If your life involves a lot of travel, then you must be able to identify the warning signs of a problematic hotel. We’re talking about suspicious photos and safety concerns that raise a red flag. To save you from a disastrous stay, we’re sharing with you the 8 hotel red flags you should never ignore.
8. Unprofessional Staff or Rude Review Responses
The first sign of a bad hotel is an unprofessional reaction towards a negative review. If you notice that the hotel management isn’t showing any concern with rude responses, then it says how they value and treat their guests. Before booking, you must check how your desired hotel responds to negative reviews. Look for personalized responses rather than those repeated copy-paste replies.
7. Unkempt Lobby and Common Areas
Once you notice cluttered front desks, dusty floors, and peeling paint, then the hotel is already telling you something. An unkempt lobby is a welcome area, so hotels must make their first impression from it. With this, you must be observant while you walk through. Check for visible damage, dirty carpets, and any unpleasant smells. This will be an indicator of how their rooms are maintained.
6. Visible Room Maintenance Issues
By ‘visible room maintenance issues,’ we meant the cleanliness of your room and its overall condition. Check if there are leaking ceilings that may lead to mildew, or if your upstairs neighbor has a damaged septic pipe. Remember, they can be hazardous to your health and safety.
5. No Signs of Safety and Security
If you’re a woman traveling alone, you can request a room on the upper floor or one without a balcony. Each room should be equipped with evacuation notices and fire escape plans. Now, if an exit sign isn’t well-lit or there aren’t any hallways, then the hotel is not up to mandated safety procedures. Always check for 24/7 security presence and elevators that require room keys to access floors.
4. Signs of Bed Bugs
As soon as you enter your room, pull back the sheets and check for small brown spots near the top or mattress seams. If there are, then it can indicate bed bug waste or bloodstains from crushed bed bugs. Take photos with your phone and show them to the front desk, and they will transfer you to another room. You can even choose to transfer to a different hotel entirely, as bed bugs can easily transfer to another bed.
3. Suspiciously Low Prices
While you may be amazed that a hotel listed is priced lower than competitors, you should always ask why. This might suggest that the hotel is located on a high-crime street or has outdated facilities and poor service. Always confirm the total cost before committing to a hotel. You can always research the area to ensure your safe travels.
2. Overwhelming Chemical Smells
When you catch the hotel lobby smelling like air freshener, they’re hiding something up. Typically, there’s a musty or mildew smell, indicating poor ventilation and inadequate cleaning. Immediately consider these air freshener scents as a warning sign that something’s up.
1. Outdated or Manipulated Reviews
Remember, old reviews won’t tell you much. Focus on the reviews posted from the past few weeks or months and see how the hotel responds to guests. Don’t fall for the repetitive and copy-pasted replies. Also, note if they only respond to positive reviews, as this suggests that they may not be taking their guests’ concerns seriously.
