Hotels are usually considered a safer accommodation option for travelers compared to apartments and hostels you can find on Airbnb or Booking. However, you should keep in mind that not all hotels are made the same and a lot of them are not what they claim to be. If you want to make sure to find the best accommodation and avoid having your trip turned into a nightmare, paying attention to these major red flags when booking a hotel is a must.
Photoshopped or Stock Photos
This is the first red flag you will notice. Photos that seem like they have been photoshopped or remind you of stock photos are a good indicator that the particular hotel has something to hide. A good hotel should have several photos of the exterior and wide and close-up shots of the interior. You can always check the photos from online reviews to see if they match the ones that have been advertised.
Overwhelmingly Bad Online Reviews
Speaking about online reviews, they are always a helpful tool in determining whether a hotel is worth staying in. It goes without saying that a hotel with overwhelmingly bad online reviews is not worth the risk. You should also be suspicious about hotels that lack recent reviews, or if the hotel never responds to complaints.
Price is Too Good to Be True
If something is too good to be true, then it usually is. That is particularly the case with hotels. When you see a hotel that is offering an unbelievably low price compared to its competitors, then there is usually a good reason for that. Perhaps they charge extra fees for some amenities like Wi-Fi or are struggling with attracting customers because the bad word about them already spread.
Lack of Communication
Finally, a hotel that doesn’t communicate well is a major red flag. If they need several days to respond to your questions or don’t want to offer full disclosure, you are better off booking a room somewhere else.
