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fantasy vs reality

These hotels look nothing like the photos they post on their websites

Sometimes they’re not quite as spectacular in real life as the hotels would like you to think…

HOTELS AREN’T ALWAYS completely honest when it comes to the photos they post on their websites.

Professional reviewers from the hotel review website Oyster visited vacation properties around the world, and the photos they took didn’t quite match up with the online fantasy.

If you’re thinking of booking a warm getaway to escape the bitter winter cold, let these “photo fakeouts” serve as a cautionary tale against relying solely on hotels’ marketing materials.

Some are so egregious, you’ll think you are looking at pictures of two completely different properties.

FANTASY: Guest at the Sandals Carlyle Inn can relax on cozy lounge chairs on a beautiful white sand beach.

Sandals Carlyle Inn Sandals Carlyle Inn

REALITY: The beach is actually a tiny patch of sand right off a busy street

Oyster Oyster

FANTASY: At Maca Bana in Grenada, you can sip cocktails by a gorgeous pool and soak in the incredible views

Maca Bana Maca Bana

REALITY: The tiny pool is more like the size of a bathtub

Oyster Oyster

FANTASY: The AVA Hotel Athens has an incredible balcony looking right up onto the Acropolis

Ava athens hotel Ava athens hotel

REALITY: It’s not actually that close

Oyster Oyster

FANTASY: The Comfort Suites near Williamsburg, Virginia seems to have a spacious gym

Comfort Suites Bypass Comfort Suites Bypass

REALITY: The gym is actually a bit claustrophobic

Oyster Oyster

FANTASY: Live an urban dream at the Hudson Hotel in New York

Hudson Hotel Hudson Hotel

REALITY: An impossibly small living space

Oyster Oyster

FANTASY: Take a romantic nighttime dip at the Los Angeles Sofitel

Sofitel Los Angeles Sofitel Los Angeles

REALITY: Because you’ll be basking in the shadow of a Macy’s in the daytime…

Oyster Oyster

- Julie Zeveloff and Asta Thrastardottir

Read: It is about to get a whole lot more expensive to stay in Dublin hotels>

Read: Some Japanese hoteliers with an unusual staff policy have bought Charlie Haughey’s mansion>

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