Read reviews the smart way
Overall ratings are useful, but the detail is in the reviews themselves. Read the most recent ones, since a hotel can change quickly with new management or a renovation. Look for patterns rather than single complaints: if several guests mention thin walls, a broken lift or a slow breakfast, it is probably true.
Pay attention to reviews from people travelling like you. A business traveller's priorities differ from those of a family or a couple on a romantic weekend.
Photos uploaded by guests are often more honest than the hotel's own gallery. They show the real size of the bathroom, the actual view and how the breakfast spread looks on an ordinary morning.
Know exactly what you are booking
Room categories can be confusing. Check the room size, bed configuration and whether the view described is actually from your room or from the building. In older European buildings, rooms vary considerably even within the same category, and the cheapest rooms are sometimes small or face an inner courtyard.
Look for the essentials that matter to you: air conditioning in southern summers, a lift, a proper shower, blackout curtains, a quiet location or a kettle. Do not assume anything; if it is important, check or ask.
Watch the extras and the fine print
The room price is not always the full price. Breakfast may or may not be included, and many European cities charge a local tourist tax per person per night, which is often paid at the hotel. Parking, early check-in, late check-out and resort fees can add up too.
Read the cancellation policy carefully. Non-refundable rates are cheaper, but flexible rates can be worth paying for if your plans are uncertain. Note the deadline for free cancellation in your calendar.
Location, location, location
Even the nicest hotel loses its charm if it is a long, awkward journey from everything you want to see. Check the location on a map rather than relying on descriptions like close to the centre. Walk times and public transport links are more useful than distances.
If you are also booking flights, a Flight + Hotel package from AeroVista lets you sort both at once and can save up to 12 percent compared with booking separately, while keeping everything in a single booking.
Good to know
- Filter reviews by traveller type and sort by most recent.
- Budget for local tourist tax, which is often paid on arrival.
- Save the free cancellation deadline in your calendar.