly a small danish and if you wanted fruit or juice you had to pay for it. The grounds were kept nice and it served our purpose...a place to sleep on the cheap.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

The only one out of those we stayed at was the Motel 6 (when it used to be Red Roof). It was nice, clean, pool area was nice. It's you basic motel, but it does it's purpose for usually a very good price.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

All the favorite places (CCI, BWPPI, HOJO, etc) are out of our price range. So,I went ahead and made reservations at 4 less popular places because I couldn't decide.

But here is my dilemma...

Our vacation is 13 days total, and we going to San Diego before DL for 7 days. So we'll be passing through Anaheim a week before our actual DL stay. I am wondering if it would be OK to go check out the four hotels I've made reservations for?

I realize we'd only using 1 out of the 4 and canceling a week prior, so it won't free up rooms for others until pretty late. Do you think our level of service will be comprised because of this? I don't want any bad karma on our trip!

BTW: the four options are:
Motel 6 Maingate: Price is unbeatable and good reviews ($57)
Anaheim Plaza: Location (bugs reported on tripadvisor has me worried though)($85)
Holiday Inn on Walnut: Location and good reviews($92)
Holiday Inn Resort on Manchester: Most hotel like($98)

I'm really struggling...so thanks for your opinions and sorry for the long post.

hey...Ive stayed at the HI on Manchester and I have some pics of it...if you'd like to see it....I paid $45 on priceline pick your own price...the going rates on priceline is between $51 and $60 for the times you are going and they are using Doubletree, Hyatt, and crown plaza as well as the HI.....doubletree and hyatt charge a parking fee daily but thats $10 more so its still wayyyyyyyy under...if you need help with anything or want to look at the pics just pm and I can help you

 

[cjhampton]

Thanks so much for all the input... the search continues!

I may be removing the Anaheim Plaza from the list of potentials!

 

[kiwitravel]

We only paid $69 + tax at the CI in late June of last year... and this is right across the road from DL. Included a good breakfast as well. Whilst all hotels have rackrates these can be negotiated on if you ring and "talk the talk", obviously they get a lot less for rooms sold through agents but agents would stop selling their property if they advertised cheap rates. Hence rack rates that often seem high. As an example we have just booked our accommodation for Gold Coast Australia next year, rack rate $269 after one phone call and two emails we got them down to $121 for a ten night stay. The longer your stay the stronger your barginning position.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think its fine if you want to do that. You will be cancelling a full week before your possible stay, if that would be some sort of problem for them, they would make the cancellation policy different. Thats the sort of thing my grandmother would always do, she went to a bit more trouble than most but she NEVER had a bad experience because she was always staying someplace she had seen! For that matter, my mom would never pay for a room until she had gone up and inspected it for cleanliness. I can still remember us kids sitting out in the car while she would go check it out. We thought she was so crazy to do that until we started paying for our own rooms, then she looked pretty darn smart! As long as its not that out of your way or taking up volumes of time, I would say go for it, it will make your days in San Diego worry free as you know what you're in for in Anaheim.

 

[brenda1966]

For that matter, my mom would never pay for a room until she had gone up and inspected it for cleanliness. I can still remember us kids sitting out in the car while she would go check it out.

This cracks me up because my mom would do the same thing on all our family vacations. I thought she was nuts, but we didn't have internet back then to do our research. We also were just finding rooms at random sometimes late at night! Talk about lack of planning. LOL. Mirrors on the ceiling anyone? Yikes. No wonder I love to plan my trips so thoroughly.

I'm guessing the OP is running into high rates because it's peak time and they are booking late. It sounds like you're not staying within walking distance at any of those places, so I'd probably use one of those bidding sites and try to get a room much cheaper.