Hamish Reid wrote:

Javascript -- which actually isn't much related to Java -- is very
useful, almost universally available and used, and quite lightweight,
and is used mostly for smallish effects (field format checking,
rollovers, etc.).

We always recommend to our clients that JS is useful for certain effects,
but it should not be something on which a site is dependant.

One particular client took our advice, and used JS for a little timer on a
training system. It's cute, and even useful. And it is the single largest
source of support calls. Problems with JS are just that frequent (and
annoying).

[...]
It loaded instantly ... except for that damn counter, which took many
seconds.

These are silly, true, but the delay is indicative of some problem.

BTW, some have recommended staying aware from tools like Flash or Java. But
a hotel site - esp. one with distinct rooms - is an ideal use of one of the
"view the space" tools. It could be as simple as a video of a
walk-through, but I like the tools which permit one to navigate one's self.
They'll be useless to anyone on a slow connection, but they could be a real
sales aid for the bandwidth wealthy.

- Andrew