There is a type of redirect called a meta refresh redirect that I've seen on several hostel websites lately. There are a couple of reasons why I recommend not using this kind of redirect on your website.
What Is a Meta Refresh Redirect?
If you type in your home page URL and see that the URL gets redirected to a different URL, have your web designer check your HTML to make sure that it isn't being done with a meta refresh redirect. (Or post in our Hostel Management Forum and I'll take a look at your site and let you know if the redirect is being done with a meta refresh tag.)
Here's what a sample meta refresh looks like in HTML code:
If you're using Firefox browser you can press Ctrl-u to view the HTML. Look for the meta refresh in the top part of the code. If you think your site might be using this kind of redirect, post in the forum and I'll take a look at your site.
Why You Shouldn't Use Meta Refresh Redirects
Here are two reasons why I think this technique shouldn't be used on hostel websites:
1. Usability
Some browsers (like Firefox 3 with certain settings) won't automatically redirect when they encounter a meta refresh redirects. That means visitors to your site will just see a blank page unless they notice a little button in the top right of the page that says "Allow". Some users who are concerned with security won't allow those kinds of redirects by default.
When a non-tech-savvy user encounters a blank webpage they may not know how to manually follow the redirect, and that could lead to a lost booking.
Also, using meta refresh to redirect visitors disables the back button which can be very annoying to visitors.
2. Search Engines
Meta refresh redirects aren't very search engine friendly. Google specifically recommends against meta refresh redirects because of usability reasons, but I think there are some SEO issues also. I recommend against using any kind of weird redirect in general because search engines aren't very smart and it's easy for them to make mistakes. For maximum performance in search engines, keep your website as simple as possible.
If you want to redirect users to a different homepage, consider using HTTP header code 302 (temporary redirect) or 301 (permanent redirect). The recommended type of redirect depends on the situation. If you have questions about using redirects please ask them in the forums.
