Travel isn’t limited to people who have friends or relatives abroad. Visa Officers do not expect every visa applicant to know someone in the country they intend to visit.
People travel for various reasons. What you have read, heard, or seen about a country might have influenced your decision to visit and you don’t need to know someone before embarking on this journey
Most times we think only people with invitation letters can apply for visas to travel. NO! Such people have these letters because they either know someone in the country they are visiting or someone has accepted to host them. If you don’t have anyone to host you, you are left with no other choice but to live in a hotel.
However, making a hotel reservation to support your visa application can be very tricky. The little mistake could have your application refused or have the hotel charge you fees you haven’t budgeted for. Jetsanza.com has put together how you can make a hotel reservation to support your visa application.
The booking platform, Booking.com, provides a nice reservation confirmation that you can include in your visa application.
Apply well enough in advance
If you are applying for a visa with a hotel booking, do not wait to apply a few weeks or days to your trip. It’s advisable to put in your application two to three months in advance. In this case, the hotel won’t put pressure on you to confirm your reservation. Know that you are not supposed to pay for your reservation until your visa is issued. Hotels expect you to pay if your check-in date is closer. One reason you have to put in your application early.
Check the hotel’s cancellation policy
Because you don’t have to make payment for your reservation until you have been issued a visa, you have to check the hotel’s cancellation policy if your visa application is likely to be processed before the end of the free cancellation period. Hotels charge a fee, usually the first night, or even a full reservation if you don’t cancel your booking before a specified date.
Know your dates
You might have already made a flight reservation as part of your visa application. Check on the ticket to make sure that the arrival date corresponds with the hotel’s check-in date. You are likely to key in your departure date as a check-in date. Though you could be arriving the same day, reconfirm your flight reservation to make sure your arrival date is exactly as your check-in date at the hotel. Some embassies will request that you make changes while others will refuse your visa application right away for the mismatch.
You are encouraged to make a booking for the full days of your stay.
Consider the rate
Booking at any rate at all shows that you have different intentions for your trip and nothing shows that you will stay in the hotel. It’s fine if your financial status matches the selected hotel. Select a hotel within your budget. While searching for hotels, filter the results to show rates from LOW TO HIGH. Book what reasonably matches your financial status. Students are encouraged to stay in hostels when on a very low budget.
Note your selection
A male visa applicant was denied a visa because he booked a female dormitory. Crosscheck your selection to make sure you are reserving the right room.
Proximity and accessibility
As a traveler visiting a country you haven’t been to before, you are expected to have researched a lot about it. If you are traveling to see specific tourist attractions or attend an event, you are to book a hotel or hostel closer to these places. If it’s expensive to stay closer, check if the tourist sites or event venue is accessible from the chosen hotel.
Secure your booking
You are not supposed to pay for your booking since your trip is not yet confirmed until your visa is issued. You only have to secure your booking with a Visa or Mastercard. This serves as a guarantee that if you don’t cancel your booking before the specified cancellation period, they will have the means to charge you. Because you are applying early and have taken note of their cancellation policy, you won’t hesitate to provide your card details to secure your booking.
Book and Apply
After taking note of the above, go ahead and make your reservation. Provide correct contact details including email address so as not to miss important correspondence from the hotel. Print the reservation and include it in your application. Make sure your name appears on the confirmation. When completing the visa forms, your address in the country you are visiting is the address of the hotel. Provide the hotel’s contact details as your contact details abroad.
What next?
If your visa application comes out successful, revisit your hotel reservation to see if you are still traveling on selected dates, and make necessary changes if any. Remember to travel with a copy of the booking confirmation as authorities at various airports may want to see it. You may also need it to locate the hotel.
If your application is denied, cancel your hotel booking immediately to avoid charges.
Start making your hotel bookings by clicking on Booking.com, and feel free to contact us if you have difficulties.
Still have some travel questions? Ask in our Travel WhatsApp Group.
