When booking a hotel room, it’s common for travelers to stick with familiar brand names. That’s great if you’re racking up loyalty points, but what’s really in a name?

The fact is, very few brands truly “own” their properties.

Mid-level brands like Ramada, Holiday Inn and Motel 6 are a mix of franchises and managed properties, which means they are independently owned and operated.

Branded properties are supposed to adhere to a certain set of standards of quality…but that doesn’t mean they always do.

And while properties are inspected, anyone who has stayed in a room with dirty sheets knows that some places can slip through the cracks.

The good news is the hotel executives often look at user-generated review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor, so it’s a good idea to report on your experiences.

And a well-written letter to upper-level management can’t hurt, either.

Here’s something you may not know…in many cases, those mid-level brands actually tend to be nicer in Asia and Europe, where hospitality standards lean toward being higher overall.

Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to determine if a branded hotel is up to standard until you get there, so don’t say you weren’t warned.

For more helpful tips check out the Hotels & Accommodations section.

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