'I've visited over 80 countries – there's a trick to spotting a good hotel in 60 seconds'

A helpful traveller who has more than 80 countries under his belt has explained how you can spot a good hotel in 60 seconds. As we all know, a good hotel can make or break a holiday; whether it’s the cleanliness, the amenities, the pool, or something else entirely, having a decent base to return to after a long day makes it easier to unwind.

Not all hotels are created equal — the internet is packed with tales of nightmare stays, from the good and bad to the truly ugly. So, as we start planning our spring and summer getaways, any advice on how to find one will undoubtedly be welcome. One man who understands the ins and outs of finding the perfect hotel is Mark Wolters, the instantly recognisable face behind the 1.17 million subscriber-strong Wolters World YouTube channel.

As a seasoned globetrotter, Mark has travelled everywhere from Uruguay to Albania. And now he’s sharing his best hotel tips to help others avoid a nightmare stay.

Check the most recent reviews

First up was checking reviews of the hotel online. Crucially, you should check the most recent reviews, as a hotel that was once a five-star paradise ten years ago may have declined — and vice versa.

Mark said: “Are they still getting that nine out of 10 or eight out of 10? Or have they fallen to a six or a seven? Because you want to look for that consistency.

“Because if they’re consistently getting nines and tens today and five years ago, that shows that that hotel continuously cares about their guests and their hotel, which means boom, probably going to be a good hotel.”

Actually read the reviews

Mark advised people to investigate the reviews and search for certain keywords and phrases, such as “clean”, “safe”, “comfortable, “good location” or “attentive staff”, for example.

He added that you should, for the same reason as above, remember to order these reviews by date and check if the hotel has responded to the guests online, paying attention to whether they were polite and professional.

Check that the price makes sense

Mark said: “I know we all want to find that great hotel for a super low price, but a lot of times, (if) they have to have heavy discounts, it’s for a reason.

“So, what you want to see is if you’re looking in an area like here in Lille, you’ll see that, oh, similar hotels have similar prices, and does that hotel fit in that same similar price range. That makes sense.

“I mean, they can have a deal every so often, but a good hotel doesn’t have to have a deal because they’re a good hotel.”

Check photos posted by guests

Mark highlighted the importance of not only looking at the photos posted by the hotel, which could be old, but also at those shared by guests online. Check if these line up with the originals.

Cancellation policy

He went on to explain that you should check your hotel’s cancellation policy because good hotels “know that life happens”, and that our plans can change. Mark noted that desirable hotels “don’t punish guests”.

Location, location, location

It’s worth checking the precise location of the hotel on a map to see if it’s close to amenities or sights. Importantly, Mark also pointed out that you can check whether the hotel is in a safe neighbourhood.

Check the description

Mark said: “Is it a realistic description of the hotel, of the rooms, or is it something like a ‘tranquil oasis away from the problems of your life in the outskirts of the world?'”

If it’s packed with “marketing jargon”, as Mark puts it, he suggested you should avoid it, adding that good hotels will be “realistic”.

Trust your gut

Finally, Mark said that when you check out hotels online, much of the time, you will get a “gut feeling” and advised people to trust it.