Poor service and shoddy establishments can turn a dream vacation into a nightmare. Beware of these hotel red flags!
First things first: Accommodations don’t have to be 5-star to be welcoming and enjoyable. There are plenty of modest hotels and motels that can provide comfortable rooms and excellent service. But we can’t forget the bad ones.
Whether it’s grumpy staff or some of the disgusting things hotels do to save money, run-down rooms, and lacking amenities, horrible lodgings will leave a bad taste in your mouth for many years to come.
But just like the tell-tale signs of bad restaurants, there are also some hotel red flags that can sound alarm bells way before you even reach your destination.
To help you avoid or at least prepare for a less-than-pleasant stay on your next vacation, we’ve prepared a list of 7 hotel red flags that indicate you’re about to stay at a lousy place.
If it’s hard to contact the hotel, book somewhere else
Even though most people wait until they arrive at their hotel to test out the quality of customer service, there are ways to check before your arrival. For starters, give the hotel a call and see how easy it is to get in contact with someone.
If they’re easily accessible and accommodating before your arrival, they’ll also be helpful when you check-in. If you call a hotel with questions and get a rude employee with lousy customer service, you should book somewhere else because this is a huge hotel red flag.
Watch out for those photos
Be as critical as possible of the pictures the hotel provides. You should avoid hotels offering close-up pictures where you can’t see the entire room. If the images are of random objects, they probably have something to hide.
Likewise, if the photos are only of the hotel’s exterior, they’re not showing you the interior for a reason. And another thing: If a hotel’s common area looks dark in their website photos, that could be calculated.
Dark lighting can hide many issues, including scuffed walls, stained and frayed carpeting, and worn-out furnishings. Also, check the dirty amenities in hotel photos. This could mean things like a green, moldy pool or a “closed for maintenance” sign.
These are hotel red flags that indicate management is in over their heads, they simply don’t care, or maybe even both.
It will be incredibly disappointing when you book the hotel, especially because of this amenity. A steam room for unwinding or a pool for the kiddos might be at the top of your list of priorities.
The hotel has a late check-in and early check-out
Just imagine arriving at a hotel after a long flight or drive and discovering that you can’t access your room yet because the hotel has a late-afternoon check-in policy… some can go as late as 5 p.m.
While this may not exactly be a sign of horrible lodging, it’s a hotel red flag that they’re not putting guests’ comfort first. This, plus an early check-out time of 10 a.m., and you’re paying some major dollars to occupy a room for a mere 15 hours.
Also, let’s just get real: early check-outs are inconvenient and annoying. And if your room is still being prepared when you get to your hotel, the hotel should be able to offer a place for you to freshen up and store your luggage.
And they should alert you if your room is ready early.
Are all the reviews for the hotel old? You should rethink your stay!
When it comes to hotels, the date a review was posted can be just as vital as the review itself. If the hotel hasn’t gotten too many good to excellent reviews within the past few weeks, that’s a hotel red flag because there’s probably some type of reason for it.
In the hospitality industry, there are always turnovers and changes happening. A recent change in cleaning services or management can result in many negative reviews.
And while we’re on this topic, when reading any negative reviews, there should never be mention of a bed bug. If one person cited them, then there are definitely others. Even if that person was mistaken, do you really want to take the chance?
Pro Tip: Go to the “BedBugs Reports” website and type in the name of your hotel. You can see if any guests declared a bedbug while staying there. It’s better to be safe than… infested!
Safety measures are loose
If you so choose, you should be able to request, in advance, a room with a balcony or one on the upper floor. However, some safety features, like a room WITHOUT a balcony, are essential for women traveling alone.
If the hotel doesn’t accommodate your request, keep looking. Sadly, some hotel red flags are apparent only after you’ve walked through the door. And another thing to remember: the reception staff should NEVER say your room number out loud as you check-in.
Good hotels know to be discreet, especially because it’s a safety issue for some when traveling alone. Likewise, remember always to inspect your hotel room door.
If the deadbolt on your room shows any visible signs of damage or tampering, ask for a different room or find a safer hotel.
Dubious payment and refund policies
If the payment and cancellation policies are way more rigid than those of competitors, it may be a hotel red flag of a business that’s not trustworthy.
While it’s standard for an online booking agency or hotel to require a credit card to reserve your stay, it’s less common for a hotel to charge you for all of your stay upfront.
Generally, the credit card is kept on file if you’re a no-show, in which case, one or more nights of your booking will be charged to the card, as per their cancellation policies.
But when a place charges you in advance and doesn’t have a no-cancellation, no-refund policy… buyer beware! You should review their cancellation policies before you click to enter your payment information.
Lower nightly fees may be non-cancelable and non-refundable. So be sure to book these only if you’re 100% sure you’ll be making that trip.
There’s ongoing construction or renovations
Hotels may periodically expand or renovate, but they’re obligated to inform their guests in advance, usually with an announcement on their website. This is where it pays to use Google Maps and search for more recent photos, including those street-view snaps.
If you see signs of scaffolding or any other type of construction work, including road, either at the hotel or near it, check the date the photo was taken because this could indicate a hotel red flag.
If it’s recent and the construction is still happening, this could indicate a horrible lodging experience.
Be prepared for an annoying early morning wake-up call, and you can forget about your afternoon naps! That commotion might start at 6 in the morning and last all day long.
When in doubt, call the hotel and ask. If they say there’s ongoing construction work, ask them to upgrade you to a quieter room as far away as possible from the noise.
And if they don’t disclose the possibility of disruptions and construction noise, ask for a discount or refund. Worse comes to worst, pack a pair of ear plugs in case you need them! Here’s our top pick from Amazon: Noise Cancelling Silicone Ear Plugs
Please feel free to share your thoughts on the hotel red flags, or if you can think of any we missed. But don’t leave yet!
If you found this article informative, we highly recommend also reading: 8 Everyday Things You Should Avoid Using in Hotels, According to Housekeepers
