Avoid A Miserable Hotel Experience Abroad With This Flexible Booking Strategy

If you travel enough, at some point you will almost certainly end up in a lousy hotel. Ambivalent service. Grimy corners. Half-hearted vacuuming. Many of us take these imperfections in stride; we get what we pay for, and a cracked window pane and malfunctioning AC unit will become a funny story down the road. The same goes for loud neighbors, gritty locations, and longed-for amenities that are mysteriously unavailable. Most travelers like a little unpredictability, and we'll survive a few bumps.

But the pressure increases when you've booked your dream vacation and you're flying a long way to get there. Flattering online images and manipulated reviews can make a hotel seem far better than it is; distances and neighborhood character are difficult to gauge from digital maps. After flying for hours across an ocean and shelling out money for a cab, all you want is a cozy room and a shower. Little do you know, you should have avoided the worst-rated hotel in the United Kingdom or an all-inclusive resort that isn't worth your money, according to travelers. There's no disappointment quite like showing up, seeing a dismal flophouse, and thinking, "This doesn't look anything like the picture!" Especially when it then dawns on you: You've paid for seven days in this awful place.

Luckily, you live in the 2020s, when it's easier to course-correct than ever. If you have any doubts about your accommodations, just book the first couple of nights there. If you love it, extend your stay. If you hate it, whip out your device and find someplace else.

The "two nights" strategy is especially handy in places you've never visited before. And these stays don't have to be miserable to warrant dissatisfaction, just flawed. Perhaps a hotel is located farther from the beach or local nightlife than expected, or the pool is closed, or there's active construction across the street. Maybe new ownership changed its policy about pets and forgot to update its online profile. These are understandable issues, but they're deal breakers for many travelers. You've worked hard for your leisure time, and the last thing you need is a pneumatic drill tearing up the street outside your window.

If you're staying in a destination for several days and the first hotel isn't serving you needs, it helps if you've only paid for two nights. Note that this approach doesn't work as well in busy destinations or at busy times of year, when an entire community may be packed with tourists. You can't expect to hotel-hop through Daytona Beach during spring break, nor should you give up your AirBnB in Iceland during the summer solstice. You could shop around before you leave for your trip, so you can determine how competitive rooms and rates will be when you arrive.

In some cases, a hotel might actually be mismanaged, and other travelers will benefit from your bad experience. You can always write a cautionary review, and there are ways to report a hotel that's unclean or has pests. A little drama might make a good story, but in the meantime, you deserve a pleasant place to hang your hat.