Most hotel reviews are filled with flowery descriptions of how great some hotels are. Some of them are true. Some of them aren't.

So whenever I find myself needing a hotel somewhere I have never been to (and no one I know has ever been to, either), I look online for unbiased reviews from fellow travelers.

Hotel Chatter's Hotel heaven lists recommended hotels, as reviewed by real travelers. What is interesting is the section called Hotel Hell. Before I make a booking, this is one of my stops. I make sure that the hotel I have chosen is not in this list.

Trip Advisor offers the same unbiased reviews. Real story from real travelers, bad and good.

Check them out before you click that submit/pay button.