Where to stay? (2) --- Business hotels, how to choose

If you are not willing to spend $80 and up for a night's stay in a hotel, look for the next best thing! This is where business hotels comes in. Business hotels, is designed for business people. They are smaller, cheaper, but has everything you need for a business trip. They offer almost everything a normal 3 star and up hotels offers, including internet, private rooms, security, convenience, and comfort.
I started looking at various business hotels in Tokyo 's inner city because I didn't want to stay at a hostel that I need to share bathrooms with people. It just bugs me. Also, most hostels has a curfew. I found that the price of staying at a hostel and staying at a business hotel is almost the same, but I would get a hotel level service if I stayed at a business hotel, so I looked for reviews about various business hotels in Tokyo.
There are many business hotels to choose from, so I made a list of criteria to see which one suits my need the most.

1. Location
Location is still important. Not only will it be a determining factor in transportation cost for the rest of my trip, it will also determine the time and money I need to spend getting there and get out of there. My main goal was to stay near a major JR station, like around Sjinjuku or Ikebukuro, so that I can access the JR and other train lines. I pretty much set my mind on Ikebukuro because that's where most of my shopping will be done. Also, I traveled with my sister, so safety around the area is a concern. Shinkuku has the famous red light district, which is a bit worrisome, though I later discovered that it really depends on which side of the JR station you are on.

2. Reputation
Like many travelers, I care about the reputation of the places I'm going to stay at. It would be better to be prepared for the various flaws than to be surprised by them when we finally get there. Also, how the reception people handles international travelers is also important. Big pluses if they can speak English. I was also interested in complaints about the hotels, so I know if I can tolerate them or not.

3. Price
My alternative choice would be a hostel, and I had found information on several reputable hostels. The only difference is the bathroom issue and price. Therefore, the price of staying at the hotel should not exceed the price of staying at the hostel.

4. Other service/ amenities
Most of the time, hostels just provide you with a room, and no more service afterwards or charge fees for extra services, so if the hotel provides some extra service, it would be a plus. I have found out that some business hotels would provide free breakfast, which is a big money saver, and some would have free public computer with internet, or free international phone calls. More free stuff is better, and would save you a bit more money.

The next post will be introduction/review to some business hotels.