A vacation starts the minute you start planning. But with so many possibilities online, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and fast.

Finding a hotel doesn’t have to be a chore. Take a look at these 10 tips for finding a hotel while traveling.

1. Get Over FOMO

Here’s the thing about having values. They travel with you wherever you want to go.

If you’re sure about what’s important to you, you’ll spend less time procrastinating during the vacation planning process. FOMO, or fear of missing out, comes from a false sense that everything is important to you.

After all, you never once thought of a jacuzzi suite but just seeing it in someone else’s Instagram photo immediately made it urgent for you, too. Skip FOMO and instead use your personal values as a guide to where to spend money and where to save when finding a hotel.

If you don’t establish some meaningful boundaries overall, every single option can appear good or terrible depending on where you fall on the FOMO spectrum that day.

Do you believe in having great views for early morning meditation? Choose a hotel with balconies and a scenic view of a nearby mountain chain.

Go beyond property photos to think of how you want to feel and what you want to have access to while on your trip.

2. Be Aware of the Possibilities

Keep in mind that narrowing down your wants doesn’t mean not knowing what’s available. You might not have any idea that turn down service is a thing until after staying at a five star hotel.

After that, it’s on your must have list forever and ever. But when finding a hotel abroad, the possibilities of not getting basic hotel amenities you get in the U.S. could be shocking.

For example, it might not occur to you that air conditioning isn’t a given in a hotel abroad. When you use online search tools, make sure you look for things like air conditioning, elevators and WiFi so you aren’t shocked when you arrived.

If you’re renting a car, parking is important to have at a reasonable fee per day. There should be restaurants or food available in the hotel so you aren’t at risk of getting lost in the city trying to figure out where to eat.

Consider all the possibilities by researching a full list of amenities before finding a hotel.

3. Check Reviews First

It’s a good idea to get both sides to the story when finding a hotel. The hotel website has one message while people on TripAdvisor have another.

Check the reviews first to view photos taken without fancy cameras. These photos give you the real picture of what it’s like to stay in a room at the hotel.

Past guests also reveal whether or not there are surprises on site like construction next door. These things are rarely mentioned on a hotel website but loud noises from bulldozers are sure to keep you up at night.

They can also share how their interaction with the hotel staff goes. How you’re treated by the hotel manager means everything when you’re staying on their turf.

Ignored requests or suggestions fester over the course of your stay if left unchecked.

4. Be Dazzled

Once you’re sure there are no tricks up the hotel’s sleeve, you can let your guard down and be dazzled. Visit the hotel website to be taken on a journey of the finest cuisines, amenities and views.

Hotel websites put their best features at the forefront so you can experience the magic of being on the premises. Sometimes, this website experience is just what we need to stop procrastinating and buy that plan ticket already.

4. Know Where You’re Staying

It should go without saying that when finding a hotel, but know the exact location of the hotel in proximity of the landmarks you want to see. The words “on the beach” mean very little in the world of hotel marketing.

Marketers use this to basically let you know there’s a beach somewhere nearby but offer no promises of how long it’ll take you to get there. The same is true for popular landmarks.

A hotel might be an hour walk from a landmark but claim to be nearby because it’s a relatively short drive in comparison to other landmarks.

5. What About Hotel Guests?

It’s a good idea to call the hotel advance to find out more about what’s happening during your week of stay. Are they hosting a conference for 1,000 guests?

Is there a wedding or series of weddings on the premises? There are polite ways to learn whether or not you’ll have any elevator access during your stay.

6. Finding a Hotel Overseas

Stay flexible if you’ve never found a hotel overseas like a Hotel in Copenhagen. The amenities are different, but this can lead to an unforgettable experience.

For example, in hotels where family style dining is popular, you can meet new people in an informal environment

7. Renovations

If you’re hotel hasn’t been updated in the past few years, reconsider your stay. But only do this if you’re celebrating a special occasion. Choosing a hotel for work is much easier than finding a hotel for your honeymoon.

8. Check Resort Fees

One sneaky expense is resort fees. Don’t be shocked when your final bill is slipped under your door on the final morning of your stay.

Check resort fees in advance by talking to someone in reservations who can help you understand what you’re paying.

9. Check-in/Check-out

What are check in and check out times for your hotel? These matter very much if you plan on late nights out partying or want to hit the beach as soon as you get in town.

10. What’s Free in My Room?

It may shock you to learn that some hotels actually offer free items in rooms. But that doesn’t mean everything in the room is free.

More than likely, there’s a welcome gift somewhere close to a minibar. Don’t be embarrassed to ask about pricing.

Find a Hotel Room

Finding a hotel takes time and patience. You want more information about hidden fees, activity onsite and how the hotel is handling problems you learned about via reviews.

Good answers a green light to move forward with your booking. For more information and tips, visit our blog for updates.