Over time, I’ve stopped relying only on ratings while choosing hotels. Now I focus more on detailed reviews, especially recent ones. Cleanliness is my top priority, followed by location and safety. I also check if the hotel is close to the places I plan to visit. Photos can be misleading, so I look for real user-uploaded images.
Another thing I’ve learned is to check cancellation policies and hidden charges, which many people ignore. Price matters, but I don’t go for the cheapest option anymore because it often compromises comfort. A slightly higher budget with better reliability usually leads to a much better experience overall.