One man who knows the ins and outs of finding the ideal hotel is travel expert Mark Wolters, who outlined how you can spot top quality accommodation in 60 seconds
Mark has travelled everywhere from Uruguay to Albania(Image: Wolters World/YouTube)
A seasoned traveller who has visited more than 80 countries has revealed how you can identify a quality hotel in just 60 seconds. As we’re all aware, a decent hotel can determine whether a holiday succeeds or fails; be it the standards of cleanliness, the facilities, the swimming pool, or any other factor, having a solid place to retreat to after an exhausting day helps you properly relax.
Not every hotel measures up – the web is awash with stories of dreadful experiences, ranging from the merely disappointing to the absolutely horrendous. So, as we begin mapping out our spring and summer escapes, any guidance on securing a good one will surely prove invaluable.
One person who knows the tricks of finding an ideal hotel is Mark Wolters, the instantly familiar face behind the Wolters World YouTube channel, which boasts 1.17 million subscribers.
As an experienced world traveller, Mark has journeyed everywhere from Uruguay to Albania. Now he’s revealing his top hotel tips to help others steer clear of a disastrous booking.
Check the most recent reviews
His first suggestion was examining online reviews of the accommodation. Importantly, you should focus on the latest reviews, since a hotel that enjoyed five-star status a decade ago might have deteriorated – or improved considerably.
Mark explained: “Are they still getting that nine out of 10 or eight out of 10? Or have they fallen to a six or a seven? Because you want to look for that consistency.
“Because if they’re consistently getting nines and tens today and five years ago, that shows that that hotel continuously cares about their guests and their hotel, which means boom, probably going to be a good hotel.”
Actually read the reviews
Mark advised people to scrutinise the reviews and look out for specific keywords and phrases, such as “clean”, “safe”, “comfortable, “, “good location” or “attentive staff”, for example.
He added that you should, for the same reason as above, remember to sort these reviews by date and check whether the hotel has responded to guests online, paying close attention to whether their replies were courteous and professional.
Check that the price makes sense
Mark said: “I know we all want to find that great hotel for a super low price, but a lot of times, (if) they have to have heavy discounts, it’s for a reason.
“So, what you want to see is if you’re looking in an area like here in Lille, you’ll see that, oh, similar hotels have similar prices, and does that hotel fit in that same similar price range. That makes sense.
“I mean, they can have a deal every so often, but a good hotel doesn’t have to have a deal because they’re a good hotel.”
Check photos posted by guests
Mark highlighted the importance of not only looking at the photos posted by the hotel, which could be old, but also at those shared by guests online. Check if these line up with the originals.
Cancellation policy
He went on to advise that you should review your hotel’s cancellation policy because good hotels “know that life happens”, and that our plans can change. Mark noted that desirable hotels “don’t punish guests”.
Location, location, location
It’s well worth pinpointing the exact location of the hotel on a map to establish whether it’s within easy reach of local amenities or attractions. Crucially, Mark also highlighted that you can check whether the hotel is situated in a safe neighbourhood.
Check the description
Mark said: “Is it a realistic description of the hotel, of the rooms, or is it something like a ‘tranquil oasis away from the problems of your life in the outskirts of the world?'”
If it’s packed with “marketing jargon”, as Mark puts it, he suggested you should avoid it, adding that good hotels will be “realistic”.
Trust your gut
Finally, Mark said that when you check out hotels online, much of the time, you will get a “gut feeling” and advised people to trust it.