And don’t worry about not being able to speak the language! Almost all hotel receptionists in Europe can speak at least enough English to check prices for you.

Tip #5: Watch out for extra charges when reserving.

While researching hotel prices, we often come across well-known reservation websites that show one hotel price at first, but then reveal a much higher total price just when you’re ready to enter your credit card info.

How can they do this? Here are some of their favorite tricks:

They wait until the last minute to reveal the local taxes (which can be very high in Europe and are always a part of the price!).

Another tactic is to tack on a “service fee,” despite the fact that they’re already charging up to a 10% commission from the hotel!

More shamelessly, they invent some business about a “security fee.” Profiteering, anyone?

We recommend only booking through reservation websites that show all costs upfront.

Next step: Book it with confidence.

Now that we’ve spent time going over some of the tricks of the trade, you’re better equipped to research and book with confidence. And don’t forget to have fun! After all, you’re going on a European adventure! Bon voyage!