Europe Hotel Checklist: Avoid Booking Mistakes

Checklist

Location — How far is the accommodation from the train station or city center? Are there shops and restaurants nearby, and how far away is the next public transport station? Is it in a safe location? Can you walk back home at night?

Hotel Type — Is it an adult's only hotel or is it family friendly? Both are common in Europe, but most hotels are mixed.

Noise Levels — Take note that cities are loud. Check the location and hotel age. Old buildings are poorly isolated. Is the hotel located next to a main road, railroad, or airport? Do they have noise blocking panels in place? Is the hotel located at a party mile? I highly recommend reusable earplugs, these are the ones that we use.

Cleanliness — Go through the reviews and look for picture proof. Be aware that fake reviews from competitions are a thing, but better safe than sorry. Do they have carpet rooms (harder to clean)?

Check-In & Check-out Hours — Is there a surcharge for check-in or checking-out at specific hours? Is the front desk open, or do you have to contact them when you arrive? Is it a self check in accommodation?

Size of the Room and Bathroom — Check the m2, most basic rooms are much smaller in Europe. You'll have just enough space to get to your bed. Tiny bathrooms are pretty common. Just enough space to turn around. Budget rooms can come with shared bathrooms in some areas in Europe, and normally, it's mentioned in the listing.

Air Conditioning in the Summer — It is not the norm across Europe, most southern countries have AC's. Avoid booking rooms in older buildings near the roof area! Check if the temperature can be changed or if that is restricted.

Heating in the Winter — Colder countries are better at heating, but Southern countries, such as Spain, might be saving money on the heating systems. Check the winter comments!

Windows — Are the windows operational or locked? This might be important if there is no Air conditioning for ventilation.

Outlets and Lightning — Can you charge all your devices, or is there just one plug? Do they offer USB plugs near the bed? Keep in mind that several countries have different plug standards in Europe (see Essential Things to Know for First Time Europe Visitors). Is the lightning dim and poorly set up?

Desk or Workspace — Is there a space where you can work?

Bathroom Amenities — Exhausts are not always the norm at all in European hotels. Bidet are only in Southern France, Spain, and Italy. Star hotels have hairdryers but cheap ones.

Full-Size Mirror and Vanity Mirrors — Not a rule. Hotel chains tend to be better at this.

Bed Type — It is a double bed or two twin beds. Is the second bed for the kids just a prepped couch or a proper bed? What type of bed do they offer? Box-spring beds are at times the standard.

Fridge, Capsule Coffee Machine, Kettles, Tea Bags — Non are the norm, some offer them or just one and not the others.

Complementary Toiletries — Not every hotel offers complementary toiletries. If they do, it's a refillable wall dispenser. If you are lucky, you get a small Ritual soap and shampoo set.

Safe — To store your valuables while you are away. Higher star rating hotels have it by default, others not.

TV — Not every hotel room has a TV and if they do, they will play only local channels. Ask if they have International channels (that's going to be Euro channels with CNN at most), if it matters to you.

Mosquito Protection — European mosquitoes are a tiny pest, and mosquito screens are rare in Europe.

Balcony and Views — Just because they showed a view and balcony in a room picture, it doesn't mean you will get that particular room with a view and balcony. Reach out to the hotel if you care for the better view or a balcony/patio. This can be better achieved when booking directly.

Elevators — Older buildings don't always have elevators and certain areas have tight staircase systems (I'm looking at you the Netherlands).

Accessibility — Is the hotel built for wheelchair accessibility? Do they offer bathrooms with shower and bathtub handles?

Single Room — Is the single person booking a regular room with a double bed or a much smaller room with a single small bed?

Front Desk — Is the reception open 24/7 or do they close at a certain hour? Are they friendly, or do the comments mention a rude elderly receptionist? Most hotels require IDs from every guest for the check-in.

Curfews and Locked Entrances — Common in the countryside without 24/7 front desks. Hotels lock the doors, but you can still enter with a code or an RFID card. Ask the hotel if you intend to come back home late.

Room Tourist Tax — What's the local tourist tax rate? Is it included in the room price, or do you have to pay for it separately? Can you pay it by card or is it only cash?

Payments — Do they accept all credit cards and is there a minimum threshold to pay via card (e.g., the bar). Do they give a discount if you pay it all cash (that's a thing in the alps)? Does the hotel require advance payment or a deposit? Can you get an invoice or tax receipt if needed (for business trips)?

Breakfast — Is it a breakfast buffet? What's the offering? I sit just jam bread and coffee? What are the breakfast hours? Is it included in the room booking, or do you have to book it separately?

Restaurant & Bar Hours — If they have an attached restaurant or bar, do they close at 9 pm, 10 pm, 11 pm?

Dining — Is the dining included (½ or ¾ board)? Do you require a reservation? Are the tables assigned?

Other Hotel Amenities — Do they offer a pool, a gym, a wellness area or a game room for kids? Is it accessible anytime, or do you require a key from the reception to get there?

WIFI — Certain places offer free WIFI, but it's painfully slow (e.g., Milan, Lake Como area). The staff rarely provides the correct info if you ask about the WIFI speed. They all say it's fast, when it's barely pulling 10 Mbps. We have had the best internet in Romania so far (I'm not kidding).

Luggage Storage — Can you store your luggage if you arrive earlier or after check-out?

Storage Room for Skiing and Cycling equipment — This is important if you are in the mountains. Good hotels provide a changing and storage room for skiing equipment, with a heated rack for the skiing shoes to dry overnight. In the summer, the same room is used to lock away expensive e-bikes and cycles at night.

Visitors — Does the hotel allow visitors? Just a heads-up, many do not. Ask the hotel before you book, this isn't very common in Europe. I recommend meeting friends in the lounge area.

Drinking Water — A small bottle might be complimentary on arrival, and the remaining water has to be purchased. A handful of hotels offer free water at the reception area (Ibis does that).

Parking — Rarely comes free in Europe. Ask about access and cost, and let them know that you will need a parking spot before your arrival. Even if you are willing to pay for a spot, they can't guarantee a spot. Moreover, check if the parking lot is within the premises or somewhere further away from the hotel. Your best options are underground garage parking lots because of hail storms in the summer months.

Airport or Railways Station Transfer — Do they offer airport transfer and is it included in the price? 5-Star resorts are inclined to offer paid airport transfer. Countryside family hotels offer free railway station transfers.

Limited Shoulder Season Services — Popular seasonal tourist areas in the mountains and the beaches tend to reduce certain services during the shoulder or off season.

Smoking — Most hotels are non-smoking. Do they offer a smoking area, or is it simply outdoors next to the entrance?

Pets and Service Dogs — Do they allow pets, particularly dogs? If they do, and you are allergic, or you don't like dogs, you might want to avoid this hotel because the pets and owners get to stay in all rooms and rarely in selected separate rooms. Some countries, and therefore hotels, require proof of registered service dogs and in some places your dog will be refused. Emotional support animals are not always treated like service dogs in Europe (check country laws). I highly recommend contacting the hotel before you book to check with them!

Red Flags to Look out for

Here are some things to look out for that might be red flags:

• Wide angle brightly lit room photos — It skews the perception and the rooms appear newer due to the lightning technique used. In reality, the rooms are smaller and often outdated.
• Fluff words and vague language — Rustic, authentic, quaint and charming could mean old, outdated, small and hasn't been renovated. Traditional comes with old creaky plumbing, old heating systems and no AC's. Urban vibe or lively area points towards a noisy night experience.
• Reviews — Are the reviews oddly generic and short? Are there just 5-star or only 1-star reviews? In the case of 1-star reviews, it can be an attack from another competing establishment.
• No interior photos or bathroom pictures — What are they hiding?
• No clear rules listed — Imagine you need to deal with loud, rowdy neighbors at 2 am because the hotel staff doesn't have rules.
• It's a love hotel — This hotel has a different use and might not be what you are looking for.