5 Hotel Booking Mistakes You Might Be Making

Going on vacation doesn’t have to be stressful! If you make the right choices when it comes to booking your hotel, you’ll likely have an easier time staying relaxed, enjoying your time away from home, and enjoying all that your destination has to offer. However, there are plenty of common mistakes that can lead to frustration and wasted money if you don’t know how to spot them ahead of time.

1) Not Planning Ahead

Make your reservations as soon as you can, especially during peak season when hotels fill up quickly. Don’t wait until you’re on your way to your destination to try and find a hotel room; make sure you give yourself plenty of time to sort out your lodging situation ahead of time. Of course, it never hurts to check in advance—many hotel apps make it easy to search for and book hotels at a moment’s notice. And if you do have to scramble for a hotel room last minute, there are still ways to get good deals. If possible, avoid booking through third-party sites like Expedia or Orbitz; instead, go directly through hotels’ websites because they often offer special rates that aren't available elsewhere. And don't forget about Airbnb! It's worth checking out even if you're only traveling with one other person since Airbnb rooms are often cheaper than hotel rooms per night (and they come with breakfast).

2) Booking a Hotel Located Away from Everything

The majority of professional conferences take place at a single location. If you’re not booking a hotel within walking distance, you’re asking for trouble. Unless your company covers travel costs or most attendees are staying in nearby accommodations, booking a hotel too far from your conference location is one of those Hotel Booking Mistakes that may actually come back to haunt you. Many attendees complain about fighting traffic each day and never making it back in time for key sessions, so next time make sure to book close enough to the venue.

3) The Scam of Free Parking

When booking a hotel room, it’s important to remember that anything that sounds too good to be true probably is. Some hotels offer free parking in an attempt to get customers inside their doors, but they're not always upfront about certain other hidden costs associated with free parking. Hotels often charge a hefty valet fee for hotel guests who would prefer to self-park, and they also add high resort fees and service charges on top of all of that. If you’re planning a trip soon, make sure you don’t end up paying extra for something you assumed was going to be included in your stay—instead of counting on free parking at hotels, try using public transportation or ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft whenever possible.

4) Not Reading Reviews

Many hotel booking sites will include customer reviews, allowing you to see at a glance whether a hotel is right for you. By ignoring these positive or negative reviews, you could be missing out on information that could have saved you time and money—not to mention put your health at risk. If a hotel has several bad reviews mentioning issues with bed bugs or unsanitary conditions, it’s probably best to look elsewhere!

5) Getting Stuck in an Awful Room

Any hotel booking is a risk, but getting stuck in an awful room – especially at a top-notch property – can be truly nightmarish. In some cases, you might luck out with a renovated room; in others, you’ll be relegated to staying near construction or next to noisy elevators. The worst part? When it comes time to check out, you’re likely on vacation and won't want to make a fuss about your room (you'll probably just try and tough it out). But that's exactly what you should do: speak up! If there are issues with your hotel stay, let management know right away so they can rectify them before they ruin your trip. The last thing anyone wants is for their hotel stay to turn into a nightmare. So if something seems off during your stay, don't be afraid to say something—and don't forget that tips are always appreciated!