I've stayed at over 500 hotels. There are 2 red flags I always notice before booking — and 3 that make me want to check out.

There are several red flags to be mindful of when choosing a hotel to stay at.Oleksandr But/ShutterstockAs a travel writer, I've stayed at over 500 hotels around the world.I've gotten good at spotting red flags both before and after booking accommodations.Low-quality photos and neglected common areas are two non-negotiable red flags for me.Long before I became a travel writer, I developed a love for hotels.It didn't matter if it was a roadside motel or a five-star beach resort, the thrill of checking into somewhere new, flicking through unfamiliar TV channels, and sleeping in crisp sheets was a rush.Now that I review hotels for a living, I've gotten pretty good at spotting red flags. Here are the top five things I look out for, both before booking and after I've arrived.Low-quality photos and vague property descriptions on a hotel's websiteIf the photos available online are grainy, dark, outdated, or irrelevant to the space, I won't be booking a room. After all, first impressions are important when choosing a place to stay.Of course, some accommodations (like new or very small ones), might have a good reason for not having high-quality images. So, if I'm concerned, I like to reach out to the hotel to ask for up-to-date photos or videos.Likewise, vague property descriptions online are a red flag for me, too. A listing should clearly tell you what to expect from the property and what's nearby.Consistently bad recent reviewsIt doesn't take an expert to understand that bad reviews are a warning sign.However, I've noticed that some booking platforms seem to highlight the "most relevant" reviews, which, in my experience, tend to skew positive or may be dated. Instead, I always sort by the "most recent" reviews and scan the last 10 or more to spot patterns.I like to look for repeated mentions of things like dampness, noise issues, hard beds, or poor cleanliness.When in doubt, I like to cross-check reviews against other booking platforms.Neglected common areasA hotel lobby should be clean and welcoming.Lee Charlie/ShutterstockIf a hotel's shared spaces look shabby, it's usually a good indicator to me that the rooms won't be much better.That's why my alarm bells ring if I notice musty smells, peeling wallpaper, stained carpets, or broken furniture in a common area, such as a lobby or stairwell.Dirty roomsNo matter the price point, I think a clean room is the bare minimum any guest should expect, whether you're staying in a $10 hostel or a $1,700-a-night boutique hotel.Stained bedding, yellowed mattresses with no protectors, hair in the sink, dusty shelves, and dead insects on a mosquito net are all immediate deal-breakers for me.Uncomfortable mattresses and low-quality beddingLumpy pillows and hard mattresses are some of my bedding pet peeves in hotels.lunopark/ShutterstockFinally, I think the biggest hotel red flag is an uncomfortable bed setup.Generally, you're staying at a hotel to get a good night's sleep. So, to me, there's no good reason the bed should be hard, have springs that poke into your back, or have lumpy pillows.Read the original article on Business Insider

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