Have you ever booked a room and, when you arrived, you thought the room wasn’t what you had booked, but it turned out the room you had booked just wasn’t what you expected? Many Americans have this experience when visiting Europe for the first time. What they learn (the hard way) is that space, luxury, and comfort are seen differently in Europe. Understanding this will help arm you with the info you need to set your expectations and book more confidently.
In this post, you will find tips to help set your expectations when booking hotels in Europe. If you are looking for specific hotel or neighborhood recommendations, we are constantly adding new ones, so come back here for your next trip. Going to Florence? Read about Where To Stay In Florence, Italy by Neighborhood or The Best Hotels in Florence Italy By Neighborhood for our top recommendations.
Skip to a topic within European hotel expectations:
- Star ratings in European hotels
- Room sizes in European hotels
- Hotel towels in Europe
- European bed types
- Room keys for European hotels
- Bed linens in Europe and the UK
- Hairdryers in European hotel bathrooms
- AC and temperature control in European hotels
- Breakfast at your European hotel
- Floor numbers and stairs in European hotels
- Taxes and fees for European lodging
- Identification requirements when checking in
- FAQs
Things to consider when you search and book hotels in Europe:
Star Ratings In European Hotels
The first thing we want to talk about is a hotel’s star rating, not to be confused with the review rating system; this is about the kind of hotel and the amenities offered. Keep in mind that star ratings indicate amenities offered at the property, not necessarily price or quality. In the United States, this system absolutely reflects quality. Reminder: just because a property only has 2 stars doesn’t mean it’s not neat, clean, and comfortable; it primarily means that it has fewer amenities.
What to expect with star ratings in Europe:
- 1-Star hotel: A budget option with only basic functional furniture, and the bathrooms could be shared, so read the description closely.
- 2-Star hotel: Usually includes a private bathroom, some comfort, possibly a TV, and very basic cleaning services. This is great for short stays when you just need a shower and a place to sleep, but you don’t need any meal offerings on-site. This means that a 2-star hotel could have the same type of room offering as a 3-star hotel, but doesn’t have a restaurant on-site like a 3-star hotel will.
- 3-Star hotel: Typically mid-range and offers larger rooms (than a 1- or 2-star hotel; it doesn’t mean the room is big, persay). The hotel should have dedicated staff in uniform, an on-site restaurant or bar, and internet access.
- 4-star hotel: Higher quality, but that doesn’t mean that it is modern. A hotel can get 4 stars and have high-quality but old-world furniture and upholstery. These hotels often offer room service, parking options, and daily linen changes. A 4-star hotel might also have a gym and/or a pool. We often don’t see a big price difference between 3- and 4-star hotels.
- 5-Star hotel: Almost always luxury and top-tier services. This is where you’ll get a concierge who speaks multiple languages, spas, exceptional customer service, and a fine dining restaurant on site.
Pro Tip: If you’re traveling to multiple cities, mix things up. Book a 2- or 3-star hotel for the cities you only have a couple to a few nights in and splurge for 4- and 5-star in cities you will spend more time in. Let your need for breakfast, parking, a pool or gym, and dining guide you.
Room Sizes in European Hotels (hint: they are smaller)
Rooms in Europe tend to be smaller and have a strict capacity. When you book rooms, you will find that the room is just big enough for the furniture and your luggage (if you’re lucky). For the most part, you shouldn’t need to spend time in the room, so the space is focused on needs for sleeping and showering. If you want extra space, you will want to look for some sort of suite (although the extra space may be filled with a couch). It’s worth noting that properties that are designed to be where you spend your time, such as a spa, may have larger rooms.
Because space is limited, you will also find that you can’t choose the number of people to fit into a room. For example, you may think that two large beds are big enough for you, your spouse, and your 3 kids (thinking the little one will sleep with you and your spouse, and the other two will share a bed)- guess again. That room may have a 3- or 4-person capacity (for safety reasons), and you will have to pay for a 2nd room and split up.
We saw a long-time hotel rewards member argue with a hotel manager in Pisa about this. Ultimately, her family of 5 had to get another room. And there were no adjoining rooms left. Don’t be her. On the upside, it is super common to find triple and quadruple rooms which have 3 or 4 twin beds or a combination of a larger bed and 1 or 2 twin beds.
A note about the size of your luggage: we know it’s hard to narrow down all your cute vacation outfits, but try to use a small suitcase. Since rooms are smaller, consider the fact that you will be walking around your luggage and/or moving it out of the way. We aim for a larger carry-on size or smaller.
Pro Tip: Websites like booking.com make it easier to understand this. Look at the number of travelers column so that you see the pricing that matches your group size.
European Bed Types
Bed types do not transfer exactly from US sizes to European sizes. If you read “king-size bed” it probably isn’t the king-size you are expecting; it’s closer to a queen in most cases. The most common bed type you will see is a double. This is not the double that we see in the US, which is slightly bigger than a queen; it is literally two beds put together to create one large bed. Knowing this is so important, particularly if you are traveling with someone you don’t wish to share a bed with. You can often request that the bed is separated into 2 single beds.
In the US, we will often find that a room with 2 beds has 2 queen beds. In Europe, you want a double (that can be separated) with enough occupancy for 2 people- you will each get a single bed. These are slightly smaller than a twin-size bed. Furthermore, you will almost always see that the bed type is not guaranteed! This is frustrating. Message the hotel when you book, requesting that the beds be separated. This almost always works, but sometimes you could get stuck sharing two beds pushed together and made up as one. Whenever this happens, we just ask for extra linens so we don’t have to share the blanket/sheet too.
Pro Tip: Websites like Booking.com and Expedia both show the bed types; however, depending on the hotel, some are more descriptive than others. Furthermore, you may find that your bed type and number of guests combination may not be available on one site but is on the other. So compare!
Room Keys For European Hotels
While many hotels have made the switch to electronic keys, you will still find many hotels with old standard keys (or even older skeleton keys) and bulky key chains attached. Don’t worry about the bulky key chains; they will probably request that you leave the key at the front desk when you leave for the day. At first, this feels weird- that you don’t get to keep the key with you. But there is a good reason for this. The older hotels may only have one or two keys for the room, and they want to prevent the keys from getting lost. Once you get past the mental part of this, you can appreciate how freeing it is to not have to keep track of the key while you are out and about.
Side note about electronic keys: if you have a key card, you may need it to turn the lights on in the room. Although we’ve seen this in the U.S., it’s much more common in Europe. There will be a slot (usually near the door) to insert your card into upon entering the room. This will turn the lights on. When you take the key with you, there are no worries about leaving the lights on and wasting energy.
Pro Tip: If the hotel doesn’t ask for the key, you could still ask them if they will hold it for you while you are out. Nobody has room for giant keychains and keys in their purse. And NOBODY wants to deal with losing their room key while on vacation.
Hotel Towels in Europe (there is one you aren’t used to seeing)
Just like hotels in the US, you will find a variety of towel sizes. Some will have large, luxurious towels, and others will have towels that are slightly bigger than a hand towel. When assessing the towels in the room, pay attention to the placement; there will likely be specific towels for the bidet if you are in a country that uses the bidet (Italy & France). It’s almost always a different material, so it’s easy to spot. Each guest should have a bidet towel if they are provided.
We once stayed in a vacation rental in the Netherlands, and all the towels were like large hand towels. The host said that’s the normal towel size there, but then said her kids make fun of her for it… Pretty sure that isn’t the normal towel size. You literally could not wrap this around any part of your body.
Pro Tip: If you plan to go to the beach or do a coastal hike, you should bring a packable, sand-resistant, quick-drying towel with you. The hotel won’t want you taking their towels with you. Our favorite is Tesalate, but since they aren’t shipping to the US right now (tariffs…), check out Sandcloud.
Bed linens in Europe and the UK
Heads up- the UK doesn’t use a top sheet for the most part, and Italy has seasonal bedding. In Italy, you will only find top sheets on your beds from May through September. In fact, it’s usually just a sheet- no blanket. It’s too hot for a blanket anyway. In October, they swap that top sheet for a warm blanket; some keep the sheet, most don’t. Pillows are weird; we don’t really know how to describe this, but you are going to find pillows that are more square than rectangular (especially in Germany) and of different densities than you are used to. It’s not super common, but some hotels do have the firm and soft options that you see elsewhere. The pillows aren’t uncomfortable, just different.
Sheets only in summer on Italian hotel beds [stock image]
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Hair Dryers in European Hotel Bathrooms
While most hotels will have a hair dryer in the room, it’s worth noting that they can be very interesting in Italy. Some are useless, vintage pieces of plastic that wheeze the heat and air on your hair (it looks like a vacuum hose). These are very low-powered and take a while. The rest are hung on the wall and hardwired (you can’t move them). Many require you to hold the button down while using it, which is not pleasant. Look for the hair dryer in the bathroom photos so that you know what to expect. It’s a rare gem to find a stand-alone hair dryer. We recently stayed at the same hotel in Rome on the bookends of a trip; our first room had that weird hose-like attachment while the second room had something a bit more ‘normal.’
The ‘vintage’ style hair dryer we mentioned [stock photo]
Be aware that these types of hair dryers could be time-consuming- something you want to skip altogether- or a reason to travel with a blow dryer. If you travel with a blow dryer, make sure it’s dual voltage (100-240V) and get an adapter to plug it in with. In Europe, you will need plug type C for most cords. For grounded appliances, use type E or F. The UK and Ireland use type G.
Pro Tip: When buying adapters for your electronics, make sure you are getting an adapter and not a converter. A converter will actually convert the voltage; in theory, this sounds like what you need, but trust us, it’s only the adapter that you need. We saw a blow dryer smoke the first time we used it with a converter in Italy! All you need is something that says it is dual voltage, and the adapter will do the rest.
AC and Temperature Control in European Hotels
In Europe, AC is not used in the same way as in the United States. You should never assume your hotel will have air conditioning. We know- it’s wild, considering the yearly reports of heat-related deaths in Europe. As I’m writing this, Italy is in its 7th week of extreme temperature warnings (I think we have just a few days of this left). Anyhow, we digress. Make sure to check the amenity list to see if the hotel rooms have air conditioning. You shouldn’t have a problem finding heating, although some places are still using the radiator pipes to warm the rooms. Those can take a little while to warm up. Ask for an extra blanket if there isn’t one in your room.
Note that while your room may have AC, it won’t create the icebox you are used to at home. The air conditioning will likely have a limit set that doesn’t allow it to be set below a certain temperature, per Italian law. Usually around 25-27ºC (77-80.5°F) in the summer AND it will have strict time-of-year functionality. Most municipalities set regulations to only allow the AC to function from May or June through September 15th. The heat only comes on Oct 15-April 15. That summer restriction was a shocker when it was over 80ºF on our birthday in October… The winter temperatures are regulated at 19-20°C (66-68°F) in the winter.
Breakfast At Your European Hotel
Italian hotel breakfast [stock photo]
This is more a matter of preference. If you are traveling with a family, you may find it more convenient to have breakfast at the hotel. If you are looking for an authentic experience, we recommend nearby cafes. Over time, we have found that many ‘breakfast included’ options are a bit pricy but the convenience may outweigh that price. Additionally, you may find that you want the breakfast that is designed for tourists because it will likely be closer to what you are used to having for breakfast vs. the Italian traditional pastry and a coffee.
Pro Tip: Do your research for nearby breakfast spots (use cafe, coffee, and breakfast in your search terms). If you find the price to be high for including breakfast, skip it. Prices like €15+ for each person, and a family of 6 is going to run you over €100 for breakfast! No. Just no.
Floor Numbers and Stairs: The European Hotel Climb
European countries start their floor numbering on what those in the US call the 2nd floor, meaning that the ground floor is 0 and the floor above it is 1. This will be important to know if you are booking a room where there is no elevator (lift), as floor 3 will be your floor 4. Many old buildings do not have elevators, and many countries do not require them or only require them in new buildings over a certain number of floors. If you have mobility issues or you don’t want to haul your suitcase up several floors of spiral staircases, you might want to be sure that there is an elevator in the building. If you’re in a vacation rental, your host may or may not offer to carry some luggage up, but they will probably just grab one bag.
Remember what we said about the size of your luggage since rooms are small? Now think about the size of your luggage and if you want to carry it up any stairs…
Italian hotel staircase [stock photo]
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What Taxes & Fees to Expect for European Lodging
When you book a room and pay in advance in the United States, you are charged all taxes and fees, excluding incidentals. In Europe, you are charged most of the fees, but you do not pay the local tourism tax until you are either checking in or checking out. This fee is a nightly fee per person. There may be a variance in the fee based on the guests’ age. This is a nominal fee, and some hotels may require it to be paid in cash. This is important to know because the booking site you use may include that amount when you see the total, but then you may be charged less because that fee is still due.
Pro Tip: Look closely at the price of the room and which taxes and fees are included. Oftentimes, the standard taxes are included, and it may or may not show the price with the local tourism taxes. If it’s only a few nights, you may want to have cash on you to cover it or ask if you can pay it later so you can get cash. Hotels appreciate cash for this.
Identification Requirements When Checking Into European Lodging Of Any Kind
When you check into a hotel in the United States, you are usually asked for your identification, and they take down your name, DOB, and ID number or match it to your reservation. In Europe, they will often ask for identification for every traveler (this should be your passport). They will take a photo or a copy of everyone’s identification. This is perfectly normal (and is often required by law); it just feels weird the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this. They have to report all guests to local authorities.
Be prepared by having everyone’s passport handy upon check-in. Some hotels will tell you to pick it up later. They usually just need a few minutes to scan them all. It’s better for you to get into your room and go back to the front desk for it once they’ve had time to get what they need.
Conclusion
We hope these tips about what to expect when you book a hotel in Europe help you to move forward with confidence as you seek the perfect place to spend your holiday. As always, we would love to hear from you. If this post doesn’t answer your questions, send us an email or comment on this page. We’re happy to help.
Your Next Read:
How To Plan An International Trip
Ciao Bella! Navigating Italy by Train: Tips for Train Travel in Italy
Where To Stay In Florence, Italy By Neighborhood
-XO, The Twins
How can we help? We would love to hear your questions!
Contact us by email at thetwins@twicethetraveler.com
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FAQs about European hotel rooms
European hotels are required, by law, to report all guest identities to local authorities for safety reasons. It feels weird at first, but it’s perfectly normal. Europeans, not only foreigners, also have to produce identification (this can be their electronic identity card or their passport).
A double bed is generally two single beds pushed together. Occasionally the bed may actually be larger (comparable to a queen). They use this configuration to give them more flexibility in the same room. It’s also easier to get the smaller beds into the room rather than one large one.
The biggest differences in European hotels and American ones are the size of the room, bed types, climate control, and the check-in process. Rooms are smaller and tighter; the luxury is in the materials and amenities. Bed types are designed just to fit the number of people occupying a room (single for a single person, double for two people, which can be split into two singles, and so on). Temperature control is regulated to specified temperature ranges at specific times of the year.
Yes, but not always. Further north, you will find less air conditioning. More importantly, the temperature ranges are regulated for the season. Regulations are not the same everywhere, but a common one is 25-27ºC (77-80.5°F) in the summer (May-Sept 15). In the winter, the heating is also regulated from October to April to about 19-20°C (66-68°F).
It depends on the property. Older buildings might only have one set of keys for your room; if that’s the case,, they will certainly ask you to leave the key at the front desk when you leave. It’s not weird; they are just making sure the key doesn’t get lost. If you think about it, every hotel you stay at has access to your room anyway; don’t overthink this.
Some do, and some don’t. Always check the amenities list to be sure. Many historic buildings never had elevators, and there may not be anywhere to install one; furthermore, some historic buildings have to be preserved and can not add one. If the hotel only has stairs, they may offer to help with your bags, but don’t count on it unless you know they have a bellhop or porter service. Always consider the size of your luggage; do you really want to haul that giant suitcase up multiple flights of stairs? Some elevators are quite small too, just saying.
The additional fee is probably the local tourism tax. While you may have paid the ‘taxes and fees’ upfront, the local tax is excluded because the price is per person, per night. This ensures that the hotel charges you for exactly who is staying (price may vary by age in some regions). This fee can never be paid through 3rd-party booking sites; it is always paid directly to the hotel. Smaller hotels appreciate it if you pay this in cash.
Yes and no. They may use some of the same criteria, but in Europe it is regulated by the government or a regional body, creating a more standardized system. This is compared to the United States, where it is a private company like AAA that gives these designations.
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