The mistake you make when booking your vacation that can lead you to the worst hotel rooms

Most people have already finished their vacation, and you've probably stayed in a hotel. Your room will have been good or average depending on several factors, one of them being how you made your reservation .

As the Mirror reports, some expert hoteliers explain that the fate of your hotel room can be decided from the moment you book.

Paul Scott , travel expert and founder of My Budget Break, says: "Booking through an external website could result in a worse room than if you had booked directly, but this isn't necessarily a deliberate act."

According to Scott, third-party websites can charge commissions of up to 25%, so hotels prefer to book directly. Therefore, they offer incentives such as discounts, extras, and room options to those who book directly through them.

For example, Hilton Hotels lets you choose your room when you book directly as a Hilton Honors member. This means that if you book through a third party like Booking.com or Hotels.com, some of the best rooms (such as those farther from the elevators or with better views) may already be booked , leaving you with rooms in less-than-ideal locations, she adds.

Ben Firth, senior account director at Gold79, emphasizes the same idea and the value of booking directly. "Booking with a third party doesn't mean you'll automatically be assigned the worst room , but it does mean you typically don't get the benefits of booking directly with the hotel," he says.

Plus, booking directly also gives guests access to amenities not listed on third-party platforms, such as packages that may include late checkout or a welcome drink , or limited room categories, so they're only sold directly. Plus, booking directly also means getting a better rate.

An analysis of 500 hotel stays booked through third-party sites showed that guests were five times more likely to be assigned rooms near elevators or vending machines, according to Mighty Travels.

On the other hand, a 2023 survey of hotel managers found that 62% prioritize direct bookings when allocating rooms, Mews reports.