18 photos that show why you should never trust the pictures hotels post online

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18 photos that show why you should never trust the pictures hotels post online

Sofitel Los Angeles

Sofitel Los Angeles/Facebook/Marquita T./Yelp

There are a few photography tricks that can deceive the eye.

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  • Hotels and resorts tend to publish photos of their biggest hotel rooms and empty, paradise-like pools.
  • Review sites such as Yelp and Foursquare can tell a different - and sometimes more accurate - account of what it's like to stay at a hotel.
  • From London to Las Vegas, here are some of the most shocking fantasy vs. reality photos.

When booking a hotel for your next trip, you might think you know what you're getting by looking at the hotel's website and social media.

But traveler beware - every company wants to put their best face forward.

From making hotel rooms and swimming pools look bigger than they actually are, to adding props to a hotel room during a photo shoot, there are a few photography tricks that can deceive the eye. In many cases, they're fooling the potential customer and making the space look a whole lot more glamorous than it actually is.

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Review sites such as Yelp and Foursquare can sometimes be a more reliable source of what a hotel room or pool might be like. Whether it's smaller, more cramped, crowded, or dimly lit, the reviewers have little reason to try to make a room or accommodation something that it's not.

Below, a collection of photos from hotels that have posted some wonderful photos of their space - but didn't quite accurately capture what it might be like during a typical stay.

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What you expect: From this view the pool at the Blue Moon Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, looks like it potentially could be pretty large and inviting.

What you expect: From this view the pool at the Blue Moon Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, looks like it potentially could be pretty large and inviting.

What you get: Once you see the whole thing, its size might not suffice.

What you get: Once you see the whole thing, its size might not suffice.
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What you expect: The Hotel Gran Palace in Santiago, Chile, looks like a spacious, warm room.

What you expect: The Hotel Gran Palace in Santiago, Chile, looks like a spacious, warm room.

What you get: Be sure you book the right one, otherwise you might get a smaller space.

What you get: Be sure you book the right one, otherwise you might get a smaller space.
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What you expect: A double twin bed room at The Hanover Hotel Victoria, in London, looks big enough...

What you expect: A double twin bed room at The Hanover Hotel Victoria, in London, looks big enough...

What you get: Add one other person and a suitcase and it's close quarters.

What you get: Add one other person and a suitcase and it's close quarters.
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What you expect: The pool at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills looks pretty great from this view...

What you expect: The pool at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills looks pretty great from this view...

What you get: Once it's filled with people, it becomes cramped quickly. And it's right near a busy street.

What you get: Once it's filled with people, it becomes cramped quickly. And it's right near a busy street.
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What you expect: The Empire Hotel in New York City makes getting ready for an event look glamourous.

What you expect: The Empire Hotel in New York City makes getting ready for an event look glamourous.

What you get: But many users on Yelp have complained about the bathrooms — and their lack of ventilation or tubs.

What you get: But many users on Yelp have complained about the bathrooms — and their lack of ventilation or tubs.
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What you expect: The Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas looks like a ton of fun without all the people.

What you expect: The Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas looks like a ton of fun without all the people.

What you get: But of course, you have to share the space with others.

What you get: But of course, you have to share the space with others.
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What you expect: This waterfront pool at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami, Florida, looks spacious and very close to the water.

What you expect: This waterfront pool at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami, Florida, looks spacious and very close to the water.

What you get: From an aerial view, you can see it's neither of those things.

What you get: From an aerial view, you can see it's neither of those things.
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What you expect: The living area inside a Hudson Hotel room in New York City makes the room look large.

What you expect: The living area inside a Hudson Hotel room in New York City makes the room look large.

What you get: But once you see the whole room, you realize it takes up most of the space.

What you get: But once you see the whole room, you realize it takes up most of the space.
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What you expect: Props can add a lot of color to an otherwise drab hotel room — such as this one at Ayres Hotel in Chino Hills, California.

What you expect: Props can add a lot of color to an otherwise drab hotel room — such as this one at Ayres Hotel in Chino Hills, California.

What you get: Without the decor, the room looks rather bleak.

What you get: Without the decor, the room looks rather bleak.
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