Experts named common mistakes when booking a hotel room
You visit the website, choose a room and book it. At which of these stages can you make a mistake that can radically change your travel experience? According to experts, most people choose a hotel room based only on photos, but this is not enough to guarantee a great vacation and good living conditions.
How to choose a hotel room, what to look for, and what criteria should the room meet? Travel + Leisure collected the opinions of hotel service experts and found out what mistakes travellers make.
You do not have complete information about the room
You can book the best room of all those presented on the website but you may not know much about its composition. To find out a little more than the hotel website offers, it's better to call the customer service and get all the necessary information and recommendations according to your desires and preferences.
In addition, according to Jim Augerinos, president of Perfect Honeymoons and luxury travel consultant, "It's usually more cost-effective to book through a travel consultant who can provide additional amenities through their relationship with the hotel."
You do not ask why the room is cheap
If you are in doubt about the actual cost of a room, it is better to ask if the hotel is under construction and find out if there are any additional resort fees. Augerinos says that hotels may not disclose this information and information about additional fees and inform you about them after you pay for the room.
"In addition, ask them to disclose information about 'penalties' for cancelling your reservation in writing," Augerinos says.
You do not know about Wi-Fi availability
Although there are people who want to completely immerse themselves in relaxation and distance themselves on vacation, it's still better to know that your room will have free Wi-Fi.
"For many people, it's a non-negotiable. Extremely slow and non-functional Internet wipes out the workday, which naturally creates personal stress because nothing got done as there was no way to get online," says Brandon Berkson, founder of Hotels Above Par.
You choose a non-refundable rate
Jim Augerinos talks about the need to check rates and not pay for a reservation if the hotel does not refund it. In addition, he emphasizes the importance of insisting on receiving confirmation in writing.
"You should always make sure you get a confirmation email from the hotel with a real confirmation number. I even print out this confirmation as proof that I have booked a room," the expert says.
You do not insist on a room upgrade
To find out about hidden hotel features that can improve your room, it's a good idea to ask the front desk staff or a travel consultant as they may know about available upgrades before you do.
According to John P. McMahon, president and CEO of Five Star Alliance, a travel agency, travel consultants have connections to hotel general managers and sales staff.
"And many travel consultants have contracts with hotels to automatically upgrade you when you book," McMahon added.
You do not seek help from professionals
According to booking experts McMahon and Augerinos, professional help can make the best choice for your vacation. They will help you choose the best destinations with a broader understanding of the trip and its possibilities for the traveller.
