The 10 Biggest Mistakes Hotel Guests Always Make (and How to Avoid Them)

From surprise fees to security pitfalls, here are the most common guest errors and the easy fixes that protect your trip and your wallet

Hotels have their own playbook of fees, policies, and quirks. A smooth stay comes from knowing where the traps are and how to sidestep them. The good news is that most problems are predictable. With a few checks before booking and a short routine at check in, you can avoid surprise charges, protect your identity, and get better service with less hassle. Use this guide as your simple checklist.

Mistake 1: Booking the wrong rate and missing the fine print

• What happens. You grab the cheapest rate without noticing prepay rules, nonrefundable terms, parking fees, or a mandatory destination fee that adds $25 to $50 per night.
• How to fix it. Before you pay, expand the taxes and fees section and the cancellation policy. Compare the flexible rate to the prepaid rate. A flexible rate can save hundreds if plans change.
• Pro tip. Screenshot the rate details at checkout in case the bill does not match at check out time.

Mistake 2: Using a debit card for the incidental hold

• What happens. Hotels place a daily hold for incidentals, often $50 to $200 per night. With a debit card, that money is actually unavailable and can take days to return.
• How to fix it. Use a credit card for the hold and pay with whatever you want at check out. Ask the desk for the exact hold amount per night so you can plan.
• Pro tip. If you must use debit, ask whether the property will accept a cash deposit and what the return process looks like.

Mistake 3: Ignoring cancellation windows and time zones

• What happens. You cancel at 5 p.m. local time thinking you made the cutoff, but the policy was 48 hours before arrival or in a different time zone.
• How to fix it. Put the cancel deadline on your calendar the day you book. Confirm whether the cutoff is property local time and whether it is 24, 48, or 72 hours.
• Pro tip. For weather risks, consider a flexible rate or separate trip insurance from a reputable provider. Read coverage limits and exclusions carefully.

Mistake 4: Falling for lobby and in room phone scams

• What happens. Late at night, a caller claims to be the front desk asking you to verify your card after a system error. You read your number and security code and charges start appearing.
• How to fix it. Hang up and call the front desk yourself or walk down. Real staff will not ask for full card details over the phone.
• Pro tip. Ignore flyers slid under the door for “room service pizza.” Many are fake and exist to harvest card data.

Mistake 5: Joining the wrong Wi-Fi or sharing codes

• What happens. You connect to a look alike network or share your room number and last name with a stranger who then charges items to your room.
• How to fix it. Ask the desk for the exact network name. Use a VPN if you have one. Never share your last name and room number together in public areas.
• Pro tip. Turn off auto join for open networks and keep your phone and laptop updated. For guidance on multi factor authentication, see CISA.

Mistake 6: Treating the minibar like a toy store

• What happens. Pressure sensors register movement and auto charge even if you put the item back. Some charge if you store your own food in the minibar.
• How to fix it. Ask to have the minibar locked or emptied if you will not use it. Request a separate empty fridge if needed. Review the folio nightly in the app or at the desk.
• Pro tip. If you spot a wrong minibar charge, flag it before check out. Corrections are easier while you are still on property.

Mistake 7: Skipping a quick room inspection at check in

• What happens. You discover issues after you have unpacked, or you are blamed for existing damage at check out.
• How to fix it. Before settling in, check locks and latches, thermostat, hot water, TV, and lights. Scan carpet and furniture for stains, loose outlets, or exposed screws. Photograph preexisting damage and email it to yourself.
• Pro tip. For bed bug checks, look at mattress seams and the headboard edges using your phone flashlight. If you see dark specks or live insects, request a new room on a different floor.

Mistake 8: Forgetting about parking, resort, and destination fees

• What happens. That $159 rate turns into $219 after mandatory fees plus taxes. Nightly parking can add $20 to $60.
• How to fix it. Ask for the full nightly total with taxes and all mandatory fees before booking. If a fee covers things you will not use, ask to waive it. Some properties will remove or discount fees when challenged politely.
• Pro tip. Save proof of any fee waiver offered by phone. Get the name of the employee and a short confirmation email if possible.

Mistake 9: Assuming requests were noted

• What happens. You arrive late to find no crib, no accessible shower, or no feather free bedding despite entering notes online.
• How to fix it. Call the property the morning of arrival to reconfirm critical needs. Ask the agent to repeat the request back and read what is typed into the reservation.
• Pro tip. If an accessibility feature is required, book a room type that guarantees it rather than a standard room with a request.

Mistake 10: Letting problems linger until check out

• What happens. You accept a noisy room, a broken outlet, or missed housekeeping and then try to negotiate a discount at check out with no paper trail.
• How to fix it. Report issues as they occur. Ask for a room move or fix. If service fails, request a reasonable adjustment while you are still on site and have the agent note it on the folio.
• Pro tip. Stay calm and specific. “The AC does not cool below 76 after two hours” gets results faster than general complaints.

Money moves that make every stay cheaper and safer

• Price protect your booking. Many hotels will match a lower public rate you can document on the same dates and room type. Take a timestamped screenshot and ask for a match rather than rebooking elsewhere.
• Use the right card. Some credit cards include trip delay, trip interruption, baggage, or purchase protections. Check benefits and pay with the card that helps if things go wrong.
• Know late check out and early arrival rules. Elite status, a small fee, or a polite request early in the day often works. Confirm the time in writing to avoid extra charges.
• Keep receipts. If the hotel promises to reimburse rideshare or meals due to a service outage, collect itemized receipts and email them the same day.

If charges look wrong after you leave

• Act quickly. Contact the hotel accounting office with your folio and screenshots. Ask for a corrected folio by email.
• Dispute through your card if needed. If the property does not respond, start a dispute with your card issuer and provide your documentation.
• North Carolina help. If you live in North Carolina and a hotel refuses to correct undisclosed or improper fees, you can request assistance from the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at NCDOJ.

Pre trip checklist you can use every time

• Confirm the cancellation deadline and time zone. Add it to your calendar.
• Ask for the all in nightly total, including taxes, parking, and mandatory fees.
• Use a credit card for the incidental hold and note the daily hold amount.
• Call the property the morning of arrival to confirm critical requests.
• Verify the exact Wi-Fi network name at check in. Avoid look alike networks.
• Inspect the room on arrival, document any issues, and report problems right away.
• Review your folio nightly and settle errors before you check out.

Hotels are not out to get you, but they do rely on policies and systems that are not always obvious. A few minutes of preparation and a consistent routine at check in and check out protect your trip, your identity, and your budget.