Staying at a new hotel is always risky. Whether it’s a 5-star hotel in the Bahamas or just a nearby B&B, it can be uncertain as to whether you will get your money’s worth. This is why you should always look out for certain things that point to the hotel being a bit iffy, as often they can be seen when you’re booking the hotel online and this will save you from wasting money on a crap hotel. Here are some of the biggest red flags to look out for when booking.
Bad or Old Reviews
The most obvious thing to look for is bad reviews, they will, of course, tell you in the clearest possible way if the hotel is good or bad. However, another thing to look out for is old reviews, as the date of reviews is really just as important as they review themselves. This is because there’s usually a reason for a hotel not receiving a bulk of good reviews within the past month, for example. When it comes to the hotel industry, management turn over is quite frequent and a recent change in personnel may be the reason for a recent dip in the reviews.
Blurry Photos or Unclear Photos
You should always be as critical as possible when going over hotels photos. For instance, a big red flag is when the photos available are only of close-ups in which you can’t see the full room. For example, it might show that they got really nice chairs at theotheo but hide that the room they are placed in is actually really small. On the other hand, if the photos only show the hotels exterior, it is probably because the inside doesn’t look very appealing. A common thing hotels do is show generic pictures of a skyline or a plate of fruit. These hotels should always be avoided as it usually means the hotel doesn’t have anything exciting to highlight. Blurry photos are another red flag in this regard, as poor quality photos usually equate to a poor quality hotel.
It’s Difficult to Get in Contact with People at the Hotel
While most people assume that you have to actually go to the hotel in person to evaluate the quality of customer service, there are ways to do it from home. For instance, on the way to do it is by giving the hotel a call and seeing how easy it is to get in contact with certain people. If everyone is readily accessible and hospitable before you even arrive, chances are they will be even better when you do check-in. If they are hard to reach or are rude on the phone, it will be all the more infuriating if you are already at the hotel. With that in mind, always give the hotel a ring before booking anything, especially if it’s an expensive place.