10 Things to Avoid When Booking Your Hotel, Airbnb, or Hostel
Updated: Jan 1, 2022
The quality of your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb experience is one of the crucial factors of an enjoyable vacation. This will be your temporary home in an unfamiliar country as well as your launchpad for exploring your travel destinations. Your accommodations can make the difference between a pleasant or disastrous experience.
So this is why you need to be very particular when it comes to choosing a place to stay. Understandably, it can be an overwhelming task, given the crazy amount of options you have for accommodation types and package deals. To make things easier for you, here are some of the things you should avoid when booking your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb accommodation.
1. Hotel rooms that are unbelievably cheap
You know what they say about something too good to be true. So if you see a seemingly good hotel room with super bargain rates, you have to know what gives. It could be that there’s construction going on at the premises of the room has no windows or has a particularly unpleasant view. The only way to find out is to contact the hotel and ask.
2. Hotel rooms with non-refundable rates
Non-refundable rates are usually cheaper hence the temptation to book it right then and there. But keep in mind that the hotel will take your money right away and they will refuse to refund it under any circumstances. What if you have to ask for a refund for very legitimate reasons? You are practically going to kiss your hotel money goodbye.
3. Hotels with bed bug sightings
How on Earth can you possibly know if a particular hotel has bed bugs before you even get to check out the rooms? It's surprisingly easy - there's a "bed bug report" you can use online. Just type the name of the hotel on bedbugreports.com and check for any guests' reports of experiencing bed bugs during their stay.
4. Hotels With Misleading Photos
This is especially important if you want a room with a great view. To make sure that your expectations are on point, check out the hotel pictures on Google Earth and see if they match with the ones on the hotel website. If they don't agree with each other, then you might have different travel experiences there.
5. Hostels with only one bathroom per floor
Sharing bathrooms is one of the compromises involved in staying at affordable hostels, but only one bathroom per floor is just not right. You may be willing to wait for your turn to shower, but for other more pressing matters such as relieving yourself due to a bad stomach, it’s another matter. Look for hostels that have at least separate toilets and shower rooms.
6. Hostels with slow Internet connection
You shouldn’t compromise your internet connection even if you’re paying for cheaper accommodations. A strong Wi-Fi connection should be a standard already. If you’re a backpacker or a traveller who’s always on the road, the Internet is practically your lifeline for travel activities planning and reaching out to family and friends.
7. Hostels with no electric sockets near each bed
If you're staying in a hostel, you will have to charge your phone and other gadgets while you're in your bunk, not just for convenience but for safety reasons too.
8. Airbnbs with little or no reviews
Good reviews are the first thing you should look for when searching for a place to stay on Airbnb. It’s all too easy for rentals to upload great-looking photos and catchy descriptions, but the real deal will come from the guests themselves. We say let the others make the first initial reviews of the place and look for rentals that are already vouched for by other travellers.
9. Airbnbs with expensive cleaning fees
Booking an Airbnb is supposed to be cheaper than a hotel room but not if there are hefty additional charges included such as cleaning fees. If your cheap rental comes with a USD 150 cleaning fee, then why not stay in a hotel room instead? Check the host’s rules carefully before booking to avoid being surprised by such charges.
10. Airbnbs with "over-friendly" hosts
Check the reviews for any comments about the host. Hosts who are chatty and just downright friendly are okay, but those who tend to border on the creepy side? Nope. You don't want hosts who have no problem letting themselves into your room or rental without your permission.
Conclusion:
Don’t let your vacation get ruined by booking the wrong kind of accommodation. Be mindful of even the little things when looking for the best deals for hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs.
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