â Step 1: The Google Maps Reality Check
Before you fall in love with the photos, copy the hotelâs exact address and paste it into Google Maps.
That 30-second move has saved me more than once. If the pin drops in the wrong lane, or the name on Maps doesnât match the Booking.com listing, youâve just dodged a bullet. I once found a â4-star hotelâ that turned out to be a furniture warehouse on satellite view. Imagine showing up there at midnight with luggage!
Lesson: If the location doesnât check out, close the tab. Immediately.
â Step 2: Photo Forensics
Once the address seems fine, itâs time to go CSI mode.
Do a reverse image search â if that âexclusive suiteâ is actually from a Bali resortâs gallery, scam exposed.
Scroll through all the photos â do they look like theyâre from one property, or a random mash-up?
Be suspicious of close-ups of towels, cushions, or lamps. Thatâs often a trick to hide tiny, dingy rooms.
Lesson: Real hotels show real spaces. Scammers hide behind pretty props.
â Step 3: The Communication Test
Hereâs where the fakes really crumble.
I always try two things:
- Call the property â a genuine hotel picks up 24/7, especially near the airport.
- Send a Booking.com message â ask something specific like, âHow far are you from Aerocity Metro?â
A scammy listing will either ghost you or reply with vague nonsense like âgood hotel, near airport.â A real one will tell you â7 minutes by cab, 24-hour front desk, pickup âš300 extra.â Night and day difference.
Lesson: Real hotels talk like professionals. Fakes talk like bots.
â Step 4: The Price Trap
Delhi has budget hotels, but itâs not Wonderland.
A real Aerocity or airport-adjacent hotel runs around âš2,000ââš4,000 per night. If you see âluxury suite with spa and free pickupâ for âš800, donât clap â run.
Also check across platforms. If one site shows it at half the price of all the others, somethingâs fishy.
Lesson: Too cheap = too risky.
â Step 5: The Review Deep Dive
This is where you turn detective again.
Forget the average rating. Go straight to the most recent reviews from the last 2â3 months. Look for details like âAC wasnât workingâ or âhotel not at location.â Thatâs the truth.
Pro move: filter reviews by lowest rating first. Those 1â comments are pure gold. And if you see multiple reviews posted on the same day with copy-paste âgreat stay, nice staffâ vibes⌠thatâs fake review central.
Lesson: Read the bad reviews first. They save your trip.
â Step 6: Spot the Green Flags
Real hotels leave a trail:
- They have a working official website
- Their Google Maps profile has photos uploaded by actual guests
- Their name is consistent over the years (not âpreviously known asâ)
- They show up on Street View as an actual building
- And the big one? Theyâll actually answer the phone at 2am when your flightâs delayed.
Lesson: Real hotels are easy to verify. Scams vanish under the spotlight.
đ¨ What If You Still Get Scammed?
It happens. You arrive, and the place is nothing like the listing. Hereâs what you do:
Donât check in. Document everything â photos, videos, screenshots. Call Booking.comâs 24/7 line immediately. Demand a refund or alternative stay. And then leave an honest review to warn others.
đĄ My Pro Delhi Booking Advice
Stick to established areas like Aerocity, Connaught Place, or big chains like JW Marriott, Radisson, Ibis, Lemon Tree. And if youâre after a boutique but reliable option, Aerocity has trusted stays like Hotel Aerocity Purple Orchid â close to IGI, verified on Google Maps, with transparent rates and real reviews.
đŹ The Bottom Line
Delhiâs chaos is half the fun â but fake hotels donât need to be part of the adventure. Do the detective work, step by step, before hitting âBook Now.â
Because nothing kills the buzz of your India trip faster than wandering Mahipalpur at midnight, suitcase in hand, realizing your âhotelâ doesnât exist.
Stay sharp, travel safe, and remember: real hotels have nothing to hide â fakes collapse under the simplest checks.
đŁď¸ Real Traveler Story: Why I Chose Hotel Aerocity Purple Orchid
âBy the time I checked into Hotel Aerocity Purple Orchid, it was actually the fourth hotel I tried in Delhi. The first one? The address didnât even match when I got there. The second? Looked nothing like the glossy photos on OTAs â theyâd just stolen images from somewhere else. The third? They replied to my emails and phone calls for weeks, but when I finally arrived⌠the property didnât even exist. Honestly, I was exhausted, frustrated, and almost ready to sleep at the airport. Finally, I found Hotel Purple Orchid â real building, real rooms, real people. Clean, responsive, and exactly as shown online. I canât tell you what a relief that was.â
đ Where to Stay â Our Recommended Choice
For a blend of convenience, comfort, and value, we highly recommend Hotel Aerocity Purple Orchid
- đ Only ~10 minutes by car from IGI Airport via Aerocity/NH8.
- đ A short walk to the Aerocity Metro station â fast, predictable access to the expo venue.
- đ Comfortable budget-friendly rooms â handcrafted beds, rain showers, high-speed Wi-Fi, and HDTV.
- â° 24/7 front desk + optional airport pickup, drop, or group transfers.
- đ´ On-site dining & nearby food hubs â convenient for long expo days.
- đź Business-friendly setup â workspace, tea/coffee on request, quiet and efficient environment.
â Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a Delhi hotel?
Google Maps + Street View + calling the property. If they fail those, itâs fake.
Are Aerocity hotels safe?
Yes. Aerocity is the official hotel zone near IGI with verified properties including Hotel Aerocity Purple Orchid.
Whatâs a fair nightly rate?
âš2000ââš4000 near Delhi Airport. Too cheap usually means too risky.
What if my booked hotel is fake?
Donât check in. Collect proof, call Booking.com, demand refund/relocation, and leave an honest review.
Also Check our Delhi Attractions Blog Series
Planning your Delhi itinerary? Explore more iconic spots from our series: