That friend who told me to just 'sleep on it' before booking hostels

My buddy Dave kept saying I should wait 24 hours before pressing book on any accommodation. I always thought he was overthinking it, like just grab the deal right? But last month in Lisbon I almost dropped $80 on a room in Alfama that looked perfect in photos. I waited like he said, woke up the next morning and realized the reviews mentioned street noise until 3am from the clubs below. Dave was totally right, I would have been miserable. Has anyone else had a friend's travel advice that sounded dumb but actually saved you?

2 comments

2 Comments

joelwells11d ago

Sleep on it" sounds like some cheesy life coach stuff, but your buddy Dave was onto something. I've learned the hard way that the deals that seem too good to be true usually have a catch that only shows up after you've had a full night's rest and some coffee to clear your head. Now I make it a rule to never book anything past 9pm, especially if I've been drinking or just got off a long flight. Your Alfama story is a classic example - those reviews about noise are always buried in the fine print, and you'll never catch them when you're excited about the price.

lucaslee11d ago

Nah, I gotta disagree a bit. Sometimes that late night impulse actually works out, my best finds have been random 2am bookings that ended up being gems.