10 Hotel Secrets Most People Don’t Know About, Revealed By A Former Employee

Wow, I can't even count how many times I've been told my room number verbally

An excellent idea. Security at all costs.

I've stayed in hotels all around the world and this has NEVER happened to me. They tell me my room number and instructions on how to get there. Must be an American 'law.'

well, I have heard many receptionists say out loud a room number with others around and will even mention the floor etc..

In my state it isn't a law. Just common sense.

I don't travel very often, but when I do, I always (politely) ask if there are upgraded rooms available, and that I don't mind paying for them. 9 times out of 10, when an upgrade is available, they don't charge me for it.

We had this at the Athenaeum last year. I think they weren't very full in September during Covid!

Give a generous tip when checking in and they'll do most of the time without asking.

I have turned up late to a hotel before without booking. Asked politely and got the room for a knock down price because it wouldn't have sold otherwise.

We got a breakfast bag from our hotel in Egypt as we were leaving for an excursion. Pastries, juice box, and a whole raw courgette. Still not sure what they expected us to do with it...

This is how I discovered I love breakfast pizza.

yes. Ask for a breakfast box if breakfast is included. You do need to ask the night before for them to get it ready for you to go

This is not a secret. I asked for "breakfast" package many times.

In the week before Christmas I did a tech job at a certain motel chain and they gave me one of their bagged lunches and a coffee for my onward journey... it was much appreciated.

So I should sleep freezing because there is nothing left to cover myself with? I am not sure I get that one.

Wait - are we talking about the duvet covers or the duvet itself?

This isn't true for all hotels. The brand I worked for they were changed at every check out. If the guest started more than one day out was done every 2-3 days. Now if the bed sorry has flowers printed or is a solid dark color those are only washed once our twice a year to save it from fading

Why are people so paranoid about hygiene? Of course the duvet or the comforter is not washed after every guest, why should it be? You also do not deep clean the carpet after every guest! As long as the sheets have been changed everything is fine. Laying on it when you walk into the room (fully dressed) is "freaking gross?" Girl, did you ever sit on a park bench? Have you used public transport? Petted an animal? I do not need the whole world sanitised for me, thank you very much.

That seems like BS. I lived in two start hotel in London, sheets were changed daily and every few days I saw big pile of bags with them collected/returned by laundry company.

"I would not recommend drinking from those glasses..." Glasses can be washed.

As tacky as it might look, I can appreciate the wrapped and sealed individual disposable cups offered by the lower-end chains for just this reason. I always reuse them myself during my stay in order to reduce waste.

We almost always bring large coffee mugs from home with us. Most hotel coffee mugs are laughably small.

I always wash them before using, by experience i know they're kind of wash when the room is being cleaned but are dried with dirty pillow pouch or linen sheet from the room when those are being changed.

Cheap hotels I've been in often come with individually wrapped plastic cups. I don't like the plastic waste, but at least the cups are clean.

Not entirely true. Lot of places sell most of their rooms through third party like the Bookin. This kind of place is dependant on good reviews, so they will do their best to offer the guest with what they booked. Also, sometimes the third party offers cheeper prices than the accomodation facility itself. I'm a former hostel / hotel worker.

I have witnessed this many times. Guest - "I have the confirmation through the budget site." Hotel clerk-"We never received that reservation and we are fully booked" then guest gets mad and the clerk can only say "You need to call the site and work with them" which never goes over well. I always book through the hotel.

the third party sites are a great way to learn about availability and rates, but then go to the hotel site or call them to actually book

that is not true. We are obligated to provide the room type booked. But sometimes the third party puts up a rate for a run-of-house room which means anything that is available. Bed requests are then also subject to availability when it's requested. For direct bookings we can block the rooms immediately, for 3rd party we need to wait for the booking confirmation to come in.

And they might not tell you, just hand you a key. My daughter boked a suite for the night before her wedding. The place was gonna be ful the next day with bridesmaids, photographer, videographer, hair and makeup, and sundry assistants. It was only when we reached the door, that we found ourselves in a single room. It took a lot of sweet talking to get the suite she'd paid for.

you do realize people walk barefoot outside and on the beach and in the park. I doubt they are worried about the vacuumed carpet

Again: do you LICK the carpet? No? So f*****g WHAT? We used to walk barefoot through friggin' FORESTS, but nowadays we (well, some of "us") are scared to walk on a carpet that other people have walked on before.

Goes to show that it is not actually anything to worry about.

I caught athlete's foot in a hotel because I didn't knwo about it. A really fancy one, too. I hoenstly prefer laminate floors or tiles. Less comfy but less gross, too.

Always bring sandals. Good for getting in and out of the shower, and/or walking around the room, sans shoes.