7 Red Flags That Can Tell You That Your Hotel Is Not as Good as it Says in the Ad

While one can make an argument that no hotel is perfect, especially a cheap one, that doesn’t mean that it is impossible to find a place to stay during your vacation that you will find yourself comfortable in. Simple research will help to ensure that you have the best experience possible.

Bright Side prepared a list of things you need to watch out for while choosing a hotel to stay in. It won’t take much time to double-check, and you know what they say, better safe than sorry.

1. There are not enough reviews or they are too old.

When going on most booking websites, you can see the average grade the reviewers have given to the hotel. But look further than that: how many reviews was this grade given on? How long ago have these reviews been written? It’s better to rely on as many fresh opinions as possible.

2. The photos in the ad are photoshopped.

You don’t need to be a Photoshop professional to figure out if a photo has been tempered with or not. Just compare the photos the company provides in the ad with the photos that the guests have left on their own. If the hotel has nothing to hide, the difference should not be too drastic.

3. The hotel’s website is extremely outdated.

While many people go on general websites dedicated specifically to booking properties, a lot of hotels have their own website as well, especially those that are branded as luxurious. These days the internet is important for business, so if the website makes you go “Huh?” because it has not been updated in a long while, that could also mean they may not be upgrading the hotel itself when needed either.

4. You can’t get in touch with people who work there.

If you have any questions about the hotel or if you want to confirm your reservation, it is encouraged that you reach out to the property directly. But if nobody is answering your phone calls or e-mails, it is a cause for concern. The chances that the staff would be helpful if something happens during your stay at the hotel might be low.

5. Taxes are not included in room rates.

In order to stay on top of the search results, a lot of hotels exclude tax costs from the room rates, making you think the room is cheaper than it actually is. This technique is ethically questionable at best, and can cost you a lot of extra money upon arrival. Always make sure that you have read all the information about the payment, and if you find that the hotel is trying to deceive you, maybe it’s best to stay away.

6. Use maps apps to compare how close the hotel actually is to places you want to visit.

In the listing, the hotel may say they are close to some sightseeing attractions, but it may be either an exaggeration or not true at all. Luckily, you can check how long it would approximately take you to get to the place you want to go to using any map app. Compare the results you get to the promises listed on the hotel’s ad, and draw your own conclusions from that.

7. The bedding color isn’t white.

It is much easier to see stains and other dirt on a white bedding, which is why hotel often use it as proof of their cleanliness. If the bedding is not white on the ad, then it might be a reason for concern.

What part of the hotel ad would be a deal-breaker for you? What was your favorite city to stay in?