- Business Insider asked hotel employees about the red flags to look for when checking into a hotel.
- Burnt-out light bulbs and dust in common areas may be signs a hotel isn't clean or well-maintained.
Airbnb is losing clients to hotels — but that doesn't mean the latter is always a perfect solution.
Some hotels are better than others, and there are a few things guests can look for to see how their accommodations might stack up.
Business Insider asked hotel employees about the red flags to look for when checking into a hotel. Here's what the said.
Empty parking lots may signal the hotel isn't a popular option
JJ Jones, assistant general manager at the Hilton Garden Inn Albuquerque Uptown with eight years of hotel and hospitality experience, told Business Insider that guests should always pay attention to a hotel's parking lot before checking in.
"The driveway or parking lot will tell you if the hotel is busy," Jones said. "If you don't see the parking lot full or see many other people checking in, this may not be the right place to stay."
This is especially worth noting if you're in a popular area or traveling during a busy time when it'd be surprising to find a hotel so empty.
A lack of available luggage carts or assistance indicates poor hospitality
According to Jones, hospitality should be a top priority at a hotel, especially when welcoming guests at check-in.
"When you enter the building, it's a red flag if there are no luggage carts available or someone to assist you with your bags if there aren't any carts," he told BI.
"In the world of hospitality, you welcome guests into your home, and you must treat them like family, which includes taking their luggage to their room if they need help."
Light bulbs out in common areas exemplify a lack of detail and care
Santiago Leon, general manager at The Robey, said guests should check whether a hotel's common-area light bulbs work.
"A simple but telling red flag is when light bulbs are not working in the common areas," Leon said. "As miniscule as it may sound, I think it speaks volumes about how well the hotel is maintained, its budget, management, and attention to detail."
A lack of response to pre-arrival inquiries is a major red flag
Leon said every hotel experience begins well before check-in.
If you've made requests or asked questions before you arrive and haven't gotten timely responses, that could be a red flag.
"When hotels are unresponsive to any pre-arrival inquiries, it immediately raises concerns, causing guests to worry about their visit instead of building excitement," Leon said.
An accumulation of dust and dirt in entryways displays an overall lack of cleanliness
Jones told BI that he always looks for an accumulation of dirt and dust on railings and tables in hotel entryways and urges guests to do the same.
"The public areas are used by everyone entering and leaving the hotel, so these areas should remain spotless," he said. "If I find dust, this indicates that the staff has not touched this area in a very long time, and I wonder what other areas of the hotel they have not touched in a very long time."
Not requesting identification upon arrival is a safety concern
Leon told BI it's a red flag "if the staff does not request identification upon arrival." It's mandatory for checking into a hotel for many reasons, including safety.
"Safety has to be a top priority for hotels," he added.
How your bed is made can speak to the quality of housekeeping
Jones said it's essential to take a good look at your bed before you jump onto it to get an idea of the quality of housekeeping at the hotel.
"How the bed is made can be a huge red flag. If they made the bed sloppily with tired-looking pillows and untucked sheets, this indicates that the housekeeper did not clean the room to the best of their ability," he told BI.
Jones said the sheets should be tucked so you have to really pull to untuck them — if they easily come loose, the bed is made incorrectly.