When planning a vacation, the number of flight options to choose from is limited. However, booking a hotel can be a much more overwhelming experience.

Big cities, famous beaches and other popular tourist destinations offer a wide variety of accommodations: budget chains, quirky boutique hotels and luxury resorts. Even once you’ve decided which ambiance is right for you, you’ll likely find plenty of choices that match your vision. And there are countless factors to consider when selecting your hotel, room type and more.

“People often underestimate how much the actual hotel experience can add to their trip,” said Angela Marini, travel agent at Fora. “The hotel is more than just a place to sleep: it is a key part of the overall travel experience. Whether it’s taking advantage of the amenities, relaxing in a comfortable room, or soaking up the ambiance, your hotel choice can make or break a trip.

To guide travelers through the selection process, HuffPost asked Marini and other travel advisors to share common mistakes people make when booking a hotel — and why they try to avoid these mistakes.

“I never book the non-refundable rate unless I am 100% sure of my plans,” said Brianna Glenn, CEO and travel consultant at Milk + Honey Travels. “Flexibility is crucial when traveling, and plans can change unexpectedly. I favor refundable or flexible rates, even if they cost a little more, to avoid losing money if I have to adjust my stay.

Even if you’re determined to stick to your plans, you could face unexpected flight delays or cancellations that affect your ability to reach the hotel you’ve booked. If you choose a fully or partially refundable option, you can at least get some of your money back in case of a last-minute change.

“I never book without checking the cancellation policy,” said Fora travel advisor Ronit Margolis. “I prefer flexibility, especially when travel dates aren’t set in stone. If there is a strict no-cancellation policy, I would purchase travel insurance.

“As a travel expert, I never miss the opportunity to speak with someone at the hotel when I book a stay for myself,” said Kareem George, founder of Culture Traveler. “I found this to avoid unpleasant surprises, such as discovering that certain amenities are not available, the presence of work, realizing that a large group has taken over a large part of the property, etc. »

He added that calling the hotel also gives him the opportunity to inquire about any special events occurring during his stay and request a free upgrade.

Fora travel advisor Amna Ismail agreed to call hotels before booking.

“If I have specific preferences, such as a high floor or early check-in, I always call the hotel directly to confirm availability instead of relying on the notes in the reservation and I always follow up via e-mail mail,” Ismail said.

“I never set it and forget it after booking,” said Michael DeLucca, travel agent and founder of Otsy. “I prioritize rooms with flexible cancellation policies, especially when I book well in advance. I then manually check the rates each week or use a rate monitoring tool like Pruvo, which alerts me if there is a price drop. This allows me to cancel and rebook at lower rates.

He said he often saves 10 to 30 percent as hotel prices fluctuate and new promotions appear.

“This approach ensures that I get the best possible price without falling victim to price manipulation tactics or losing flexibility in my travel plans,” DeLucca added.

“I would never book a hotel in a bad location for a better price,” said Jonathan Alder, founder of Jonathan’s Travels. “Location always comes first because it can make or break the success of your trip.”

Think about the sites and restaurants you plan to visit during your trip. How long will it take to get from your accommodation to your activities? Is there good public transport? Are there any specific neighborhoods you want to explore in depth?

“This may be the best hotel, but in the worst location,” said Chirag Panchal, Fora’s travel advisor. “It’s important to check that the hotel is in a safe area, close to the places I plan to visit during my stay. »

“I never skip assessments,” said Caroline Bernthal, Fora’s advisor. “As an advisor, I know tons of properties around the world. If someone asks for a property that I don’t know about, I immediately go to the reviews. I also always check to see if they are members of programs that I am familiar with at veterinary facilities, such as Relais et Château and SLH.

Hotel reviews written by previous guests often include helpful information about noise levels, quality of service and more. But remember to do a thorough analysis to get the complete picture. Be on the lookout for common patterns, but take some reviews with a grain of salt.

“Never rely entirely on the very good and very bad reviews online,” said Fora advisor Caroline Weilert. “There is so much clutter online, and usually when people take the time to write reviews, they support extreme viewpoints. I hover over them but throw them away. These are the balanced reviews that provide the most information to inform my own decision-making about where to stay.

“I never just rely on the photos provided by the hotel,” Margolis said. “Hotel photos may be misleading or outdated.”

Instead, she looks for reviews on photos taken by clients to get a clearer idea of ​​the room’s size, cleanliness, and overall condition.

“Nowadays, with social media, you can search hotel tags and see photos from previous guests to get a more accurate representation,” Margolis added.

“I avoid booking the cheapest room category unless I have looked at its size and amenities,” Ismail said. “Sometimes spending a little more for a higher category can significantly improve the overall experience and give you additional benefits, making it a better deal.”

If you know that a view of the beach helps you relax better on your hard-earned vacation, consider doing this little splurge.

Lower rates may also not come with a bed type guarantee, which means arriving at two double beds or one king-size bed. Families traveling with children should not take this gamble.

“It may be cheaper, but you leave it up to the hotel to place you in the type of room they have,” said Rena Shah, manager of lodging and experiences for Chase Travel. “So unless you are traveling alone, I would avoid this. Do not book a room without confirming the bedding type. »

“Never book based on star ratings alone,” Glenn said. “Star ratings do not always reflect the true guest experience. A five-star hotel doesn’t always match your personal preferences for boutique or intimate accommodations, and those star numbers also mean very different things in different parts of the world.

She said she instead considers the hotel’s atmosphere, location and amenities to identify the option that fits her travel style and purpose of the trip.

“I never book through a third-party channel,” Panchal said. “There’s nothing worse than showing up at a hotel to check in and finding out they’ve been oversold, and it’s most likely the third-party reservations that will be processed first.”

“Third-party online travel agency rates are also not eligible for additional hotel perks and loyalty points, so while they may be slightly discounted, the lack of additional amenities often trumps booking through these channels,” he added.

This means you’re more likely to get an upgrade or have a specific room request honored if you book directly with the hotel.

“I’ve also noticed that OTA room blocks are often the least desirable inventory in the hotel,” George said.

This doesn’t mean you can’t use these services to your advantage.

“I start by checking prices at popular third-party OTAs, but I never finalize my reservation there,” DeLucca said. “After identifying the best rate using the VPN or incognito browsing mode, I call the hotel directly. Often, hotels are willing to match or beat a third party’s rate to avoid paying commission fees and directly guarantee the reservation.

“Traveling between Christmas and New Years is often one of the busiest and most expensive times of the year,” Marini said. “Everything from flights and hotels to restaurants and activities tends to be expensive. You pay more and get less.

When booking a hotel room for herself, she tries to open her search to the “shoulder seasons,” which are often the best time to visit a destination in terms of hotel rates, crowds and weather.

“I make sure I never book a regular room rate,” Panchal said. “As a travel advisor and preferred partner of most luxury hotels around the world, I always book through a preferred partner rate so I don’t miss out on potential upgrades, free breakfast, early check-in, late check out and others. exclusive amenities.

He believes travelers are “leaving money on the table” when they don’t consider booking through an agent with a direct connection to the hotel.

Alder agreed, saying, “I would never book a hotel without considering using a travel agent, because they give you better amenities at no additional hotel cost to you.”

“Plus, your agent knows the best properties and destinations for your trip,” he added. “Relying solely on online searches can be a disadvantage for consumers.”