If a deal looks too good to be true, then it probably is. This is especially true for hotels. It’s important to do a bit of research beforehand because once you book a hotel, you might not get a refund if you change your mind. These are the easiest ways to spot a less desirable hotel before you book it.
Their Website
Having a website that’s lacking information or is just not updated may not seem like a big deal, but savvy hotel owners know how important it can be for their business. After all, a website may be the first impression that you get of a hotel. If a hotel doesn’t spend the time or money to have an adequate website it might say a lot about the hotel and leave you wondering what other areas, they are skimping on.
Pay Attention To Photos
Chances are you can find photos of many hotels on the web. Pay attention to photos that travelers post rather than the hotel. Photos can easily be cropped and edited by hotel staff so it’s important to try to find pictures that were actually taken by a traveler that stayed at the hotel. You’ll probably get a better idea about what a hotel is like from a photo taken by a previous guest rather than a hotel manager. Check Google maps so that you can see the condition of the hotel on the exterior. If it doesn’t look good on the outside, chances are the inside will be similar.
Look For The Right Reviews
When searching for reviews, don’t go to the hotel’s website, as they can pick and choose what reviews they display. Go to places like Google or TripAdvisor to see what comments other guests have left. If most of the reviews aren’t good, chances are that the hotel won’t be either. Also, does management respond to issues online or do they ignore bad reviews?
Research The Surrounding Area
Even if a hotel is in pristine condition with amazing staff, it might not be a good fit for you if it’s in a bad area. If you are constantly worried about safety because of nearby crime, you probably won’t enjoy your stay. Search within a few miles of your hotel to not only check out if there’s been recent criminal activity, but to also see if there’s any nearby construction going on or an active train track. Noise from either will make it difficult to sleep at times and you should avoid the area if you can.
Utilize As Many Web Resources As You Can
Web resources are the most beneficial way to figure out whether or not a hotel is what it seems. In addition to the sites already mentioned, there are many other useful resources including sites like bedbugregistry.com that can let you know whether or not a hotel has had bedbug problems in the past.
Avoiding a bad hotel starts with choosing great destinations. Our advisors’ Bucket List Worthy Destinations guide includes accommodation recommendations in each featured location.
