5 Things NOT to do when booking accommodation

Imagine you’re on an amazing trip, but when you arrive at your accommodation you discover a small, broken TV in a smelly, ugly room – holiday ruined. Even if you endured a horrible flight or a cramped car, a terrible hotel room is different for one reason: you have to live in it, so there’s no escape!

Your accommodation choice may as well be the most important decision you have to make when planning a trip, to help you get the best room in the best location at the best price here are some things not to do when booking your accommodation.

Don’t forget to check the location: You may find a hotel, B&B or apartment that seems to be in the perfect location, but when you arrive you find out the views are terrible or even worse it’s in the middle of a busy intersection. The easiest way to prevent this sort of problem from happening is to see the site for yourself, most websites include a map of some sort or just use Google street view to get a good look.

Don’t skip the review sites: Its best to know as much as possible about the property before you decide to book yourself in, use review sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp or check the reviews on their website. There is always something you will find out with the help of the people who have stayed there before like bad food, old fashioned rooms and gross bathrooms.

Don’t forget to check if the hotel/apartment/B&B has an airport shuttle: I don’t think anyone is a huge fan of public transportation to and from the airport, carrying your entire luggage around to the bus stop and then on the bus itself can be a horrible experience. And don’t forget that getting to and from your accommodation can be really expensive, so make sure to check if they offer a complimentary shuttle service or even one for a cheaper price.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a better rate: One of the simplest and easiest ways to get a better rate at your accommodation is to ask for one! It’s not that hard to just ask something like “Are there any special rates available?” From just asking that simple question they will often offer a better rate one way or the other.

Don’t be afraid to call them directly: If you've found a hotel that is showing there are no rooms available, high rates or lack of special needs rooms, just call them directly. The front desk will often have information about cancellations or additional rooms; even if you have a simple question like “Are there any pet-friendly rooms?” or “How much is breakfast?” they can answer you immediately which is much faster than waiting for an email reply.

You have to pay for your hotel, B&B or apartment every day you stay there, so make sure you use these simple tricks and plan head to ensure your holiday is all smooth sailing.

Enjoy an affordable, luxurious, self-catering apartment at 808 Cartwright and you can even avoid the public transport by booking a comfortable, well-maintained shuttle service with Airport Shuttle!

Written By: Christine Romans