Why Rick Steves Cautions Travelers To Avoid Booking Hotels Blindly

With the smartphones ensuring many travelers now have near-infinite knowledge at their fingertips, the days of locking in lodging options sight unseen may be a thing of the past. After all, who would shell out the money for a reservation without first looking up their prospective stay? This does assume you're planning ahead, however. For those who value the freedom of hopping from place to place and exploring whichever regions catch their attention on any given day, this approach may not be the most helpful. So, as travel pro Rick Steves recommends, "To leave room for this kind of spontaneity, book your lodging as you go."

Even then, Steves cautions against just blindly accepting the first accommodation you can find with an available bed. "View a room before accepting it," Steves writes on his blog. "Think about heat, noise, and general comfort level. If you don't like what you see, ask about another room. Or point out any negative attributes — the price may come down. If the room's no good, just leave."

There is one important caveat to this advice. Depending on which hotel or part of the world you're in, company policy may not allow you to physically enter and look around a room without first booking a stay in it. Don't let the fear of a "no" keep you from inquiring, though. Hospitality staff members are, by definition, a fairly kind crowd. Plus, you can always poke around online and find pictures of the room type you're curious to book. In addition to official hotel imagery, look out for photos from past guests shared via Google Maps, Tripadvisor, and other review sites. These snapshots can often provide realistic insight into what you can expect from a hotel room. Here are even more tips to keep in mind.

While free-spirited adventurers may be perfectly happy to choose a hotel the same day they'll be needing a room, Steves suggests employing a few top tips to keep your travels as stress-free as possible. Perhaps the most important of these tips is his recommendation to at least book in advance for the opening days of your trip. "After that, you can book your next hotel once you know where you're going and when you'll arrive," Steves writes. "Nail down a place in the morning so you know where you'll sleep that night; you'll spend your day sightseeing and traveling relaxed, knowing a room is waiting for you." That said, keep in mind that this devil-may-care approach will likely prove most successful during the off-season, when there aren't hoards of other travelers also looking for rooms. Plus, traveling during the off-season is a great way to save on your hotel room.

Need a place to stay when it's getting late and accommodation options are running out? Steves says specialty booking sites like HotelTonight may be worth a try. As the name implies, this resource can hook you up with same-day lodging reservations. Currently covering numerous U.S. cities and several different countries, HotelTonight might help you identify some solid choices to consider when you're down to the wire. If you're traveling in Europe, you can also explore these targeted tips for booking last-minute hotels.

A few extra pieces of advice from Steves include consulting hotel managers for recommendations and calling a property at 9-10 a.m. for up-to-date openings as guests check out. "Nobody knows the hotel scene better than hotel managers do," he shares. "If one place doesn't have a vacant room, ask for tips on where else to look. They're usually happy to phone a friend's place for you."

Sometimes, even the best tools in your skillset will fail to solve a problem. If you've employed all the top tips and tricks but still can't pin down a hotel room that looks safe, clean, and comfortable enough for you, there is one final tactic to try. This tactic involves leaving what Steves calls "the trouble zone" and venturing out toward places travel expert Samantha Brown refers to as "B-side cities." In this context, the trouble zone is wherever you're struggling to find accommodations, and B-side cities are quieter and lesser-known areas outside of the trouble zone.

According to Steves, about "an hour by car, train, or bus from the most miserable hotel situation," you can usually stumble upon at least one town that qualifies as a B-side destination. In these under-the-radar communities, local lodging options will rarely be completely booked. As such, they can be a lifesaver for spontaneous travelers. Just know that your room for the night may not be the cushiest or most affordable. Remember, you can always ask to see a room before booking it, though. And, if you do encounter problems during your stay, keep in mind that there are ways to report an unclean hotel room.