Don’t Just Pick the First One
Booking a hotel shouldn’t feel like a game of roulette. Yet sometimes it does—scrolling through dozens of photos that all look suspiciously perfect, with glowing reviews that seem a little too enthusiastic, and prices as volatile as the stock market. You wonder if the “deluxe” room actually means deluxe, or if it’s just a fancier way of saying “you get a chair.” The truth is that hotels are about more than beds. A hotel can be a highlight of the trip, or it can ruin the whole experience. Here are twenty things worth paying attention to before booking.
1. Location
Is it near what you actually want to do? A hotel might look cheap until you factor in $30 cab fare or an hour-long drive through rush hour traffic. A ten-minute walk to the places you care about beats free parking in the middle of nowhere.
2. Reviews That Sound Real
Five-star reviews full of vague praise are suspicious. The useful ones mention tiny details: the softness of the pillows, the honesty of the breakfast staff, how the shower pressure could peel paint. That’s where the truth is. Anything else is likely a paid review.
3. Cleanliness Standards
Everyone expects clean sheets, but does the bathroom sparkle or does it smell stale? Are there complaints about dust, strange smells, or worst-case scenario—bedbugs? Scanning reviews for “dirty” or “smelly” is a quick hack. Nobody forgets spotting hair in the sink that isn’t theirs.
4. Safety
Is the front desk staffed 24/7? Do the elevators require key cards to access the upper floors? Is there decent lighting in the parking lot? Safety doesn’t always make the brochure, but it makes or breaks how well you sleep, especially when you’re returning late at night in an unfamiliar city.
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5. Price Transparency
That deal might balloon once resort fees, taxes, and mystery charges appear at checkout. Maybe that free breakfast isn’t so free after all. Be sure to read the fine print. Some hotels sneak in daily Wi-Fi fees or parking costs that could pay for dinner. It’s less about the final number and more about the surprise.
6. Amenities That Actually Matter
A hotel with a pool, gym, and spa sounds glamorous, but the question is whether they’re worth the added price tag. For many, free breakfast trumps a rooftop bar every time. When you’re playing tourist in a foreign city, you’d likely rather spend your time sightseeing than working out in a mediocre gym with a treadmill and a handful of dumbbells.
7. Bed Comfort
The quality of the bed is the whole point, isn’t it? A lumpy mattress quickly ruins everything, as do inadequate sheets that leave you shivering all night. Good hotels brag about their beds for a reason; it should be the main selling point for every hotel.
8. Noise Levels
Thin walls mean you’re part of someone else’s party. Look for comments about quiet rooms and good insulation, and pay attention if the hotel is above a bar blasting karaoke music until 1 a.m. Earplugs only go so far when you can hear your neighbor’s toilet flushing in the wee hours of the night.
9. Wi-Fi Reliability
Even nowadays, some hotels still treat Wi-Fi like a luxury, pay-by-the-hour amenity. If it’s free, it’s slow or only works sporadically in a corner of the room. If you need to work online, or even just stream a show before bed, bad Wi-Fi is infuriating.
10. Check-In and Check-Out Flexibility
A rigid 3 p.m. check-in can leave you stranded in the lobby with luggage, and a strict 10 a.m. check-out feels cruel. Hotels that bend, allowing early check-ins and late check-outs without penalizing you with fees, are a godsend after long flights or weddings that run late.
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11. Parking
Is it free, paid, valet only? A great hotel deal fades fast when parking costs $45 a night. And nothing’s worse than circling a downtown block at midnight looking for a free spot.
12. Breakfast Quality
Continental breakfast can mean granola bowls, flaky croissants, and fresh fruit—or a plastic-wrapped muffin and weak instant coffee. Pictures help clarify what’s in store, but reviews help more. Look for mentions of eggs that aren’t powdered, bacon that isn’t rubbery, and actual juice.
13. Room Size
Some hotel king rooms feel more like a walk-in closet with a bed jammed inside. Look for photos that help gauge scale. Even better, find an actual floor plan with measurements included. Nobody enjoys sidestepping around the bed just to reach the bathroom.
14. Bathroom Setup
Shower pressure and hot water reliability are key. Let’s be honest, door privacy matters too. Some modern designs put glass walls between the shower and bed, which sounds contemporary until you’re traveling with friends and showering for all to see.
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15. Staff Friendliness
Kindness at the front desk sets the tone for the rest of your stay. A warm greeting costs staff nothing, and a willingness to lend some advice on a travel itinerary can change your whole stay for the better.
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16. Noise from Outside
Hotels on busy streets can mean sirens, honking, or trash trucks at dawn. Resorts near clubs? Forget about quiet nights. Double-glazed windows matter more than rooftop infinity pools when you’re trying to sleep with people hollering drunkenly outside.
17. Air Conditioning and Heating
It may not be glamorous, but it can sour a trip faster than you think. Too many hotels boast about flat screens and rain showers but forget to mention units that sound like jet engines or barely take the edge off the tropical heat. Comfort often begins and ends at the thermostat.
18. Cancellation Policy
The reality is that plans change—sometimes through no fault of our own. Flexible cancellation is worth a few extra dollars, because nobody likes losing a hefty deposit or being locked into a room they no longer need.
19. Accessibility
Even if you don’t personally need them, someone traveling with you might. Plus, accessibility often signals that the hotel pays attention to details that matter.
20. Local Flavor
Chain hotels promise consistency, but sometimes you want the charm that comes from an individual’s unique vision. A hand-painted mural in the lobby or local pastries at breakfast are personal touches that linger in memory far longer than beige wallpaper and soulless furniture.
