20+ Hotel guests who noticed red flags at their lodgings: 'When it's advertised as "family friendly," that means noise'

Looks can be deceiving, but when you show up at a hotel and it looks totally different than it did in the online photos, it makes you a bit concerned.

I know, I know: in real estate photos, photographers alwasy highlight the positives, making the space look way bigger and brighter than it is in person. But there are some times that the photos just look way too good to be true. Maybe you show up to a hotel expecting a giant pool and an arcade room for the kids… only to discover the pool is small and grimy, and the "arcade" has no working arcade machines. Those are just the amenities, though—you really hope your room will look as advertised.

The travelers below have had some eye-opening hotel experiences that they won't soon forget. Some have learned to avoid places that offer long-term rentals, while others have clued in to the things that indicate a noisy crowd is staying in the same hotel. One of the best tips is that if the front lobby looks messy, you can rest assured that the hotel rooms are going to be even grimier. The front desk area is supposed to welcome guests and give off a good first impression. When that's not even up to par, why should you think the rest of the hotel will be a good place to rest your head?

Next, read about people who made some pretty awful recipe substitutions, like one person who tried to make peach ice cream, reporting that: "I don't like peaches so I substituted carrots. It wasn't very good." You don't say!

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via Wesley Tingey For Unsplash+

_{The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.}
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This is such a good warning sign

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If the floor is unmopped and the trash is overflowing, you can think twice about staying there.
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This person has seen some things

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via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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It's always a good idea to keep an eye out for bedbugs

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I've heard all the stories of hotels who don't change their sheets in between guests, so if you find a stray hair, it's time to phone the front office and ask for a new set of sheets.
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