Booking a hotel should be exciting.
Instead, somehow it turns into a full-time job involving 27 browser tabs, emotional support snacks, and reading hotel reviews like you’re preparing evidence for a courtroom.
There are generally two kinds of travellers:
1. “That hotel looks cute. Booked.”
2. Opens comparison sites, checks Google Maps six times, reads 184 reviews and somehow ends up questioning every life decision.
If you’re somewhere in the middle, welcome. You’ve found your people.
At The Open Itinerary, we’re all about travelling smarter, saving money where it counts, and avoiding accommodation disasters that become “funny stories” years later.
So here’s your practical, sanity-saving guide on how to research hotels properly — without spiralling into a full-blown booking crisis.
Start With Location (Because Pretty Means Nothing if You’re Stranded)
Listen carefully: location matters more than fancy cushions.
You can book the most Pinterest-worthy hotel on earth, but if it takes 45 minutes, three buses and a mild emotional breakdown to get anywhere, the novelty wears off quickly.
When choosing where to stay when travelling, ask yourself:
Is it close to the things I actually want to do?
Can I walk to restaurants, transport or attractions?
Is the neighbourhood safe and convenient?
What does Google Maps really say?
And please — zoom in on the map.
That “perfect central location” can sometimes mean “technically in the same country.”
If the nearest landmark is a servo, an abandoned carpark and questionable lighting, perhaps keep scrolling.
Set a Budget (Then Prepare to Ignore It Slightly)
You begin with good intentions.
A sensible hotel budget. Responsible spending. Financial maturity.
Then suddenly there’s a rooftop pool, complimentary cocktails and fluffy robes, and now you’re convincing yourself this is “self-care.”
We’ve all been there.
Before booking, decide:
Your ideal nightly budget
Your maximum “I really love this place” budget
What inclusions actually matter
When comparing hotels, look beyond the nightly rate and check for:
Free breakfast
Parking fees
Wi-Fi charges
Resort fees
Airport transfers
Cancellation policies
Because nothing ruins holiday excitement faster than surprise costs appearing at checkout like an unwanted plot twist.
Hot tip: Spend money where it matters to you. If you care about location, prioritise that. If you care about luxury bedding and a good breakfast buffet, no judgement here.
Just don’t let a fancy lobby chandelier manipulate your financial decisions.
Read Reviews Like You’ve Been Personally Wronged Before
If you only take one piece of hotel booking advice, let it be this:
Read the reviews.
Then read them properly.
Not just the shiny five-star ones that say “Amazing!!!”
Look for patterns.
If multiple people mention:
“Great location” → promising.
“Beds were uncomfortable” → concerning.
“Paper-thin walls” → congratulations, you’ll now know everything about the couple next door.
When researching hotel reviews, focus on:
What to Look For
Cleanliness
Noise levels
Staff friendliness
Safety
Air conditioning (important. Very important.)
Wi-Fi quality
Bed comfort
What to Ignore
Someone furious because the pillow was “too soft”
Complaints from six years ago
Dramatic one-star reviews over something wildly unreasonable
A hotel can improve over time — or completely fall apart — so recent reviews are your best friend.
Don’t Trust the Photos (Hotels Are Master Manipulators)
Hotel photos are basically the online dating profiles of travel.
Perfect lighting. Strategic angles. Heavy optimism.
That “spacious room” might actually fit one suitcase and a mildly optimistic attitude.
Before booking:
Look at guest-uploaded photos
Check Google Images
Compare images across booking sites
Look for consistency
If every photo feels oddly zoomed in or carefully avoids showing entire rooms… trust your instincts.
There’s usually a reason.
Compare Prices Like a Bargain Hunter on a Mission
Never — and I mean never — book the first price you see.
When researching the best hotel deals, compare:
Hotel booking websites
Direct hotel websites
Cashback programs
Member discounts
Package deals
Sometimes booking directly with the hotel gets you:
Free breakfast
Room upgrades
Flexible cancellations
Late checkout
Which, honestly, is just extra time pretending you own the place.
The goal isn’t always finding the cheapest hotel.
It’s finding the best value hotel for your trip.
There is a difference.
Know Your Travel Personality
The “perfect hotel” looks different for everyone.
Ask yourself honestly:
Are you:
Luxury Traveller
You want pools, room service and robes thick enough to survive winter.
Adventure Traveller
You only need somewhere clean because you’ll barely be in the room.
Family Traveller
Space, convenience and nearby food become your entire personality.
Budget Traveller
You’re happy as long as it’s safe, clean and not suspiciously sticky.
Knowing your travel style makes choosing the best hotel so much easier.
And be honest about the gym.
We both know how this ends.
The Little Things Matter More Than You Think
Here’s what actually makes or breaks a hotel stay:
Air conditioning that works
Power points near the bed
Blackout curtains
Comfortable pillows
Decent coffee
Quiet rooms
Strong water pressure
Nobody remembers the lobby flowers.
People remember sweating through the night because the air-con gave up emotionally.
The small details matter.
Final Thoughts: At Some Point, You Just Have to Book the Hotel
Researching hotels can absolutely send you into decision fatigue.
You’ve checked maps. Compared prices. Read reviews like an FBI investigator. Cross-checked photos.
Eventually, you need to trust yourself and hit “book now.”
No hotel is perfect.
But a well-researched one?
That’s the difference between a relaxing holiday and a trip that becomes family folklore forever.
Your No-Stress Hotel Research Checklist
Before booking, make sure you’ve ticked these off:
✔ Location actually makes sense
✔ Budget set (with a tiny treat-yourself allowance)
✔ Recent reviews checked
✔ Guest photos investigated
✔ Prices compared properly
✔ Travel style considered
✔ Sneaky fees uncovered
Then close the tabs, commit to the booking and move on with your life.
Your holiday is waiting.
