BACK Button Usage

[jk3210]

I've noticed that a considerable number of affiliate travel sites that link to individual hotel pages require the surfer to utilize the BACK button to navigate between individual hotel pages.

IOW, the surfer selects and views a specific hotel, then is required to hit the BACK button to return to the hotel list.

On my previous three sites I've used frames to allow the user to view individual hotel pages, while still keeping the entire list of hotels in sight in the left-hand frame.

Now I'm faced with a new site that is going to require a zillion hotels to be listed in the left-hand frame and I'm concerned that it's going to be too confusing to the user.

My question is:

Has anyone seen any negative effects from requiring surfer to use the BACK button for navigation?

Thanks

[tedster]

I can tell you that when I add "proper" navigation, the pageviews number goes up.

When the visitor clicks on a hotel, how about launching frameset at that point, with a thin top frame, ala About.com? That way you can keep your branding in front of the visitor's eyes, and offer a link back to your main hotel list that's always at hand.