How to Find the Perfect Hotel: 7 Things to Check Before You Book

Hundreds of offers, endless filters, and every listing promises a “prime location” and a “dreamy atmosphere”. Choosing a hotel today means more options than ever – which is exactly what makes it hard. The good news: finding the perfect hotel doesn’t mean booking the one with the most stars or the highest price. The perfect hotel is the one that fits your trip.

For a family with two kids, that means something completely different than for a couple on a romantic getaway or someone in town for two nights and a meeting. Stars mainly tell you about facilities and the range of services, and they’re awarded according to different criteria from country to country. They don’t tell you whether you’ll feel at home. These seven hotel booking tips help you work out which property really suits you.

1. Location: how central is “central” really?

Location decides how you spend your days: on foot or constantly in taxis, relaxing on the beach or hunting for the next bus. So don’t just check the address – check the routes you’ll actually take.

City break example: A hotel on the outskirts is €30 a night cheaper than one in the old town. Sounds good – until you factor in two 25-minute rides a day plus tickets. On a weekend in the city, that mainly costs you one thing: time.

Family holiday example: “Just 300 metres to the beach” is a different story with toddlers, a parasol and a cool box if the path leads down steps and across a busy road.

Here’s how: check walking routes to the beach, old town, station or conference centre in a map app and look at the area in street view – including hills, main roads and restaurants for the evening.

2. The room: does it fit your needs?

A room can be beautiful and still not suit you. Before you book, take a close look at the hotel room and think about how you’ll actually use it.

Romantic getaway example: Check whether the room has a real double bed or two singles pushed together. Is there a balcony, a bathtub, a view that’s worth the extra cost?

Business trip example: What matters is a proper desk, sockets within reach, reliable Wi-Fi and curtains that actually block out the light.

Family example: An extra bed is not the same as a family room. Two connecting rooms can mean more peace if the kids go to sleep earlier than you do.

3. Hotel photos: what they show – and what they don’t

Hotel photos are made for the best moment: perfect light, wide angle, nobody at the pool. That’s normal, but it says little about everyday reality. So ask yourself:

• Do the pictures show your room category or only the suite?
• Are there photos of the bathroom, the breakfast room, the way to the beach? What’s missing is often just as revealing.
• How recent do the pictures look? Furniture, technology and décor sometimes reveal whether the last renovation was a while ago.

Luxury trip example: The gallery shows a private plunge pool on the terrace. You’ve booked the cheaper garden-view category, though. A quick comparison saves you the disappointment on arrival.

A good cross-check is guest photos in the reviews: rarely beautiful, but usually honest.

4. Reading hotel reviews the right way

Hotel reviews are valuable – if you read them properly. One bad experience is an anecdote. If ten guests mention thin walls, it’s a pattern.

How to read reviews sensibly:

• Read recent reviews. A new kitchen team or a renovation can change a hotel a lot.
• Look for recurring complaints such as noise, cleanliness or long waits at breakfast.
• Filter by type of traveller if the platform offers it: as a family, other families will help you more than business travellers.
• Read the middle reviews. Three out of five is often the most balanced.
• Check how the hotel replies. How a property handles criticism says a lot about its service.

Example: “Very lively, lots of kids at the pool” is a warning sign for a couple looking for peace and quiet. For a family, it’s a recommendation. Reviews aren’t grades – they’re hints to match against your own needs.

5. Compare prices, extra costs and cancellation terms

The price on the first page is rarely the price you pay in the end. Always compare the total cost of your stay. Typical extras include breakfast, parking, city or tourist taxes, resort fees for the pool, Wi-Fi or beach loungers, plus spa access and transfers.

Example: Hotel A costs €140 a night, without breakfast and with €25 for parking. Hotel B costs €165, including breakfast and parking. At first glance A is cheaper; in the end you pay less at B.

Cancellation terms are part of the price, too. Non-refundable rates are often cheaper – but if your plans change, the saving is quickly gone.

The best hotel isn’t automatically the most expensive

A five-star resort with huge grounds won’t do much for you on a city break when you’re out from morning till night. A small boutique hotel in the old town may be the better choice: closer to everything, more personal, often cheaper. On the other hand, paying more can be worth it if you want to spend a week mostly relaxing at the hotel. What matters is what you’re paying for – and whether you’ll use it.

6. Get to know the pool, spa, restaurant and more in advance

A hotel’s facilities often make the difference, especially if you spend a lot of time on site. Find out beforehand:

• Pool: Is there shade and are there enough loungers? Is it heated, and when is it open?
• Spa: Is access included, or do you need a paid booking?
• Fitness: A proper gym or a single treadmill in the basement?
• Restaurant: When is breakfast served? Is the hotel so remote that you’ll have to eat there in the evening?
• Lobby: Is there a pleasant place to arrive, wait or work?

Luxury trip example: You’re looking forward to the spa and find out at check-in that every slot for the next few days is booked. A quick question beforehand would have been enough.

7. Hotel videos and hotel tours: the full picture

Location, room, photos, reviews – each source gives you one piece of the puzzle. A hotel video puts the pieces together. In a hotel tour you see how big the room really is, how the lobby, restaurant and pool connect and what the hotel feels like, with sound and in motion.

Example: You’re torn between two city hotels with similar prices and similar reviews. The hotel tour shows you that one has a lively rooftop bar and the other a quiet courtyard. Suddenly the decision is easy.

That’s exactly why Hotelmoments exists. We stay several nights at a hotel and show it in detailed walkthroughs the way guests experience it – from the room and the restaurant to the surroundings. Here’s what one of our tours looks like:

▶ YouTube loads only after you click

Our hotel tour checklist shows what to look out for while watching.

Your checklist before every hotel booking

Ask yourself these questions before you book:

1. What matters most to me on this trip: location, quiet, space, service or experience?
2. How long does it take to get from the hotel to the places I want to see?
3. Does the room category I’m booking suit me: beds, bathroom, workspace, room for everyone?
4. Do the photos show exactly this category, and are there recent guest photos?
5. Which complaints keep coming up in recent reviews?
6. What does the stay cost in total, including taxes, fees, breakfast and parking?
7. Until when can I cancel free of charge?
8. Are the pool, spa and gym included, and when are they open?
9. Have I seen the hotel in a video or hotel tour?

Conclusion: perfect is whatever fits you

You won’t find the perfect hotel through the most stars or the highest price, but through the right questions. Match location, room, reviews and total cost honestly against your needs, and you’ll decide on far firmer ground. And once you’ve seen a hotel beforehand, a guess turns into a good feeling.

If you’d like to get to know hotels before booking, take a look at our hotel tours. And if your dream hotel is still missing, you can suggest it to us any time.