Booking a stay away has always been pretty stressful, but this might especially be the case now that we are all out of practice due to the travel bans of the coronavirus pandemic. So, to help you to avoid any mishaps, here are 5 common hotel booking mistakes, and how not to make them.
- Not checking the location thoroughly
‘Hotel in London’ means that it is smack bang in the centre of London right? Wrong! Just because a hotel is advertised as being in London, doesn’t mean that it will be super close to all the attractions you want to visit.
Have a quick search on Google maps to see the most suitable boroughs for your stay, and narrow down your search from the wider city. For example, Aldgate is a great location for a hotel in the city of London, close to many historical landmarks and tourist attractions.
- Ignoring reviews
The sales speech and website can be entirely convincing, persuading you of the luxury of a destination. However, no business will tell you about the bad aspects of their service, leaving you with a potentially nasty surprise when you arrive.
On the other hand, previous customers will definitely tell the whole internet what they loved or hated about the hotel. Before making any bookings, check out the customer reviews for the hotel. This can give you valuable insight into the quality of the accommodations.
Furthermore, the digital age has made it easier than ever to manage and optimize the customer experience in the travel industry. Using the best tour operator software can be a game changer in this process. This kind of advanced platform ensures the seamless handling of bookings, customer inquiries, and all other aspects of the tour business.
- Booking last minute
Last minute holiday bookings have become more and more frequent due to the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, 53% of respondents to one survey agreed that this was the reason for booking their holidays last minute.
However, the price of hotel rooms can significantly increase the closer you get to the date. Due to this, you might be left having to accept a rate well outside your budget, or not book a room at all. Instead, try to book your hotel room at least 3 weeks in advance of your stay.
- Accepting nonrefundable rates
Nonrefundable rates can often make them quite a bit cheaper, so it is only logical that many people are tempted to book their room with these rates. However, if you need to cancel, even in the case of an emergency, you will lose the money you paid for the room.
This is because hoteliers often offer cheaper non-refundable rates to fill up rooms in the hotel that would have been empty otherwise. Instead, make sure that you opt for a rate that allows you to be refunded when cancelling for peace of mind.
- Not comparing prices
Never pay for a hotel without shopping around – even if it is an irresistible price. It is recommended that you check at least three different booking sites, as well as the hotel’s own website directly, in order to ensure that you are getting the room at the best price.
To highlight this, let us look at an example – you may see a discount or sale price on a hotel’s website, however, if you are a loyalty member of a booking group, you may be eligible for a larger discount than the one offered by the hotel directly.
