The big red flag you should look for when booking your hotel
NEXT time you are booking your holiday abroad, you may want to double-check the hotel you are staying at.
While it can be tempting to book a new, fancy hotel, this could cause you problems when you arrive.
Many tour operators will offer discounted deals for new hotels, called “soft openings“.
This is because they are yet to have many reviews or ratings, so want to encourage guests to stay.
However, a new hotel runs the risk of not being ready in time – and it could ruin your holiday or even delay it.
Tim Hentschel, co-Founder booking platform HotelPlanner advises waiting a few weeks before being one of the first to visit.
He told Sun Online Travel: “If you’re considering a holiday at a newly built hotel, avoid booking in the opening weeks.
“Occasionally building work on the hotel can be delayed, meaning your holiday may be moved or particular facilities might not yet be available.”
Things like spas, restaurants and swimming pools are the most likely to be closed when a hotel first opens.
Tim added: “People save up all year and look forward to their break away, so to get the best experience possible perhaps look at booking that hotel later in the year.”
If you want to take your chances, you could find a bargain hotel – but just be ready for it not to be perfect.
However, over the years Brits have fallen victim to new hotels not being ready in time.
One family paid £3,050 for a holiday to Egypt, only to find it was still being built and had to stay in a different resort altogether.
And a couple paid £5,000 for a dream holiday to Barbados – only to find the hotel covered in scaffolding.
Tim shared his top tips on a safer way to find a cheap hotel.
He added: “Be flexible, book in advance, keep an eye on sales and voucher codes to get the best deal.
“Traveling on a Tuesday through Thursday is typically much cheaper than traveling over the weekend.
Here are some other ways you can save money when booking hotels, although it comes with a risk.
Another risky way to get a cheap hotel is to book a mystery resort.
Jen Avery, from Thrifty Nomads said: “These booking websites negotiate discounted rates on vacant rooms.
“Users, however, don’t learn their accommodation’s identity before purchase.
“As this is especially true of higher-end retreats wanting to save face, mystery deals often yield significant savings on five-star stays.