7 things to NOT do when booking a hotel

Planning your accommodations for a holiday is a tough task—after all, you can’t judge what you’ve chosen until you arrive, and more often than not cancellation policies for hotels are strict. So, how can you suss out which hotel is right for you and your travel companions and which ones you should pass on? To help you narrow it down, youGo has put together a guide of the seven things you shouldn’t do when booking a hotel. With this list you’ll figure out if the hotel is really what it advertises and avoid any potential snafus in accommodation. No one wants to stay in an ugly, old, dirty, or poorly located hotel. Instead of gambling on whether your hotel will make or break your trip, you can use these 7 things to make sure you pick the right spot without seeing it beforehand.

Don’t skip the review sites.

When you know as much as humanly possible about any specific hotel or room, you will be light-years ahead of the competition. It’s also the best strategy for finding a hotel that you will actually enjoy staying in. With sites like TripAdviser and Yelp constantly culling reviews from past customers, you can learn a lot about the place (good and bad) without stepping foot in the hotel. The information you learn could even tip you towards a new preferred hotel or away from one you thought was perfection but has consistently poor reviews. Maybe the hotel’s internet is iffy, maybe the food they serve is sub-par, or maybe there is excessive noise. If you don’t read up before you go, you’ll never know.

Don’t fail to account for parking availability/cost.

When you are budgeting out how much you want to spend on a hotel, consider the costs and the availability of parking at the hotel. More often than not, when a hotel has a parking lot, it will cost you something to make use of it. Prices for hotel parking lots have a wide spectrum—from $10/day to upwards of $35/day—and it can majorly shift your budget in favour (or out of favour) of another hotel.

Don’t forget to check the hotel’s exact location.

This one sounds like a no-brainer but if you are new to a city, you will need to figure out exactly where your hotel is located before you commit to staying there. Many hotel names deceptively make you think they are located downtown, when really they are on the outskirts of town or even in an undesirable neighbourhood of the city. Do a quick search of the hotel’s address and use the “street view” (available on Google Maps and called “Bird’s Eye” on Bing) to take a look around and see what you can learn about the lay of the land.

Don’t take internet access for granted.

Just like with the hidden parking costs, if you will NEED Wi-Fi during your holiday, be sure to inquire about the internet fees. While Wi-Fi is often offered in common areas of hotels (think the dining room, lobby, etc.) it may not be accessible in your room, and costs for access can be exorbitant (think $19.95/day for a maximum of 2 devices). Always check the fine print and make sure you know what you’ll be paying for internet access before you book the room.

Don’t be afraid to ask about better rates.

The only way you will know if the hotel offers better rates is to ask. It is the easiest and most effective way to get a better rate. More often than not, there will be a small discount if you have a membership to certain programmes (the front desk will often prompt you with programmes they work with).

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

More generally, you should try to be bold if you have questions about a hotel, its benefits, rates, availability…anything! You will be surprised by what the hotel can do for you if only you ask them. The front desk is a very helpful tool for travellers, and they can often supply you with recommendations for great entertainment, delicious restaurants and more. They can also help manage tricky transportation problems without a second thought.

Don’t fail to sign up for a rewards program.

If you are travelling a lot—whether for work or personal holiday—you should sign up for the hotel’s loyalty program. It is almost always free and some companies offer significant discounts and rewards just for signing up in the first place. Think internet rate discounts and better rooms…with a rewards program, you will be rewarded for your business.

Hotels can be a tricky part of planning your holiday, but with these tips you’ll be ahead of the curve and you may get more than you expected. Protect your carefully chosen accommodation plans with a travel insurance policy that safeguards you from any potential problems.