
When applying for a Schengen visa, it's common and
often advisable to provide hotel
reservations (also called dummy bookings or proof of
accommodation) instead of making actual, paid hotel bookings.
Here are the main reasons why hotel
reservations are preferred over actual bookings:
Financial Loss in the Event of a Schengen
Visa Rejection
In the event of a visa rejection or processing delay,
applicants may incur substantial financial losses—especially if they have
prepaid for non-refundable hotel accommodations. This risk is particularly
relevant for Schengen visas, which often require applicants to provide hotel
reservations covering the full duration of their intended stay.
At a minimum, you may choose to make confirmed hotel
reservations for one week and then use Schengen Visa Itinerary
to generate provisional bookings for the remainder of your stay.
A Visa Is Granted Solely for the Duration
of Your Hotel Reservations
While the Schengen visa allows a maximum stay of 90
days, it is not automatically granted for the full duration. The validity of
your visa typically depends on the number of days for which you provide proof
of accommodation.
For example, if you submit hotel reservations covering
10 days, your visa will likely be issued for that same 10-day period.
To ensure greater flexibility in your travel plans, it
is advisable to include an additional three days before and after your intended
travel dates.
Inflexibility in Altering Your Travel
Arrangements
By prearranging all of your hotel reservations, you
are compelled to follow your initial itinerary. For instance, if you decide to
extend your stay in France by an additional two days, you may be unable to do
so because you have already paid for your existing hotel reservation.
It is advisable for a traveler to initially reserve
accommodations for three days and then make additional bookings on a day-by-day
basis.
Minimize Your Evidence of Financial
Sustenance
When embarking on international travel, it is
necessary to provide evidence of financial capacity, such as bank statements,
to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself throughout
your trip. For instance, in order to obtain a Schengen visa, it is necessary to
possess a minimum of 80 EUR every day for the duration of the stay.
However, if you prearrange all of your hotel
reservations, you may not be able to present them as acceptable proof, which
could lead to a visa denial.
It is more prudent to make provisional hotel
reservations for visa purposes and finalize actual bookings only after
obtaining the visa.
Avoiding Scams and Getting Professional
Help
To avoid scams when making a dummy hotel
reservation, we recommend using Schengen Visa Itinerary
to book a hotel without making full payment.
These services also provide flight
reservations and affordable travel
insurance to help fulfill your visa requirements.
Important Tip
Always check the specific requirements of the embassy
or consulate you are applying to, as some may:
• Require fully refundable bookings
• Accept dummy bookings or reservation
confirmations
• Insist on bookings that can be verified online or
via phone











