Common Hotel Booking Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)
Hotel stays can make or break your holiday or business trip. It is so easy to overlook the finer details with your hotel booking when you’re caught up in other pre-trip activities or last minute meetings before a work trip. But all these missteps could lead to unnecessary stress, extra costs, or a hotel room that just doesn’t match your expectations.
Whether you’re a seasoned business traveller or planning your first getaway, knowing what all the common hotel booking mistakes to avoid will save you time, money, and frustration. In this blog, I’ll guide you through the most common hotel booking mistakes, many of which I’ve made myself, and offer you practical tips on how to avoid them.
Booking Without Checking Reviews
It’s tempting to book a hotel purely based on pictures and competitive rates. A stylish lobby and rooms doesn’t always reflect the quality of the rooms, which might be poorly maintained or uncomfortable. Focusing only on aesthetics and cost can lead to disappointment.
How to Avoid This: Always check verified guest reviews on a number of platforms like TripAdvisor or Booking.com. Pay special attention to recent reviews, as they’ll give the most accurate snapshot of the hotel’s current standards. If certain complaints appear frequently, such as poor cleanliness or noise issues, consider booking elsewhere.
Pro Tip: Look at management responses to see how respectful and proactive they are with guest feedback.
Not Checking The Location
A common hotel booking mistake is not throughly assessing the hotel’s location. That charming quieter location might seem perfect in photos, but what if it’s a 45-minute drive to the nearest restaurant or shop.
How to Avoid This: Use tools like Google Maps to evaluate the location of your hotel relative to your needs, such as landmarks, restaurants, public transport, and your planned activities. If you’re heading on a business trip, check the office or conference venue is convenient.
For holidays, ensure beaches, attractions, or city hubs are easily accessible. If you don’t consider the location then you may be spending a lot more time and money on logistics.
Pro Tip: Also, read reviews specifically mentioning the location to spot hidden downsides, like neighbourhood safety and noise levels. Also, message the hotel to check what facilities are near by.
Ignoring The Cancellation Policy
Always review the cancellation policy before booking to stay fully informed, as last-minute changes can be quite costly.
How to Avoid This: Look for flexible options (such as “Free Cancellation”) when making the booking; just in case your plans change. If you’re unsure, reach out to the hotel directly for clarification. Opting for refundable rooms, even if the room rate is slightly higher provides the flexibility to change plans without incurring any further cost, offering peace of mind.
Pro Tip: Booking platforms usually allow you to filter search results by cancellation flexibility. Take advantage of this to narrow your options.
Overlooking Additional Fees
The base price of a hotel room might seem very reasonable, but you can be caught off guard by additional fees, Such as car parking charges, Wi-Fi fees, resort fees and breakfast.
How to Avoid This: Before finalising your booking, check the “extra charges” section of the hotel’s policies and also use room comparison sites to calculate the full cost for you. Some booking platforms highlight the added fees, or list what’s included making it easier to compare total costs.
Pro Tip: If you’re on a budget, travelling in a group etc., search for hotels that include services like free car parking, airport shuttle, complimentary breakfast or free Wi-Fi.
Focusing Only On Price
Although booking a cheaper room might seem appealing, focusing only on price often leads to compromises. The cheapest option might lack basics like a comfy bed, air conditioning etc. Business travellers, for instance, may find cheap hotel rooms lack proper workspaces or reliable Wi-Fi.
How to Avoid This: Balance price with value. Consider factors like amenities, location, and customer service. A slightly higher room rate might include breakfast, faster WI-FI, use of the business lounge or a late checkout, which could save you money in the long run.
Pro Tip: Look for hotels or chains known for consistent quality, paying a bit extra or going with a known chain will mean a far better overall experience.
Not Comparing Directly With The Hotel
It is often assumed that travel platforms always offer the best deals, but that isn’t always the case. Booking directly through the hotel’s website can sometimes provide perks like upgrades, loyalty points, or price matching.
How to Avoid This: Always compare the prices and benefits of booking directly with the hotel versus using third-party platforms. While sites like Expedia or Booking.com are convenient, the hotel’s website might surprise you with exclusive deals. Plus you can always contact the hotel directly and ask for the room rates and any offers.
Pro Tip: If you’ve found a cheaper deal on a third-party site, call the hotel directly and ask if they’ll match, or even beat the price.
Not Specifying Room Preferences
Whether it’s a king-sized bed, twin beds or a room location request, failing to specify your preferences during the booking process could lead to the request not being fulfilled by the hotel.
How to Avoid This: Always make requests as part of the booking.
Pro Tip: For absolute assurance, confirm your preference requests with the hotel directly and also a day or two, so you know what to expect on arrival.
Not Checking Check-In / Check-Out Times
Nobody wants to arrive at their destination after a long flight, only to realise your room won’t be available on arrival. Alternatively, scrambling to vacate your room late morning when you have a flight much later on the day can be equally annoying.
How to Avoid This: Double-check the check-in and check-out times when finalising your booking. If these times don’t align with your travel plans, ask if early check-in and/or late check-out are available. Making the hotel aware of your travel timings can often lead to them making the effort to accommodate your needs.
Pro Tip: If extending your room stay isn’t possible, ask the hotel to hold your luggage after check-out for convenience.
Skipping The Room Details
If the actual room booked isn’t reviewed beforehand, it can lead to disappointment upon arrival. The room might lack the promised view, be smaller than advertised, or miss expected amenities like a mini fridge or air-conditioning.
How to Avoid This: Pay close attention to the room description and photos when booking. Look for specific mentions of room size, bed arrangements, and amenities, and avoid making assumptions based on vague terms like “standard room”.
Pro Tip: For specific needs, such as extra space for remote working, call the hotel to ensure your room is suitable.
Not Building Loyalty
If you find yourself travelling often, skipping out on loyalty programs could mean missing out on a range of exclusive benefits like free nights, upgrades, or priority support.
How to Avoid This: Look for hotels or chains offering loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. Signing up is often free, and benefits can add up quickly with frequent stays.
Pro Tip: If you prefer boutique hotels, platforms like Mr & Mrs Smith have their own loyalty offerings that provide discounts for repeat customers. Whatever, loyalty program you are planning to join, join in advance so you are not missing out on points.
Not Requesting For An Upgrade
Hotels often have rooms with better views, more space, or extra amenities sitting vacant. If you don’t inquire when checking in, you might never know about the opportunity to enhance your experience, often for little or no extra cost.
How to Avoid This: At check-in, politely ask the front desk if there are any available upgrades. Mention if you’re celebrating a special occasion, such as an anniversary or birthday, as hotels may offer complimentary upgrades to make your stay more memorable.
Pro Tip: Sign up for the hotel’s loyalty program as members are given priority for special perks, including upgrades.
Not Mentioning Special Occasions
Many hotels go out of their way to surprise guests celebrating special moments, offering gestures like complimentary room upgrades, decorations, or even small gifts. A real common hotel booking mistake is failing to mention your special occasion at the time of booking or check-in and miss out on these thoughtful touches.
How to Avoid This: When booking your stay, include a note about your celebration in the reservation details. You can also mention it politely at check-in to the front desk staff.
Pro Tip: Also email the hotel in advance directly and some hotels may even have bespoke packages or additional services they can offer to enhance your experience further.
So To Wrap Up On Common Hotel Booking Mistakes…
Your hotel stay should enhance your travel experience, not detract from it. By avoiding these common mistakes when planning your booking, you’ll be well-equipped to secure the ideal room, no matter the purpose of your trip.
For some more great travel hacks on hotels, read our blog on the Best Hotel Hacks Every Traveller Should Know.
