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It seems like you never sleep as well as you do in your bed, but some hotels get pretty darn close with what they offer. However, in between counting sheep, some of us still have that nagging feeling that something might be off. Whether it’s some paranoia about when the sheets were last cleaned or if the glasses have been washed, odds are that many of you Pandas have worried about (real and metaphorical) bed bugs before.
Well, today, we’re featuring some great tips to keep in mind during your next stay away from home, as shared by current and former hotel industry workers in these two r/AskReddit threads right here and over here. They revealed some of the biggest red flags to look out for, spilled the tea about some great hotel hacks, and even hinted at some secrets that are definitely useful for guests to know.
As you’re scrolling down, remember to upvote the posts that you found the most useful, Pandas. When you’re done, tell us about the best and worst hotel stays you’ve ever had. And if you’ve got any fun or useful hotel tips and tricks to share with the crowd, go right ahead. After all, everyone deserves to sleep as soundly as they do in their beds.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I used to work in a hotel kitchen preparing and cleaning after the breakfast buffet.
Tip 1: If there is anything missing or anything extra you would like, I`d be happy to bring it to you. As long as you ask for it nicely and respect that it might take some time if its really busy. If you are demanding anything, or being rude, I will probably claim that we`re out, and ignore the dirty plates on your table until you leave.
Tip 2: if you have any allergies, don`t eat the food in the buffet, most guests are pigs, and will use the same serving spoon in different dishes. I usually prepared special plates using unopened food for people with allergies, they usually got a bit extra too.
Tip 3: Even though I`m paid to be there, it does not mean I`m your personal slave, there are 200 other guests to take care of too, and my pay is not high enough to for me to care about your special needs.
One more thing, kids..While I`m working I don`t give a s**t about your kids. I do not think its cute when people`s barefooted kids are left to roam around the dining room or kitchen, bumping into me while I`m carrying boiling water or sharp knives. I will not watch them, I`m a stranger and you should not trust me.
$cagsy 3 years ago
I grew up in a pub and worked for years in hospitality. Some parents treat pubs, restaurants and hotels as if paedophiles don't ever drink, eat or go on holiday. Monitor your offspring because somebody else might be.
Andrei Caldararu 3 years ago
I don't get why the last paragraph still needs to be said to some people
Fall F. 3 years ago
I'm just confused, how are getting children or any guest in the kitchen? Not even the wait-staff is allowed in, especially, when is service-time.
ace axolotl (she/her) 3 years ago
i have nut and seed allergies (they're really bad), and i always need to check what dishes are next to each other at a buffet. tip for people with allergies eating at buffets- inquire about your allergies and don't eat food that's next to things you're allergic to.
Carie Bosch Thompson 3 years ago
To the people who don't understand the last one: you are the reason the world is the way it is!!!!!!
Cathy Hurd 3 years ago
I'm always horrified when I see children running loose or climbing onto tables in restaurants. I've actually gotten up and left.
Christina Gomez 3 years ago
Why the h-e-double hockey sticks do people think that staff anywhere is free childcare?
RELATED:
#2
I used to be hotel valet. The people that tip the most are the ones driving regular cars, not the nice Porche.
The Silly Stellar Jay 3 years ago
Probably cause people with regular cars know what it is to work a service job and respect the hustle.
Sandra Givens 3 years ago
This was my husband's tipping philosophy. He had worked a lot of service jobs before he managed to work his way through nursing school to become an RN. Always tipped!
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Seonag Udell 3 years ago
My mum told me that during live aid 1985 that there were people collecting money for it by a road. The people with expensive care drove straight past. It was the people in normal or old cars that stoped to give as much as they could spare. Rich people stay rich by not sharing it with others.
Selma Ferris 3 years ago
Maybe rich regarding status and wealth, but possibly poor in meaningful relationships with people and in making a real difference in this world.
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
The funny thing about that is the the person driving the expensive sports car is trying to impress everyone, so you’d think they’d continue that charade by also being a big tipper. Then again, I’ve known people like that who drive a car they really can’t afford, and live way beyond their means, so don’t have the money to tip big—-all style with absolutely NO substance.
FreshGanesh 3 years ago
It’s always the folks that either aren’t accustomed to travel or those for which their trip is a lifelong goal or bucket list who tip the best. The regulars who throw money down for overpriced wine & champagne because of brand are the absolute worst.
Aldana Páez 3 years ago (edited)
My dad is a waiter, so he usually tips well whenever we go to a restaurant.
Samantha Mannion 3 years ago
This seems to be a common things for tipping anywhere... I get more tips from.others in the working class than from.people that have more than they can do with...
Paul Davis 3 years ago
That's just true of rich people all around. Tend to become sociopathic. The really rich ones think if you need money why aren't you asking your wealthy parents for more???
JR_4755826 3 years ago
I often see the richest looking people being the ones holding up lines with bill charge disputes or asking for some kind of discount.
#3
Ask the hotel to remove such fees as Wifi, newspaper, gym and pool. These are often included but they will remove if requested.
Also, if you need to cancel but are too close to reservation date call and change to a date a few months out. There's usually no charge for this. Then, call back and cancel that reservation.
Ali H M Salehuddin 3 years ago
Escaped Bored Panda censor algorithm. Now proudly displayed in article masterhead.
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Tim Fountain 3 years ago
Newspapers? What century are we in? I haven't seen a newspaper in 10 years in a hotel. And the WIF, gym and pool ad included, and so I've never seen them deducted. What's next? "I didn't take a dump, only #1's, so no need to deep clean the bowl, please remove that cleaning charge!" Or how about "I only slept on half the bed, so I need a discount". It just doesn't work that way....
rn42 3 years ago
You'd be surprised what some unscrupulous hotel are willing to unbundle into various "resort fees" and similar b******t just to appear better positioned in search engines
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Laurie Hanson 3 years ago
Yes we can forward the date, but it will be tagged. If you cancel even within time frame you will be charged the original fee.
Juan Ghote 3 years ago
What country / countries - Needs context. I looked at the reddit links and there's little reference.
Mandy Delaforce (PC Girl) 3 years ago
I like the second suggestion, but the first one wouldn't work for 99% of the hotels around here
Bored Panda previously spoke about the hotel industry and hoteliers, and what makes hotels stand out from the crowd, with Dr. Gabor Forgacs from Ryerson University.
He was very candid that being unique is a pretty complex thing and hoteliers have to “master a lot of moving parts in order to achieve that distinction.” He stressed that alongside all of the physical questions like the locations, size, architecture, design, and furniture, all of the “intangibles need to fall into place seamlessly.” And that’s a tall order to fill.
“The colors, sounds, scents plus the ambiance are all perfectly lined up: what background music is playing, what designer aroma is in the air and have toiletries scented with; the choice of fabric for carpet, curtains and upholstery; the tone and level of voice of staff as they greet guests and communicate without judging requests or behaviors, etc.,” the professor explained just some of the things that hotel owners have to keep in mind when it comes to providing a top-notch experience for guests.
#4
A front desk employee here. If we are at low occupancy at my hotel, we will often upgrade, if requested. But don't be a d**k about it.
Do: "Is it possible to have an upgrade?"
Don't: "Hey hook me up with the Prez suite! Haha JUST KIDDING. But, no, really, is there an upgrade for free?"
Often times, if you are just really nice to the front desk... without saying anything we will upgrade you.
Also, don't be afraid to ask for extra tolietries, towels, linens, or coffee. We don't care how much you take, all you have to do is ask.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. Being an a*****e doesn’t make you look more important, it just makes you look like an a*****e.
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Gary Davidson 3 years ago
I once checked into a hotel in Winnipeg where I stayed one time previously. The girl at the front desk said, "We have an upgrade for you." I replied, "Wow, I've only stayed here once before." She said, "Yes, I know. We remember you because you were so nice last time.". They gave me their "Presidential suite", and I was shocked. The room had 2-story, floor-to ceiling windows, heated marble floors in the bathroom, a jacuzzi tub, a huge walk-in shower with marble bench, a full kitchen, and was nearly the same square footage as my own house. :o
Isabelle Lamarque 3 years ago
Went with 5 on holiday in Turkey and we're excited and super grateful when they told us our rooms were close to each other, apparently that was enough for them to bump us up to a presidential suite with straight access from the terras to the pool. Suuuuch an amazing holiday 🤩😄
Lisa Owen 3 years ago
Hmm. I was just recently at a Hilton hotel in Portland, Oregon. They charged for literally EVERYTHING. Asked for 4 extra towels and 2 extra blankets . Next morning get an alert from my card that they charged $56 to allow us to use , not keep, their towels and blankets!
Lily Francis 3 years ago
You should have disputed the charges especially if they didn't inform you that you were going to be charged for use of the items! If it hasn't been too long you might still be able to dispute those charges through your bank or credit card company. Just let them know you weren't informed that you would be charged for those services. They're supposed to tell you if they're going to charge you for a service fee unless it was in writing.
Load More Replies... Lisa Owen 3 years ago
Hmm. I was just recently at a Hilton hotel in Portland, Oregon. They charged for literally EVERYTHING. Asked for 4 extra towels and 2 extra blankets . Next morning get an alert from my card that they charged $56 to allow us to use , not keep, their sh!tty towels and blankets ! NEVERMIND the room was $300 a night !
Lily Francis 3 years ago
I just replied to your post earlier, I guess you can disregard it now. But keep it mind for future reference.
Load More Replies... #5
You're not the first person to sit naked on that chair.
Commander Ducky 3 years ago
I'll sit naked on my toilet seat. But only that .
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Brenda 3 years ago
I always take disinfectant spray & wipes, as well as bed bug spray (after a friend got them from a hotel).
Sandra Givens 3 years ago
Bedbugs are very hard to kill. I check the beds before we settle in, pulling up the edges of the sheets and checking in the seams of the mattresses and folds of the dust ruffles. Any sign of them, ask for another room and tell the desk why.
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Sandra Givens 3 years ago
Lysol spray is your friend when staying in hotels. I hit the upholstered furniture, phone, and TV clicker with it. I have, on occasions when the chairs looked iffy, put a clean dry towel on the seat.
Denise Painter 3 years ago
My SIL used to be the concierge in a nice hotel. When she travels she takes all of her own linens, strips the beds of the hotel linens, checks for bedbugs by winding sticky tape around her hand then going over the mattress seams with it, especially the seams touching the headboard or wall. Then she makes the bed up with her own linens and blankets. She has only found bedbugs once, in Daytona, but since she knows what she is doing, I now do the same. Forgetting about it is not an option for me, and it wouldn't be for anyone else if they have ever known someone who has been through a bedbug treatment on their home. Bedbug sprays DO NOT WORK. My friend spent thousands getting them out of her home.
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Lori Rogers 3 years ago
ALWAYS ask (nicely) for extra towels to lay on chairs and take sanitary wipes for all surfaces.
#6
The thinness of the sheets and roughness of the towels from being washed too many times. My family has owned two hotels since the 60's and about every decade we hire some consultant to come and tell us what we are doing wrong because we aren't managing owners. Without fail every single one will tell us we are scrapping our worn linens too early, that we can get another six months out of them and without fail it is the one piece of advice we always ignore. We did a cost analysis and it is worth the cost of having happy guests rather than saving a marginal amount by having sheets you can read a newspaper through or towels scratchy enough to sand paint.
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
I'm 6'1", so I buy beach towel size for my bath towels at home. When traveling, I miss them.
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Kay Phillips 3 years ago
I HATE the soft hotel towels. Give me the rough ones any time of the day
Seabeast 3 years ago
Whatever happened to Calgon? I used to add that to my laundry to soften things, but I haven't seen it in years.
Alana Voeks 3 years ago
Look into longer towels too, but keep them in the back. People with long hair, like me, will greatly appreciate it
Julia Nein 3 years ago
I actually love rough towels. They dry better and have a nice feeling to them
“Great hotels provide intuitive and highly personalized service, which cannot be done over 250 rooms capacity. If a guest meets 3-5 different faces behind the front desk each time versus always the same two, that makes a huge difference. You can only do this if your hotel is not larger than that,” Dr. Gorgacs said.
According to the hotel industry specialist, the main reasons why guests return to hotels are good memories of the place. In other words, if the service and stay were extraordinary, the loyalty of the customer is almost assured.
Dr. Forgacs told Bored Panda that it’s not just about gold-plated door knobs or extra skirt hangers in the closet. “The best memories are created through interaction with people. If service excellence exceeds expectations, guests always remember that,” he said.
#7
If you need a phone charger go to the front desk and say you lost yours, they have a box full of them from past visitors.
MikeMaxis 3 years ago
But you still need a charger, people will always loose theirs, no sense in them piling up at the front desk
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Glasia van Duivels 3 years ago
They won't even check if you just steal by abusing the lost items box
survivalrhino 3 years ago
I disagree with Dr. Forgnacs-- I stay at the same hotels because of proximity to job sites
Lenka Smetanová 3 years ago
I work at front desk... we do not have box full of them... We have one for borrowing and returning back.
#8
Don't put a Do Not Disturb sign on your door all day and then expect your room to be cleaned after 3pm when all the housekeepers are gone. Front desk workers are not housekeepers, sorry!
St34mpunk_Pirate 3 years ago
Yes well, sadly many people are lacking both common sense and courtesy nowadays
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Kathy Loman 3 years ago
I don't want housekeeping when I stay in a hotel. I'm not a pig and make sure everything is easier on whoever cleans it when I leave.
Lily Francis 3 years ago
Me too. I put all dirty towels and linens by the tub, yes I strip the bed, put all garbage in one bag and have the room wiped down and ready before I leave it. I was raised this way and I still tip housekeeping. But I don't like others in my room when I'm not present as I prefer my privacy. I once entered my room while staying in Las Vegas and found housekeeping going through my things and that was the last time I allowed anyone to enter my room when I wasn't present. I felt bad but I reported the person and she was fired on the spot but I didn't want that happening to someone else so I couldn't let it go even though she begged me and said she'd never do it again. I couldn't trust she wouldn't, so I called security and they fired her in front of me. I don't allow them to clean my room unless I'm there. I don't let anyone else clean my house either, just the way I am.
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Just me, myself, and I 3 years ago
Wish I could upvote Up's comment a dozen times!
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Nightshade1972 3 years ago
During my MIL's final illness before she passed, we were staying in a hotel. We'd leave the room in the morning, remove the DND sign, yet when we'd get back at night it was obvious our room hadn't been cleaned. This went on almost all week. Finally, I managed to get the attention of one of the housekeepers just as we were leaving the room in the morning. I politely asked her to clean our room, as nobody had touched it all week. She very snarkily implied that was our fault for "not removing" the DND sign. I looked her in the eye, told her I'm not stupid, that my wife and I have stayed in plenty of hotels plenty of times, and we never kept the DND sign on the door when we left. "Oh." Her attitude did a complete 180, and at least this time she did actually clean our room.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
If I stay for several days in a hotel, I make my own bed and hang up my own towels—-and out the DND sign out. Making my bed and straightening up in the morning are longtime habits of mine, and I just cannot leave a bed unmade and wet towels on the floor. The sign comes off the day I check out—-with the sheets off the bed and in a dirty wash pile with the towels. There’s also a nice tip and a thank you note left for the housekeeper. If I end up returning to the same hotel, being nice to the staff like that means I’m remembered and they’ll be just as nice to me. I’ve worked in service industries like hotel front offices and rental car agencies in the past, and remember how we’d go the extra mile for return customers who were always so nice and a real delight to see. You don’t have to make a big show of being nice, to draw attention to yourself either. That kind of like those people who do something just normally considered nice, then immediately post it on social media, to bring attention to themselves and be complimented for it. That’s not sincere. You can be just low key nice and polite without wanting to be noticed for it, and it will still be noticed and appreciated—-even more than the person only doing it for attention.)
Lily Francis 3 years ago
Just FYI, if you know anyone that's allergic to dust mites, as I'm extremely allergic to them and I NEVER make my bed even though it really bothers me, making your bed attracts dust mites and becomes a breeding ground for them. I would rather have a messy bed than deal with my allergy to dust mites! Another reason I don't like housekeeping service in my room. If you know anyone with this allergy you might want to let them know, it's been a game changer for me! I still hate a messy bed but the relief is worth it 10 fold!
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Mirabelle Skyrim 3 years ago
I've worked in two different hotels and the cleaning staff usually worked from 7 am to 3 pm. Before noon, focus will be on cleaning the departure rooms, after noon cleaning the rooms of those who are staying another night.
survivalrhino 3 years ago
Flip side-- don't come barging in when I have the damned do not disturb sign on. I worked all night. I change my sheets once a week at home, don't need more at a hotel.
Hollers 3 years ago
Former housekeeper here! DO NOT have your Do Not Disturb sign on your door all morning, then call wondering why your room wasn’t cleaned!! All it does is upset management and stress the f*ck out of your housekeeper! Also PLEASE do not leave a literal disaster zone behind! I realize it’s “our job” to clean rooms, but be reasonable! At my hotel, we got one hour per room to clean. That is not enough time if you decide to leave literal sh*t on the bed, or leave a freaking murder scene! (Seriously. We have horror stories.) How would you feel if you had a guest come to your home and left your spare room like a tornado came through? Please be reasonable and f*cking TIP if you’re gonna put us through hell and overtime!
Isabelle Lamarque 3 years ago
We were leaving our room and we're hanging up the don't disturb sign and the ladies were confused because we told them it was a bit messy and didn't want them to have to clean up our clothes. We said we would tidy up for the next day. They found it funny. But cleaning up is not for them and we had an early trip planned 😅 would've been ashamed to let them even though they said it was okay and not that bad 😅
#9
If you ask politely for fresh milk instead of those shitty plastic cup ones that taste like cheese-water, I am more than happy to personally bring a jug of fresh milk from the kitchen to your room. I've even done this at midnight because the person asked so nicely. Basically if you are polite about requesting a little bit extra, you'll almost always get it.
We_Are_Watching_You 3 years ago
I have to agree that some of those plastic cup taste like sour milk but some are just like fresh milk.
Ghost 3 years ago
Not even..JUST BE NICE.You wouldn't believe how nasty guests can be.
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Richard Willis 3 years ago
At a Premier Inn in the UK, we simply asked if there was anywhere nearby where we could buy some fresh milk as my wife hates ‘plastic’ milk. The staff said ‘No worries, we will get you some from the restaurant next door.’
Chel Bolin 3 years ago
I had forgotten my travel size hair spray. Called the front desk and one lady ran me her full size bottle from her purse. I dropped it back on my way out. (Funeral) i came back with flowers and the front desk did not have a vase. So I was loaned a tall coffee mug. Returned, washed n dried.
The expert shared some of his thoughts about what hoteliers can do if they’re having trouble with their business.
“Languishing hotels need to take an honest look at themselves to understand the reasons why they can't create special memories. Service culture is not built overnight; the way you hire, you train, and conduct yourself is crucial. Mistakes are made all the time; how you recover and show genuine care would make a difference,” he told us.
“Following up is a secret weapon. Comping, offering a discount, or an upgrade for a mishap is what a typical hotel would do. The better ones will always follow up with the guest and on top of a remedy, tell their plan how the mistake will be prevented from happening again.”
#10
if you have medicine that needs to be refrigerated, don't show up and assume all the rooms have fridges. Also, don't get all bitchy at the staff for not being responsible for your insulin/allergies/ etc. A lot of hotels have rooms without fridges ( Holiday Inns, Hampton Inn, Ramada, etc.) and will typically have several to rent out. Call ahead and be responsible with your condition.
NerdyMom 3 years ago
wheel chairs too! always have guests show up who can't walk and get upset that we only have 2 wheel chairs!
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
You would think, if someone cannot walk at all, they would already be in their own wheelchair. If I lost the use of my legs, I would be damned determined to preserve as much of my independence as I could, and always have my own supplies available. I know an airline would put my chair in with the checked baggage, and I would have to use the airport/airline chair, but I would also be just itching to get my own back ASAP upon reaching my destination. (I’m 61, and when I was young, I never gave stuff like that a thought. But when you get older, you start thinking what you’d do in situations like that, because the possibility of ending up with the loss of some abilities becomes ever greater—-though you hope it never happens. Still, better to be prepared than caught short.)
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Angela Turrall 3 years ago (edited)
Wow. so much disabled-hate in so few comments, gee I wonder why so many people with disabilities don't travel. Trust me, most of them do everything they can not to be a 'burden' to you, but sometimes things don't go to plan, and when you have disabilities those little things can be a lot harder to deal with. Have some empathy.
Heather 3 years ago
Things don't always go to plan but disability isn't an excuse to get mad at people for not being able to fix something that is your problem and not theirs to deal with. I had a man yell at me once that he hoped I lost my ability to walk because his wife had to walk slightly farther than they anticipated and there was nothing I could do to change that. I've had diabetics yell at me cause I could only give them candy and not a whole free meal. I know it's hard. My grandfather had a bad leg all his life that eventually had to be amputated. He used crutches and, in the end, a wheelchair. He was the strongest and best man I ever knew and never felt the need to make anyone else's life harder because his was. My mom needs a wheelchair so we make sure to bring it with us. I'm not saying that anyone should make life harder for disabled people or they shouldn't help if possible, but being disabled doesn't give anyone a free pass to be rude or demand unreasonable accommodation.
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Katinka Min 3 years ago
AMEN! I work in tourism and had a client who was tiny and complaining about how the hotel bathroom was difficult to use for her. Woman, if you have special needs, this fancy hotel will do its very best to give you appropriate accomodation, but you do need to let them know in advance! Another time a huband charges to me angrily 'We have a situation!'. Well, yeah, his wife had severe allergies and had forgotten her food on the boat and was getting hyperglycemic (I also do cruise ship excursion). 1. not my resonsibility and 2. I will glady help, really, but for the love of God, LET ME KNOW IN ADVANCE
Fall F. 3 years ago
We also don't have mini-bars which includes a fridge in our hotel. It's a 4 star one, by the way, this sh-t is just some idiot company-policy. But every time, we are glad to store the guest's medicine's packed carefully in our fridges in the kitchen, even the cooler-blocks. So, if it happens, that there is no mini-fridge in your room, and you desperately need something to be cooled or frozen, just ask. Of course, not your 1 euro canned-beer. Anyway, never ever buy canned beer.
Anne Mitchell 3 years ago
All Aussie hotels/motels have fridges, kettles/free/tea/ milk/coffee/ tea and sugar and sometime biscuits(cookies)
Sandra Givens 3 years ago
Many if not most American motels have at minimum a coffeemaker with supplies, with many having small fridges and even microwaves. Certain chains have "free" breakfast, while budget chains may only offer some free coffee in the lobby. At least one chain has cookies in the evening.
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Kathy Loman 3 years ago
And don't expect the fridge to be ice cold. They generally turn them off when the room is unoccupied.
Carol Emory 3 years ago
I made sure the places I went to at least had ice makers that were operational. At one hotel, both ice machines were out, but I had insulin I needed to keep cold. The front desk clerk gave me icepacks from the kitchen freezer to put in my cooler to keep the insulin cold through the night. They took my reusable ice packs and put them in the kitchen freezer marking them with my room number. Next morning I just had to ask for them back. The clerk was even nice enough to give me a free bottle of OJ in case my blood sugar was too low on the road trip.
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
I travel with children and I need a fridge. In that regard, I have never even had to ask. A fridge is a standard amenity in the US. Hampton Inn is my favorite, but I've stayed at a dozen chains and many small hotels with my family. Then I traveled for work and stayed at the $700/night Marriott in times square. No fridge, they said one would be sent up the next day but it never happened, when I complained, they gave me $100/day credit for their restaurant. There elevators are slow, the room was c**p, and the required valet scratched my car and their insurance company wouldn't cover it because I didn't take a video with my camera as I checked in, walking all the way around, and showing me handing over the keys to them. Of course, the hotel never told me I should do that...
Noel Bovae 3 years ago (edited)
You're doing a whole lot of complaining, when you should be grateful you have even been able to afford all that. I'm almost 40, can't work, and can't even afford toilet paper. Never been on an airplane. Can't even afford the real ID you now need to fly, let alone a plane ticket. My son is 17, and has NEVER stayed in a hotel, and my daughter only has twice, because she's been lucky enough to go with friends. You're over there complaining about a valet scratching your car, and a fancy hotel not have a fridge... Count your blessings, and stop your whining. We had an old lady back into our truck in the parking lot, broke our light, and scratched up the whole back. Instead of complaining, and demanding payment, we asked if she was ok, and then we all went on our merry way. If you can afford a nice car, you can afford to fix a few scratchs, if you can't afford a nice car, then a couple scratches aren't a big deal anyways.
Load More Replies... #11
Been working in a big-name chain hotel for a year. Biggest piece of advice is to just be polite to the front desk person, and we will go the extra mile every time. Bottle of wine, freshly baked cookies in your room, late check-in, hints of the best local eateries, whatever.
Also, don't be afraid to try and talk the front desk person down a little for a lower rate. Don't be obnoxious about it, as we'll lie and say it can't go any lower!
Juan Ghote 3 years ago
Why just the front desk person - why not be kind to everyone? Saying Please and Thank You cost you nothing.
Alexia 3 years ago
Be kind and polite to everyone. The way you behave says a lot about you. I ended up friendships because my "friends" (who were adults, not kids or teenagers) thought it was cool to insult the front desk person and to be rude to the waiters in the restaurant. "But we were only joking!" No, you were not; you were simply showing your character. Or lack of, for that matter.
Juanita Austin 3 years ago
I always leave a nice tip for the maid each day. Those folks work very hard for minimum wages; I know as I did that job briefly in college. Whenever I’m traveling I get several mini boxes of See’s chocolates and wrap a ten dollar bill around each one and leave it in the room on the table with a little thank you note to the maid. Believe me, they are thrilled.
Just me, myself, and I 3 years ago
We leave a daily tip but I never thought about a gift! Remembering this for out next hotel stay.
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Shiny1 3 years ago
Remember you are a guest, be kind to others and don't steal everything that's not nailed down just because it fits in your suitcase.
Shiny1 3 years ago
You know, it's a very small number who do that- I was just remembering my time in hotel service work.
Load More Replies... Tim Fountain 3 years ago
Biggest piece of advice is to just be polite to the customers and look like you give a s**t! And customers will react positively to you. My credentials, thanks for asking:105 nights in Hilton and 21 in Marriott this year....
Lily Francis 3 years ago
I feel bad for you! They should be kind to you too!
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Theo Blackwood 3 years ago
And tip them if they help you with a booking or something. Front office are overlooked for tips.
yelplow 3 years ago
And never say "I'm a very busy person" because I will reply with (chose you favorite horror movie and read this in there voice) "oh your busy busy busy?! *hehehe* No you are not *hehehe* I have moped this entire hotel from the penthouse down to the basement*hehehe* you my friend are not busy *hehehe* I have 2 full time jobs and I'm a student*hehehe" I Know everything about you *hehehe* September 11 2001 you checked into this hotel at 1:34 pm at exactly 2:00pm you entered room 29-96 and sat naked on the chair at exactly 2:14 a airplane flew past the hotel in seat 1-14 a young girl looked out the window and saw you *hehehe* I and you are the busy one *hehhehehehehehehehwheheh*" (Those numbers are not random they are all related)
Lily Francis 3 years ago
That was weird. I think you need to slow down a little, cut back on something. I know where you're coming from because I've been in your shoe's and I got about 2 hours of sleep a night for I don't know how many years and it damn near killed me! Don't let that happen to you! It's okay if it takes a little longer to reach your goals. But if you burn yourself out or end up killing yourself from overdoing it, you will never reach them and that would be a tragedy. Slow down and save yourself. I know it's hard! But you've got to take care of yourself first and foremost. It might take a little longer but you'll get there and be healthier. Be kind to yourself first!
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David Force 3 years ago (edited)
My wife’s license plate says “BKINDER” and she may be the nicest person I ever met. When we stay at a hotel for a week by the time we leave she will be best friends with everyone that works there. She not only will remember their names but the names of the their children, grandchildren and dogs. She is a former elementary school principal and is great with names and genuinely interested in other people and so nice to them. She is especially nice to the workers who are often invisible to others. She is my role model even after 36 years of marriage.
Paul Richards 3 years ago
Rude customers everywhere should be told to f**k off by every establishment and banned from returning. Businesses should be more than profit motivated. Restaurants are meeting places for community and shitty people should be shunned
Lily Francis 3 years ago
I would agree with that but places would go out of business.
Load More Replies... #12
Wow, after browsing this thread and seeing other housekeepers comments/warnings I'm shocked. Especially about using windex/dirty rags/guest towels to clean coffe cups and such. I am a housekeeper/head housekeeper (laundry and room checks) at a fairly small 3star independently owned hotel. We take pride in our work and strive for customer satisfaction. And this is probably because we arent involved in a corporation and don't have to deal with BS because of it. Here's a run down of what gets done in your room at our establishment; Every bed is completely stripped once the guests check out and we wash all the sheets that are stripped everyday. Even if it seems like only one out of two beds was slept in, we still check them for hair/dirt ect and strip sheets if anything looks "dirty" Blankets aren't washed everyday but still often enough to not be dirty. All towels and rags are washed daily. For "stay overs" (guests staying multiple nights) housekeepers are required to remove all used towels as replace with fresh ones, and to generally clean the room as if it were a "checkout". So that means we clean your bathroom, give you a new roll of TP if needed, clean your vanitys, dust vaccum and straighten up your bed. We also rinse out used coffee pots, REPLACE used cups with clean ones ( all dishes get run through dishwasher) and stock any amenities you use up. We take out your trash and turn off your lights. Then the head housekeeper checks these rooms later for thoroughness. We never use guest towels to clean things and use a few different rags in every room, so that we always have a fresh one. Once a guest towel is stained or even just worn out we use it as a rag. We are required to clean such small details you wouldn't even think of those things as being dirty. We serve a hot breakfast everyday and have a hot tub/steam room that gets cleaned an maintained regularly. We are the only hotel on our side of town that is staffed 24/7 at the front desk so there is always someone to help you. Of course all of these perks and guarantees are possible because the hotel is independently owned and small ( about 40 rooms) We take pride in our jobs and our hotel and it shows. Our guests are very happy. It has a "home-y; comfortable" feel. We are familiar with the motels across and on either side of us; as trust me, their quality is significantly lower; but you get what you pay for I suppose. So for those of you that have the chance to stay at an independent hotel on your travels, I can almost guarantee it is a better value than a fancier, corporate establishment. Edit: oh, and we don't charge you for any "extra services". Everything is included in your price of the room; regardless of if you need extra attention or not. The only things we DO charge you for are for stupid things people do, like smoking cigarettes In the room ( you can't hide it!), or lying about having pets (it's much cheaper to be honest about it and pay the extra fee to have them to be charged later for "excess cleaning"). And if you trash the room or puke/p**s on our s**t, or break/steal ANYTHING you will receive a hefty fee. And we have had some very angry parents/card owners complain because things like this happened on thier dime. So be respectful
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
What hotel and where? Because I would love to stay there. I worked in the travel industry, including hotel front desk and night audit, in everything from roadside HoJo’s to 4 Star 4 Diamond independently owned luxury hotels. Though I hate to tell you, the quality of an independently owned hotel really depends on the owners. If they’re good hotel people who really know their stuff, the quality will be high. If they’re not good hotel people, if they’re not hotel people at all, if they’re skinflints, if they’re assholes, if they’re only in it for “the investment” and will sell with the first good offer, then the quality will be s**t. Good people give good quality, s**t people give s**t quality.
FreshGanesh 3 years ago
THIS!! Thank you. As I commented to other posts, it’s about the quality of the property, not the cost. And being independent is a big big plus when it comes to establishing quality without a corporate, cost-saving influence.
Melissa Peck 3 years ago
I have stayed in small motels that were non-chain and they were really nice and clean and well-kept. I read reviews from several sites before I made reservations. It's also a good way to avoid large noisy groups.
Amy Taylor 3 years ago
That would be me as a hotel owner, lol. I would want it to be exactly like I would expect to stay in
Just me, myself, and I 3 years ago
I tip daily. I don't know the emp schedule so I could be leaving a week's worth of tips to someone who cleaned our room once!
Ervin Conn 3 years ago
It is in Bozeman, MT. There are a few that fit the 3 stars description though. :-) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570312/
#13
Often you can find "treasures" left behind by former guests. Rip the room apart! Look under mattress and box spring. In vents. move the night stand and dressers. just be sure to put it back together before you leave. If you stay in enought hotels and do this you will find something left behind. House keepers generally have 10-15 min to clean each room.
Dont forget to tip!
former housekeeper here.
Juan Ghote 3 years ago
Generally, don't tip in Australia, it's not a cultural thing for Aussies.
Wang Zhuang 3 years ago
I do generally leave a tip on the pillow in my room, along with a simple note saying "thank you"
Gary Davidson 3 years ago
Former 5-star, 5-diamond, hotel security here. Married men fooling around on their wives will often leave their wedding band in a bed-side drawer or in the drip tray of the coffee maker so it's not seen on their hand during their "encounter". Sometimes they will accidentally check out and leave the ring behind.
Angelia Rhodes 3 years ago
I once won about $80 in quarters from a slot machine in Vegas. I forgot the cup, so the housekeeper got a nice tip in addition to what we left on the desk 🤣
Rose Ann Fisher 3 years ago
I leave a few dollars every day. You may not have had the same housekeeper every day if you wait until the day you leave.
Pinky Gladys Gutsman 3 years ago
I've never, NEVER heard of housekeeping getting less than 25 minutes per room. 10-15 is a stayover. 25 is for one bed, 30-50 is for 2+ beds... I've managed 6 motels in my life so far. . . Love to know what piece of c**p hotel would only allow 10-15 minutes. That's barely enough to change linens, take trash and vacuum. Obviously, the bathroom and dusting would be forgotten.
#14
No longer a hotel worker but: do not use the provided glasses. Or, if you need to, wash them yourself first.
Mirabelle Skyrim 3 years ago
Why bottled water? Are there reliable recycling options? The tap water is perfectly drinkable in a lot of countries.
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Lenka Smetanová 3 years ago
absolutely not true... Just go to decent hotel.. everything hear is clean and neat! Also tap watter absolutely drinkable
Jennifer Knight 3 years ago
Do NOT use bottled water unless mgmt tells you to, and NEVER use plastic ANYTHING if recycled is available. Plastic is destroying our earth.
Milena B. G. Rosa 3 years ago
I buyed a plastic, foldable cup that even have a lid. You can use It, wash, dry and fold to carry with you again. It even fita on jacket pockets, so is a easy carry on. It was a great investment, specially since I commute to college in morning and come home at night, and some places don't have a cup or aren't Very trusthworth with cleaness to me
Angelia Rhodes 3 years ago
How are going to boil your water? Asking for a friend.
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Joanne Hicks 3 years ago
Another "health" suggestion: check the filter on the hvac unit. Pull it out and look to see if it is blocked. It can be washed in the shower. Your nasal passages and lungs will thank you. I'm married to a HVAC journeyman.
#15
Stayed at a Four Seasons over seas in North Africa. Recently opened. While the male housekeeper was cleaning my bathroom, I cold see him as I sat on the bed. He wiped the toilet, windows, and then cleaned out my drinking glasses with the same towel- FOUR SEASONS hotel.
Max M 3 years ago
4 stars in 1 country can be 1 star in another. It is all about the culture, morale and knowledge
rn42 3 years ago
Four Seasons is not a four star hotel, it's a luxury chain.
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Wang Zhuang 3 years ago
I think it's okay to use the same towel, PROVIDED they clean the drinking glasses FIRST. Sadly, it seems the glasses always come last in these stories, I don't understand why housekeepers do that. It's common sense that if you're going to use the same towel for everything, clean the stuff that will touch human hands and mouths first before moving on.
Janice Strickland 3 years ago
I stay in cheap places that give plastic sealed plastic cups. Then I keep those for hotels without cups.
Grady'sRaider 3 years ago
Watch for this anywhere food is involved too. If you see the same cloth wipe the tables, chair seats, and the top of the recycle bin, leave.
Emmydearest 3 years ago
Generally speaking, when you clean, the order is: from the least dirty to the most dirty and from the top to the bottom. So for the bathroom for me it's sink-bidet-toilet. When you wash yourself do you wash your bum first? No, you start from the top and go downwards, leaving the "dirtiest" bits for last.
Becky Sue Anderson 3 years ago
I own my own cleaning company and I would never use the same rag on a drinking glass as I would on a toilet 🤮. But you are correct that it should go top to bottom... Vanity \sink top to bottom on toilet and floor behind the toilet and around it. Then that rag is done.
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Paul Davis 3 years ago
Generally housekeepers are only held accountable for how long they spend in each room, and are endlessly pressured to do more in less time. Management doesn't give the faintest c**p if guests get sick, until they end up in court or fired.
P B Wilson 3 years ago
Finding this to be very common. Worked in a hotel in America for 4 years. Housekeepers are taught to use the face towel from the previous guest to clean the bathroom.
#16
if a hotel is "smoke free", and you smoke there, you are liable to get pinned with a $150 or more damages fee. happened at the hotel that i worked at every time someone smoked inside.
Isidien Gudmundsdottir 3 years ago (edited)
Yes I smoke but I also had parents who taught me better because, If you have to smoke, go where it is allowed even if you have to go outside and bring one of those closeble ashtrays with you in case there's not a place to put your cigarette out but put that ashtray in your vehicle better yet, smoke in your car. You are a guest there behave like one and not as if you rented a room and everyone is you servant.
Timmy Pillinger 3 years ago
I don't get people who throw their butts out of car windows. Especially in summer when wildfire is a risk.
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HOUSE 3 years ago
I'm a recent non smoker and you REALLY notice the smell of smoke when you don't smoke, I used to think non smokers were exaggerating over the smell but now I realise they aren't.
BadCat 3 years ago (edited)
It's not even always the smell. I'm allergic. Those who are allergic will feel their airways and lungs tighten and get irritated. The affect can last several minutes to hours depending on the severity.
Load More Replies... Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Because, in order to be able to advertise the room as smoke-free, they would have to remove all the linens and rewash them, deep clean every surface and all the upholstery and carpet, then close the room off to treat it with an ozone machine or some other method to remove all traces of the smoke that the deep cleaning didn’t. Those machines and treatments are time-consuming and not cheap. It also takes a team of housekeepers away from cleaning their regular rooms for the duration, so other housekeepers, including the head housekeeper, have to take up the slack. They do this because there are people who are extremely sensitive or allergic to some or all of the chemicals in cigarette/cigar smoke, and rely on a hotel being truly smoke-free.
Annie Bieber 3 years ago
I am a smoker but do NOT smoke indoors anywhere. It's gross 😝. Even when hotels had smoking rooms the smell permeated everything...🤢🤮
Linnea 3 years ago (edited)
Also, if the hotel does not provide smoker's poles outside or trash cans in the lobby, DO NOT take the butts back to your room to dispose of in your room trash. I was fraudulently charged $250 for this. Was told that the butts in the trash were "evidence of smoking in the room." No b**** they are evidence of me not being a person who condones littering. And, PURELY BY ACCIDENT I'm sure 🤬, no one at the front desk saw fit to bring this up upon checkout (you know, when they go over with you what the total bill will be and what each specific charge is for). The maids had cleaned the room and emptied the trash while we were there. If the cigarette butts that they found were an issue, it could've been brought up before or during checkout. Instead they waited 3 days after I'd checked out to sneakily slip the extra $250 charge on my card. By then I was back home, 100s of miles away, and couldn't do anything to fight it. Oh, I almost forgot the best part: being called a liar by the smug b**** in Housekeeping when I called to complain. This was the Row Hotel at Assembly Row in Boston, BTW, for anyone wondering where NOT to stay in Boston. 0/10 would not recommend, unless you enjoy having maids snoop through your trash and fraudulent extra charges put on your card 3 days after checking out. OMG, I almost forgot: when the Head Housekeeper got done calling me a liar over the phone, she told me that if I couldn't find a trash can in the lobby, then I should've handed the butts to whoever was at the front desk. I S*** YOU NOT, THIS B**** TOLD ME I SHOULD'VE HANDED MY GERMY, NASTY CIGARETTE BUTTS TO THE FRONT DESK STAFF. Oh wow, I'm sooooooo sorry it never occurred to me to treat service employees so poorly, yeah clearly I'm the bad guy for not forcing the front desk staff to handle my trash with their bare hands. Sorry about the rant, BTW. This happened 3.5 years ago and I'm still so angry. I will literally die mad about this.
BadCat 3 years ago
I don't get how hard it is for smokers to not smoke where they're not supposed to. It's not like it's this uncontrollable tick.
Becca Hauck 3 years ago
If my kids are asleep and the entrance to the outside is a long way away from our room, I'd smoke into the exhaust vent in the bathroom with the door closed. Once the smoke dissipated, I could leave the bathroom.
Load More Replies... #17
A room can have bedbugs even if you see no evidence of them on the mattress itself. If it's not attached to the wall, looking on the backside of the headboard is always a good idea.
Gary Davidson 3 years ago
Trust me.....LOOK! You do NOT want to bring bedbugs home with you. They're often resistant to common pesticides and it take several treatments by professionals to get rid of them.
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Tami Dickerson 3 years ago
If your room has a recliner or sofa, check them for bed bugs too. I learned that the hard way.
Nadine Debard 3 years ago
I was bitten a hundred times one night at a hotel, brand new bed and mattress, clean room. I had a terrible allergic reaction. The owner was disgusted because she had everything cleaned and replaced a few weeks before because of bedbugs. Pest control, everything. She did everything right, but bedbugs are everywhere. Now I always look for bedbugs anywhere I go. And keep your stuff in your closed luggage to avoid bringing them home.
robin woordes 3 years ago
You can also press down your hand firmly down on the mattress for a minute and you can see them jump out if they're there
Norman Beattie 3 years ago
I always check for the little buggers and I have stayed in some very expensive, classy hotels as well as cheap sleeps while traveling long distances. Yes, high priced hotels/motels can have Bed Bugs. You don't want them, fortunately, in forty years I have never found them, that's a very good thing !
Sandra Givens 3 years ago
I carry a little flashlight with me when traveling and check the whole bed, mattress seams, dust ruffle, headboard, the works. You can get bedbugs anywhere but you really, really don't want them.
Brenda 3 years ago
Buy bed bugs spray ($10 at Walmart) and spray the mattress, box springs, carpet and walls (especially behind the bed & other furniture), even inside the dresser if putting clothes in it. You can buy covers for the mattress, but they might have some. Just ask
AngelWingsYT 3 years ago
Not 100% not even 80% those bastards survive A LOT. they know how/where to hide to avoid this stuff.
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Mandificent Fazbk 3 years ago
You can be perfectly clean, and the next guest accidentally brings them in. Assume the worst, and govern yourself accordingly.
#18
Well for starters:
Don't ask us to bring you your wine because we haven't had that spirit here since 1969
Well-Dressed Wolf 3 years ago
How could you find out, though? You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave…
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FreshGanesh 3 years ago
You’d think they’d bring it. After all, we are just prisoners here of our own device.
SupernaturalPanda 3 years ago
And you can also check out anytime you like you just can’t never leave
Douglas Ripsom 3 years ago
You can stab it with your steely knives, but you just can't kill the beast.
#19
As a person who stays in hotels and... well... I'm Canadian... I wonder if there's anything we can do to make it easier on the housekeeping staff?
I always tear the sheets and blankets off the bed and leave them in a bundle at the foot, with the pillowcases. I also throw all used towels in the tub/shower, as requested.
I never touch the extra stuff, like the cups, so they never have to replace any of that s**t, but I always take the shampoo for future traveling that may not include a hotel.
I leave between two to ten bucks (depending on the length of my stay) on the nightstand with a thank you note, and I always make sure to take care of any of the bending - for example, if I've put anything in the trash can, I will take the bag out myself, or leave the trash can on the desk/table. I have a bad back, so I know how much it can suck to have to bend over constantly, every day.
Is there anything else I could be doing?
Gremlan jonnson 3 years ago
You're an absolute dream guest, just keep doing what you're doing 👍
Faye Przepioski 3 years ago
I do pretty much the same! I usually only use one trash can (if it's just a night), I'll pull the bedding down, and I pick up all my trash, even toss any used soap bars. I even will put all the towels/wash cloths on one towel and fold the corners together so they can just grab the corners. I try to make it as easy as I can, I just put myself in their shoes. Would I want to touch that nasty wash cloth or pick up small bits of trash from all over? Oh heck no. Lol.
FreshGanesh 3 years ago
Well, if it were an AirB&B you’d also need to leave a $150 non-refundable cleaning deposit and then, on top of what you already do, you’ll need to start the laundry, wash all the dishes and sweep/vacuum/mop. Even then, the host will still rate you one star because you left a piece of lint in the tub after you scrubbed it.
Amy Taylor 3 years ago
I've had such better luck with Vrbo stays!! Every host has been a dream.
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Juanita Austin 3 years ago
Yes, leave a compliment about the great housekeeping service with the front desk. Lots of maids are working part/time hourly and if they receive compliments they are likely to be first on the list for additional hours.
Mokayokok 3 years ago
I always leave $20, and do the same as above, and I never have them clean during my stay because I feel terrible that they have to cleanup after me.
Noëlle Veerman 3 years ago
I preferred it when guests would let us clean. It allows us to change only the necessary towels and clean the toilet / bathroom everyday. Its Easier to just clean it every day instead of finding it dirty after a couple of days. Also, we often had one day additional chores. So one task every day of doing something additional and not cleaning for a few days messes with that schedule.
Load More Replies... Amy S 3 years ago
I suggest that you tip per day - the same person may not be cleaning your room each day of your stay. I usually give $3 depending on how much the room needs to be cleaned. And, please leave the tip on the dresser. To leave it on the nightstand is an indication of something else (pay for s*x.) And, perhaps you could bundle the dirty towels and place them on top of the sink so that the maid doesn't have to bend down and retrieve them from the tub. I imagine that's also hard on the back. Hope this helps.
#20
If you have a pet and are looking to stay inexpensively, try a La Quinta. I do not have any affiliation with them, but they've never charged me a pet fee or for trumped-up damages after checkout. They also allow more than one pet per room. May vary based on location, but it is a general rule on their corporate website that they accept animals.
OokiiStaR 3 years ago
LaQuinta also allows large dog breeds. Runner up is Kimpton but only because they're more expensive, but I still love their hotels.
Barong 3 years ago
We used to and many of our friends who show dogs loved La Quinta. Always friendly. Our dogs are trained and crate trained and certainly clean so it’s not like they were running amok but still I understand why many dogs don’t allow them. Some are guest are allergic to dogs and housekeeping may not be happy having a dog in the room. The hotels I’ve stayed in that allow dogs usually have a hefty deposit, which I totally understand.
Load More Replies... Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
One of the independently owned luxury hotels I worked at had a designated pet friendly wing. The area hosted a lot of dog and cat shows, bird, ferret, and other types of pet fanciers, as well as conventions for people who have, or train, working dogs, including police K9s (always felt incredibly safe when they were in house), so it was a great selling point—-and all the animal loving employees got a kick out of seeing the cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, etc. The housekeepers for that floor were screened for allergies and fears of animals, and specially trained to do good hygienic cleaning in those rooms, even if the animal was in it, because even highly trained purebred animals will sometimes get nervous and make mistakes.
Norman Beattie 3 years ago
I actually like most LaQuintas that I have stayed in, however I don't like dogs in hotels/motels. Let me qualify that statement. Most generally it's the dog owners that I don't like, the dogs are OK but some of their humans shouldn't be allowed out in public !.
Well-Dressed Wolf 3 years ago
I feel ya. My local emergency vet has a sign on the door that says “We do not tolerate aggression here - and we mean from the OWNERS, not the pets!” Kind of sad when the humans are more beastly on average than the “beasts”!
Load More Replies... Ghost 3 years ago
Please don't bring your dog if the poor thing will bark while you are out.Remember other guests are there too.
Barong 3 years ago
Not all dogs bark without reason or because of separation anxiety. But I agree that people need to always be considerate of their neighbors at hotel or otherwise. Same goes for loud music, TV, or exuberantly amorous sounds that go bump in the night.
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Donna Clanclan 3 years ago
It's not the level I like, but Red Roof Inn also allows pets. The floors are tile and the couch is stain resistant.
Jennifer Knight 3 years ago
Ok, thanks for the heads up. ILL NEVER STAY IN A LAQUINTA AGAIN if what you say is true.
#21
If anything in the restroom is dirty or seems 'off' to you, it means housekeeping is slacking and/or their morale is low. This is likely the result of negligent management, owners, etc.: The place is rotten to the core, and other rooms aren't likely to be any better.
intk 3 years ago
Well not true everywhere. I used to be housekeeper for a few months on a well rated hotel and we cleaned up the toilets several times a day and it was always a mess just because ppl are 🐷.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Lobby bathrooms are always a mess if the hotel has hosted an event where there was alcohol, like weddings, conventions, reunions, etc with open or cash bars. That’s when the people or company that paid for the room should also leave money aside to tip not just the catering staff and servers, but the cleaners as well.
Load More Replies... Becca Hauck 3 years ago
At the motel I worked at, it had nothing to do with housekeeping. Managers expected not to pay us more than a couple hours for a ton of rooms and I was shown by the manager how I was required to "clean". It was so awful. We didn't even get minimum wage either.
TonyTee 3 years ago
Then you call the Better Business Bureau and ask for your money back right before you leave, that's telling them to f**k themselves in a respectful manner. 👍🏻
Angelia Rhodes 3 years ago
Calling the Better business bureau won't do anything. When was the last time you looked up a business?
Load More Replies... #22
The hot tubs are disgusting. I used to clean them.
Luis Gomez 3 years ago
With as many comments as you've left and what they say, its probably better you just stay home in your plastic bubble.
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Shawn Gula 3 years ago
There was a hot rub in our hotel room and we were excited to use it. We filled up the tub, hopped in and hit the jets. Then this icky, oily yellow foam started floating on the top of the water. Yuck! We hopped out and immediately took a shower, a very hot shower! Never again
Yagi-chan 3 years ago
I own a short term rental with a nice hot tub. It’s a code violation if it isn’t professionally cleaned and treated by the hot tub company between guests. Just depends where you are. I would be reluctant to use a jetted tub in a bathroom. They harbor all sorts of weird molds and skin cells, but they are built completely different than an outdoor hot tub.
Grady'sRaider 3 years ago
Got to wonder. Makeup, deodorant, suntan lotion, bug spray, hair product, butt sweat; how does it all get removed?
Niamh Gallagher Kerr 3 years ago
Chlorine mainly and different chemicals.
Load More Replies... Donna Clanclan 3 years ago
Honeymooned in a honeymoon suite once. They had an in room hot tub. The room smelled a little off when we went in, we thought it must be the chemicals in the water. The tub looked clean. We soaked for about 5 mins. Couldn't stand it. Showered and then went to dinner. Debated what could be causing the smell. Came back and the smell was just awful, hot rotten garbage awful. Called and was told they clean the tub after every guest. Requested they do it again. We left while they did so. Came back and everything smelled fine. When we called and thanked them, we were accused of putting something in the water to make it smell bad. Got yelled at about how terrible it was for the poor guy who drained and cleaned the tub. Our door had been left open with a housekeeper keeping watch for the several hours we were gone. We used the tub throughout the weekend with no other issues. Found out years later, when I got my own hot tub, that many things can cause the chemical balance to be off.
Gossameringue 3 years ago
This cleaning stuff will really show you how dirty your jets are: https://www.amazon.com/Oh-Yuk-Jetted-System-Cleaner/dp/B008VGMWCO/ref=asc_df_B008VGMWCO/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167151917164&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=233474698207823909&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022805&hvtargid=pla-310010954068&psc=1
Raena Celis 3 years ago
I can't afford a hotel room with a jacuzzi in it. So I'll probably never use one anyway
Janice Strickland 3 years ago
The one I can afford has roaches and found used needles laying around. I went elsewhere.
Load More Replies... #23
I have held many hotel positions, all in luxury locations. Tip the front desk agent as soon as you walk up. They often keep the best rooms in their back pocket for problem/super awesome guests. Most of the time these room don't cost more (think corner room with more windows). The valet/bellman will run to the store for you to buy cigarettes/booze/anything else. A$k nicely. Ask the valets/doormen about nightlife/restaurants. They are often the ones who actually go out frequently and enjoy the scene. Many concierges will only recommend places that they receive incentives for. And pleasepleaseplease fill out comment cards and use hotel employees names who were good at their job. You have no idea how large of a positive impact this has for the employee.
Fwart Deydweg 3 years ago
Tip the front desk!? You have to be kidding. I'm guessing you are American.
Sandra Givens 3 years ago
American here and with lots of travel under my belt, I have NEVER tipped a front desk person when checking in. If they performed an extra special service for me above the expected, I have offered a tip, but never had one accepted.
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Mykidsartrocks 3 years ago
I wouldn't tip the front desk. I work the front desk at a chain hotel and we make a little more than minimum wage. Save that tip for the wait staff wherever you eat. Their minimum wage is lower and they need it more. And I don't know about other hotels but at ours, the housekeepers are paid a little more than front desk.
Melissa Konczal 3 years ago
Don't like it don't do it. But I will say if you leave a bartender a big tip on the first round you will get better drinks and service because we know you are willing to tip to get great service.
digitalin 3 years ago (edited)
Im American, and except for restaurants, I have no idea how much to tip. Housekeeping? Valet? Drivers? Front desk? Catering? Concierge? Instacart? Uber? I have no idea. I try to look it up online so I don't accidentally stiff people a tip, but it would be so much better if service job wages weren't dependent on a stranger's whims.
Tired_Panda 3 years ago
Usually 20% of your bill is good. If the service is bad or anything the tip is generally a bit lower.
Load More Replies... Uriel 3 years ago
True, Im always extra nice to our guests but when from the start I have one which paid for most basic dirt cheap room and starts the conversation with me like: „ Gimme the highest floor you have with the best view” (Of course you have reservation option to pay more for view/high floor) I often decline and give them average room, people can be so demanding, give them everything, reserve them a good table at popular restaurant/bar and not even simple „thank you”, and about payment: I dont know elsewhere but where I live clerks are paid the lowest wage because management always says that you have tips!
Kay Phillips 3 years ago
Is there anyone you're not supposed to tip? USA sure sounds like a capitalist dystopia
Mama Panda 3 years ago
Please don't judge all of us based on the opinions of the few here. Not all of us Americans are like this at all. Personally, I will tip wait staff. I will tip delivery drivers because they are doing me a favor by bringing whatever I ordered to me. The exceptions are Amazon, UPS, FedEx and USPS as the typically will aim for my porch from the curb and more times than none, miss completely and I will find the package in the trees. I tip my hair dresser if she doesn't butcher my hair (down to my butt). I will tip the housekeepers in the hotel, the valet if I use one and the concierge if one helped me. The amount of said tips is reliant on their attitude, the quality of their work and the amount of work they did for me. If they don't fall in that list, they don't get a tip no matter how much they try to guilt me into giving them one.
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#24
Don't bother leaving negative reviews on Trip Advisor. It's hard to change an issue and make your stay better after the fact, and especially when you're bitching online and not directly to the hotel. Let the front desk and/or management know about the issues with your stay WHEN THE ISSUES HAPPEN. It's so difficult to help people or solve what is going on when they let you know as they're leaving or when they leave a shitty online review! If the front desk and/or management genuinely refuse to help you and are just generally shitty unhelpful people, then sure. Let it all out on Trip Advisor. I once had a lady who came in telling her daughter she was ugly, proceeded to scream at me because the person on the 1-800 number she called quoted her a lower rate than what showed up on my screen. She told me I was shitty at my job and pathetic for not knowing what was going on with "my company" .. when she called some call centre in god knows where. This bitch was so rude that she made me cry.. I can't say a lot of guests have made me cry. We take a lot of shit at the front desk. I gave the woman like a 20% discount lower than what was quoted to her on the phone and she still called me pathetic, bitched about our continental breakfast, and wrote a Trip Advisor review stating that I (she mentioned my name!) had the worst customer service she's ever experienced and she is outraged by our terrible breakfast and it's a lie that our internet is free. I had even gone to this woman's room to help her type in the password for our FREE wifi, so I don't even know what crevice of her ass this was pulled out of. But yeah. Just.. don't be a raging asshole.
Wang Zhuang 3 years ago
You really, really have to have a thick skin to work in the hospitality industry. I can't imagine what those people go through each day.
Doggo 3 years ago
I wouldn’t be able to work like that. Tbh I would probably get in trouble because I snap back very harshly
Load More Replies... rn42 3 years ago
I make a point of reading the negative reviews. It's either gonna be stupid c**p like "they did not put out gluten free bread at breakfast, I had to ask for it" (as if anybody who ever actually met a caeliac sufferer didn't know cross contamination is a thing) and I know I can safely ignore it, or it talks about noise in rooms, multiple mentions of bad staff or food, then I know to steer clear
Annie Bieber 3 years ago
How sad is it that most of these posts are asking people to just be nice? Pathetic really...common courtesy apparently is no longer "common"...😤
Jerry Mathers 3 years ago
This is an observation, not a criticism but it would be a good thing not to give discounts to people that act like that. It just encourages that kind of bad behavior.
Ghost 3 years ago
We know why they do this at our hotel ( which is luxury) They are looking for ANY LITTLE THING to complain about so a manager will reach out and comp a stay. People are garbage when it comes to working the system for freebies. Yeah..we know when you are bullshiting us to our faces and on line..we are trained for it. AND STOP ASKING FOR DISCOUNTS AT 5 STAR HOTELS!
Melissa Konczal 3 years ago
Restaurants know too. We aren't all saying the customer is always right anymore. kindness will decide if you get great service or mediocre. As a manager, if a customer is being a complete a*s, I will not work harder to make you happy. If you are kind to my servers I am kinder to you and will work to make you happy. Manners matter.
Load More Replies... Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Establishments that allow reviews on websites like that can also screen out the bad ones, and pay extra to have them removed or made private, so quite often you’re only complaining to dead air. Once in a while, if the review happens to hit a nerve with management, they’ll respond. Otherwise, they can opt to ignore.
Andrew Sinclair 3 years ago
And this is why I do not hesitate to refuse service to some people. Have not really done it in all my years, but if someone becomes belligerent, I either call the manager (who usually proceeds to remove them) or stand my ground and, using assertive wording, tell them they need to calm down or find another place to be. You are service workers, not punching bags. Remember, if you are genuinely being abused, pass it on to your manager, or invoke your right to refuse service should no manager be present.
PADNA 2 years ago
Agree to a point. Last summer I have stayed in a rented house, advertised as 10 beds in 4 bedrooms... Those bedrooms turned out to be a walk through corridor type'sh ; only had 2 dinky bathrooms on a 1st floor (only 1 of them had a shower); Owner had only 1 key to give and thus killing the whole need of 10 fkin beds!!! We travelled for work and had 2 separate shifts, so we had to wake up at 5am to let in collegues coming in from a night shift... On top of that house was situated 10m from the train track and when 1 arrived whole house started trembling. Best part? 1 way streets, car trip was prolongued by good 15min when doing a circle. Pretty sure we wouldn't have booked that if we knew prior. Too bad house was rented on a company name, i'd love to b*tch on booking website.
Tim Crowhurst 3 years ago
I'd make an addendum to that: if you know that the problem is frequent or consistent, and symptomatic of attitudes within senior or corporate management, that's when a negative review is warranted. I've just been to a small conference at a hotel a few hours from me. The conference had been there once before, six years ago, and while the food in the restaurant and bar was okay (if over-priced) the food served to delegates was poor considering this is one of the most prominent and expensive hotels in that city. When we learned that the event was returning to that hotel this year many regular attendees were anxious about the food, however the organisers had been assured the problems had been one-offs and were all resolve. They were lied to. The hotel will now be getting a negative review from me, and I suspect from many others.
#25
The smell of smoke is a red flag. If you can smell smoke, it's one of those hotels who says they don't allow it, but do.
dream of delusion 3 years ago
i don’t understand how some people can smoke indoors.. the smell usually makes me want to gag, and most of the time that’s me smelling it outside
El Dee 3 years ago
Most smokers don't smell it. I grew up in a smoking household and couldn't smell it as a child..
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Chibi Devi 3 years ago
It's not that we do allow smoke, it's that it's actually very hard to confirm, also some guests just see it as a fee rather then a fine. On way to many occasions when I tell them the smoking fee at check out, guests have "joked" so if I pay that I can smoke as much as I want? I flag those guests. I've had guests unplug the smoke detectors, put things over them, and then sleep with the window open so when we do a room check it might smell odd but that might also just be your body odor and we can't Flagg you for that. (Seriously, I've brought up items to people who just checked in and the moment they entered their foot odor overpowered the plug in)
Falicity Humdinger 3 years ago
Literally stayed in a "hotel" in London last night for rolling stones gig and could smell smoke throughout the building. It was not a place I would recommend, that's for sure!
Oerff On Tour 3 years ago
If you open up all the drawers and cupboards, then you'll likely find an ashtray hidden out of sight in those hotels
Kathy Loman 3 years ago
A few hotels I've stayed in have smoking rooms. Only once I asked for a smoking room and they didn't have one but said I could smoke in the room they had without an extra charge. I went outside
sussy_baka (they/them) 3 years ago
I went it a hotel for a few nights and there were tons of no smoke signs and it smelled like smoke and the wall were yellow it was supposed to be a really nice hotel but it wasn’t
Cathy Hurd 3 years ago (edited)
I used to be a smoker and never realized how disgusting the smell was until I quit. That smell also lingers for a long time.
#26
If something did not meet your expectations (slow internet, cold water, dirty room), complain about it (NICELY). You might get free points for the inconvenience (sometimes as many as the value of one night stay). If you are staying at a hotel of a chain, and the front desk offers only an apology, call the hotel brand (e.g. reservations/customer care). Hotels of the popular chains are typically franchises, and the management company loves to receive feedback, because a sub-par hotel can affect the reputation of the brand.
Seonag Udell 3 years ago
Me my husband and two other couples went to Alton Towers in England. It was my friends 30th birthday so we stayed the night, before visiting the park, in those cute little hobbit cabins. In the morning turns out the other couple we had gone with had no hot water. We complained politely and all 6 of us got VIP passes so we didn't have to wait in any of the lines for the big rollercoaster 's. It was one of my favourite days ever
Red72 3 years ago
I worked in guest relations for 20yrs with a major hotel chain & I can tell you that if you complained "nicely", I would go out of my way & give you everything I could, but if you are rude to me, I will give you the bare minimum & make a note on the account of how rude you were just to make sure that you didn't call back to try to get more. Be nice, even when you're upset, it will work out in your favor!
Marianne 3 years ago
We stayed in Helsinki once. It was late summer and much colder than expected, so I wasn't thrilled to realize that our room had an AC that was centrally controlled and blew icy air directly onto the bed. I nicely complained about it and we got a room upgrade to a huge suite with pay TV and all kinds of goodies. Also it was warm! I was sooo grateful.
Gary Davidson 3 years ago (edited)
Years ago, I tried to check into a Hilton in Springfield, Mass on a business trip. Upon checkin, the front desk clerk tried to give me a lesser quality room with no free internet, even though I had a PRINTOUT of my corporate reservation showing a specific room type and rate, with free internet and breakfast daily. I showed him the printout and he still said he couldn't do anything. I asked for the manager. He said he was the manager and could do nothing about it as he handed me the checkin signature sheet. I told him, I would go next door to the Marriott. He said, "I just checked you in!"......I replied, "Then check me OUT!".......He thought about it and then gave me the reservation and rate that I had originally reserved with Hilton. During my stay, I bought a lottery ticket in their hotel bar and won $10,000. I tipped the bartender $100 because of that. Word spread quickly and THEN came an apology from the REAL hotel manager claiming they confused me with another guest. Bull*t!
Gary Davidson 3 years ago
Lesson learned: Always carry a printed copy of your reservation showing exactly what you reserved!
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James016 3 years ago
I used to work for a tour operator and sat opposite the head of customer service. The first question he always asked was “Did you bring this up with the hotel staff?” If yes he would investigate and deal with it. If not then he would say that he would be unable to assist. A few times people have rang up for refunds several months after their holiday and that would be a straight no.
Faye Przepioski 3 years ago
Chains that use a point system prefer to give points over refunds/discounts/etc. As someone that has spent weeks/months at a time traveling for work, I've gotten to know many a manager. Most say they prefer it as it doesn't take $ out of their coffers, so can offer more in return. I've def gotten the equivalent of a night or more for simple things. But I never demand, I simply point out an issue and if they offer a discount I'll ask for points instead. Best was 60k points for a dirty toilet. Another stay (10 days 5 rooms for myself and my crew), I ended up with three days of points just because we were friendly and polite and the whole crew loved us.
Foogle Phish 3 years ago
The big companies have very limited control over the franchises under their flag. They can pull their franchise if the hotel violated their contract, but not for little things that happen day to day.
survivalrhino 3 years ago
I try to stay in national chains, particularly company owned ones-- they are far more receptive to dealing with less than satisfactory conditions-- although have been at a few where a call to the local DEA guy was needed (pays to have friends in low places)
Alana Voeks 3 years ago
I always politely bring issues up anywhere I go. If I bring it up politely, and they fix it right away, that keeps one more belligerent idiot from going off the rails at them. That's my only incentive for telling them. Happened one time at an Applebee's my friends and I had gone to. My friend had gotten a flat Mountain Dew, and I politely told our waiter that it was out of syrup. My friend, having been working in a customer service position for a few years at this point, was embarrassed about it. When I explained that it can keep some jackass from going overboard, she started to speak up more too. Remember, your actions in the now can prevent a Karen in the future (maybe).
#27
Currently work Front Desk for a little over 3 years. --Don't be a d**k. I can make your stay pretty shitty. --If you watch a movie and say that you didn't, I can see how long you watched it and what you watched so be careful if you're trying to get some free movies, expecially if it's on a work account. I will fax that s**t straight to your boss. --If you have your Do Not Disturb sign up all day and take it down at 7:30 pm, don't expect to have your room cleaned. Call the desk and we will give you the extra linens, toiletries etc. --At least speak a little bit of the language of the country you're in. It's really f*****g frustrating to use hand signals and draw pictures while trying to get your information --If you have a problem with your room, don't wait until the morning to complain and try to get a discount. If you didn't call the desk for help, then obviously it wasn't a big deal and you're just being cheap. --If you book through a third party site and you don't specify what type of room you want, you will get whatever is leftover. It will most likely be a smoking room or handicapped accessible. Can't blame us, blame the third party site. If you want the proper room at least call the hotel to verify your reservation information. EDIT** Wear sandals in the showers. PLEASE. And bring your own pillows and blankets. You'll feel better. Front desk staff are people too, don't treat us like animals. We also accepts tips.
Mitchell 3 years ago
I always travel with my pillow. Hotel pillows don’t get washed and people put body parts other than their head on them.
rn42 3 years ago
IME heads are more dirty than other body parts. All that sweat and grease gets held up by the hair. Unless you're actively spreading your cheeks on the pillow, naked skin is gonna be cleaner than hair.
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Katherine Boag 3 years ago
Im not paying to bring my own bedding in an extra suitcase on a flight what the hecc
UnpopularPanda 3 years ago
I agree people as customers/guests are usually assholes but you just sound like you hate your job. Pick a different career maybe
Joshua Howard 3 years ago
The shower shoes and your own bedding is a bit much, but the rest of it was kinda on-point. People like to complain about "that's not what I ordered" through a 3rd-party, but most of the time we have a name, date, and the 3rd-party card for the cost of the room... no phone, no address, nothing. As for the language thing... you hear stories all the time about Americans going to another country and expecting everyone to speak English, this is kind of the same thing. At least learn how to introduce yourself and a few basic things in the language you're traveling to.
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Fwart Deydweg 3 years ago
What a load of rubbish. Sandals in the shower? You sound like a very stressed person.
Well-Dressed Wolf 3 years ago
We’ll leave all the various species of fungus and bacteria for YOUR feet to absorb, then!
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Carlotta Müller 3 years ago
If I have to wear sandals in the shower and have to bring my own pillows and blankets, the hotel must be real s**t!
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
We used to call people who waited to complain about problems, that usually turned out to be lies or exaggerations, at checkout, then expected to be comped or given a deep discount, “Rebaters”. You must first give the hotel an opportunity to make it right, either by fixing it or moving you to another, problem-free room. If they’re unable to make it right, then and ONLY then will they discount or comp part or all of your stay, or issue you a voucher for a free X number of night stay, if you’re a return guest. If you’re a regular who has always been nice, and you don’t blow up at the inconvenience, believe me, the staff will be falling all over themselves trying incredibly hard to make it up to you.
RMA 3 years ago
My husband and I have occasionally commented on something - not rudely! - when checking out, such as a power outlet not working or a dripping tap. It’s not to get a discount but rather a heads up on something that needs to be remedied for the next guest. We’ve never expected a discount; it’s just about letting the hotel know.
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Momma Jess 3 years ago
Stayed at a local hotel about a month ago to get away from my roommates for a bit, lol, and had a bad depressed entire bottle of wine kind of night, so my drunk a*s marched down to the desk with a bag of chocolate and slammed it on the counter saying "You've heard of the Karen? I'M the anti-Karen! Come on girls, we're going for a smoke!" And we did, once they stopped laughing, and chilled for a while at the desk, and I was their favorite for the rest of my stay 🤣
Margaret Lacher 3 years ago
You come off as a jerk. I wouldn't want to stay at your hotel and if I did, I can guarantee I'd never tip you.
#28
A little tip from someone who runs a hotel: It's fine if you find hotels through sites like expedia, priceline or hotels.com but once narrowed down you should try and call the hotel and get a better rate. I pay a commission for every room booked through a travel agency and I pass that cost down to you by raising rates on those sites. I know most of the hotels in my area do this and if they won't offer you a cheaper they'll often times give you an upgrade. I don't really do this for big holiday weekends like July 4th so YMMV then.
Libstak 3 years ago
I tried this and no discount was available, if I wanted the discount I had to book thru the 3rd party. Seems like a lot of the larger chains have staff who just won't want to make a decision on pricing not already approved by their head office bean counters.
Mayrene Chester 3 years ago
Yes a lot of reservation staff of chain hotels have no authority to set their own rates or offer discounts. They have to keep to the rate structure setup
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Roman Hans 3 years ago
I've booked a lot of hotel rooms and usually the travel websites are cheaper than the hotel websites. One reason is they contract for a lot of rooms so they give a discount (plus if the day is getting near and those rooms aren't booked they'll lower the prices more). This is true with, for instance, Accor Hotels -- except if you go to the hotel website and join their free loyalty program you'll get 10% off, making them cheaper than the travel websites. In short (too late!) try both.
Paul Davis 3 years ago
Also if the room is double booked or doesn't even exist, and not actually available it's not the hotel's fault, generally it's poor management of the travel website. This sort of thing keeps me from even thinking about booking through a 3rd party website.
Foogle Phish 3 years ago
Expedia, hotels.com, Priceline, orbitz, Trivago, travelocity, hotwire, and many others, are all the Expedia Group companies.
Donna Clanclan 3 years ago
Yeah. We had an unexpected need for a hotel one week. Called the hotel and was quoted 260/night. TFYS. It's online for 145/night. Book it online, get there and they charged 260 for the two weekend nights, and then less the rest of the week. I asked the front desk the next morning about the difference. They didn't know anything about what I was quoted the day before. I asked them to look at my bill. After reviewing it they said I was getting the same total for the same number of days, so it shouldn't matter how it's recorded...right? It doesn't matter if I say all the days, but if something else unexpected happens then I'm out a bit of money. Also, the online booking had that rate even if you were just staying the two weekend nights.
#29
Worked night shift at a lower-end chain hotel for a while. If you're going to check in very, very late/early (2-4am), try to call to let us know a couple hours ahead of time. Many hotels do the night audit around 3am which effectively turns the day over, so checking in around then can be inconvenient and irritating for both of us, and I can pretty much do whatever I want in that case. For instance, you come in at 2am Saturday morning, but I haven't run the audit yet, so to the computer it's still Friday. Technically, I'm supposed to check you in, charge you the regular daily rate, and you have to be out in 9 hours for check out Saturday morning (again, to the computer you're just checking in very late on Friday). However, I'm happy to give you a room key, let you get settled, then have you come back in half an hour after I've run audit to officially check you in then, so instead of 9 hours, you pay the same for 33 hours. There's also an early check-in fee that - providing we're not booked solid - I'm happy to "forget" to key in as well.
Faye Przepioski 3 years ago
Yup. I've done this and that's what the front desk has me do. Super awesome.
Mayrene Chester 3 years ago
Doesn’t work at some hotels cos if I’ve closed the day without your checking in, I have to charge that night as a no show. But good news is you get your room on arrival since it’s already kept for you the day before.
#30
Do not use the ice bucket without a liner. It may have been used as a puke receptacle.
Luis Gomez 3 years ago
In other words, they're not sanitized but still offered as ice buckets to guests.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
And don’t use the ice from the ice machine IN your drinks. You. Never. Know.
Mama Panda 3 years ago
I always bring my own ice. One never knows how clean the ice machines are or if someone puked in those too.
Roxanne Leinhauser-Brennan 3 years ago
I can unequivocally state that on at least one occasion at a Day's Inn in NJ this did, in fact, happen. 🤮
#31
A lot of those competing hotel websites are actually owned by the same people.
Foogle Phish 3 years ago
Expedia, hotels.com, Priceline, orbitz, Trivago, travelocity, hotwire, and many others, are all the Expedia Group companies.
#32
Don't try to screw over a hotel. Don't skip out on paying, or refuse to leave a room. If you have property in a rented room and you do not pay your rent, the hotel is under almost no obligation to let you retrieve your things out of said room. Most hotels have a shit list, and sometimes we share them. If you are a big enough prick there could be dozens if not more hotels that wont rent to you.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Also, don’t go back into your room after checking out (if the code hasn’t changed or they’re still on a key system) to clean up after going to the beach or whatever—-the room is no longer yours at that time! Because you have just undone the cleaning of the room, and it will have to be torn apart and re-cleaned—-AND you will definitely be charged the full price of the second cleaning.
Noel Bovae 3 years ago
Mind boggling that anyone would even do such a thing. Checkout means you're checked out, your stay is over. There's no difference trying to enter the room 1 hour after checkout vs 1 year after checkout.
Load More Replies... Theo Blackwood 3 years ago
And chances are they have your credit card on file so they can charge you and will.
#33
Learn how Debit cards work for Christ sake people! It doesn't work the same as a Credit card and will get taken right out of your account so the hotel knows they will get paid. You also get authorized for more money on top in case of incidentals and no they will not take it off, they don't know you and are not going to take that chance. Also if you want to pay with cash expect to put a $100 deposit down for the room. All of this is management rules. Not the desk you are not going to gain anything by yelling at them.
Bec 3 years ago
I teach some basic finance and I have so many students who say they will never get a credit card, probably because their parents had bad experience, but it makes me sad because that will also make it really hard for them to ever travel. I teach them how to avoid the fees and interest and explain that I actually come out ahead because I never pay interest but get money back from points.
rn42 3 years ago
They're taught that because "it's a trap designed by the bank to make you spend more". It's bull, spread by those who always spend more than they have. The difference is, those types used to survive on plain boiled potatoes until next payday, now they rack up the cards. A credit card can even make you money if chosen well. Just make sure to auto-repay fully every month. That's how I have all my cards set up.
Load More Replies... FreshGanesh 3 years ago
We do 10% deposit until arrival. Then we charge full amount at check-in, including daily resort fee. If one pays with a debit card, we hold $200 incidentals per night and release it after checkout & within 5 business days. We try to release it as soon as they check out. As in, hours , not the stated 5 days. We have a wristband system so charges go onto account immediately and can be deducted from the hold in real-time.
Joshua Howard 3 years ago
Oh yeah.. always tell the guest their card is going to be authorized for x-amount that includes room, tax, and an incidental hold, and that it will decline if there isn't that much there. I also explain that the IH will be released at checkout, but that it can take as long as 7 business days for their bank to return it to them, and that I have NO control over that. Annnd.. my last 3 hotels the cash deposit was $250.
Angelia Rhodes 3 years ago
To add to this that it's not the hotel that makes the rules, the bank does. I've had my head torn off for not putting someone's money back right now! It's a three day deal, whether it's a hold or a refund, it's three working days.
Kathy Loman 3 years ago
I've rarely paid a deposit on a room. I just pay the nightly rate and they make a copy of my DL.
Lisa Intally 3 years ago
One "boutique hotel" we were staying at charged $100 deposit for every night. That's right. A stay of 5 nights was $500 off the card on top of the cost of the stay. And the charges didn't drop off until after we went home. Read the fine print and call the hotel first.
#34
When you book with a website (not the hotel's), you often can't change your reservation with the hotel because your contract is actually with whatever site you used. Cancellations, refunds and the like are out of our hands. It usually doesn't matter, but it's always good to know. Prices can also vary, you won't always get a better deal on the travel site. You essentially now have two people making money off of you instead of one. It really depends on availability and nightly rates, which change all the time.
Rachknits 3 years ago (edited)
I was told by a hotel that if the booking site was offering a lower price than booking directly then to give them a call because they'll always match the lower price because they'll avoid paying a commission fee
Becca Hauck 3 years ago
Same with Groupons. Every company will appreciate your calling them directly and will match that price as long as the Groupons are in effect.
Load More Replies... Faye Przepioski 3 years ago
Many mom and pop franchise owners prefer you book direct as they lose money through third party sites. I always use the travel sites to locate a spot and then will call direct and ask for a discount to book direct. "Hey, xxx site says $$$ but any way if I book direct I can get $$?" If no, no big deal. But I am at a 75% success rate. Lol.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Sometimes you can actually get a better deal, better even than the discounted websites, by calling the hotel directly to make your rez.
digitalin 3 years ago
Always book directly with the hotel. Otherwise you are not the customer; the discount site is.
Elissa H 3 years ago
Technically true. But having done both, I have never been treated differently by hotel staff. And if I was, I wouldn't use that hotel again. You are a guest in the hotel if you are staying there & should be treated as such.
Load More Replies... Littlebunnyfufu 3 years ago
I can attest to this. It's a pain. We booked in a hotel that was overbooked and got bumped. This was in the early 2000's. It was such a pain that I'll never book through a discount site again. :(
Elissa H 3 years ago
Sadly, this can happen even if you book directly through the hotel.
Load More Replies... Mayrene Chester 3 years ago
But sometimes booking sites eat into their commission to give you a better deal to convince you they have the best deal, so wouldn’t hurt to check the rates on both platforms.
#35
Immediately check under the bed for trash
Wang Zhuang 3 years ago
Yep. Although there will certainly be times you wish you hadn't checked.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Yes! There have been reports of bad smells that turned out to be something—-or someone—-dead and hidden under the bed. Yikes.
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Paul Scheermeijer 3 years ago (edited)
I had some hotel rooms that had a card under the bed stating: yes we have cleaned here to. Pretty funny to find
James Peters 3 years ago
Maybe this has an obvious answer to other people, but why should I check for trash under the bed?
Natalie Fewings 3 years ago
I once found a rock hard half-eaten Taco Bell burrito in the nightstand instead of a bible.
Kathy Loman 3 years ago
I'm afraid to look under there. 😂😂😂 Dust bunnies need their space too.
Pinky Gladys Gutsman 3 years ago
This is so annoying to me. Not every piece can be found every time, and by looking under the bed for trash, and coming to complain about it .. we automatically know that YOU ARE AN ANNOYING, HIGH MAINTENANCE GUEST.
#36
Know what services the hotel has before you arrive. I work at a limited service hotel where our 3 major perks are free internet, free breakfast, and free local calls.. it's pretty basic and gets really annoying when guests are outraged by the fact that we don't have a pool or a restaurant or a gym. It takes a two second Google search to figure this out and saves you from looking like an idiot when you're angry about something you should have known in the first place.
Mayrene Chester 3 years ago
And guests who complain about the location. Did they book blindly?
survivalrhino 3 years ago
All I want is a clean, quiet room, and hot water-- unfortunately even that low standard is impossible to meet
Kathy Loman 3 years ago
You have a bed, shower and free breakfast? I'm in.😁 I watch movies on my phone because I don't trust free wifi.
Rumple Schleppskin 3 years ago (edited)
This sounds like you should hand them a fake key card for the gym, and separate for the pool.. Give some bogus directions around the hotel that would lead them straight back to the front desk.. .. But don't forget to say if you get lost on the way, there is a map of the hotel on Google. .. Hopefully they'd either make it back to the desk or find out through the Google search there is no pool.. .. But I would definitely print off some FREE BREAKFAST coupons for the ones who made it back to the desk.
#37
As a frequent business traveler and a frequent drinker, I have found out that the bottom of the ironing board can usually be used as a bottle opener.
Jay Son 3 years ago
If you do it correctly, you can use pretty much any item to open s bottle.
Joshua Howard 3 years ago
Check with the desk. There are usually a few for just this situation. I did bartending before hotel work, so I have a beer opener on my keychain, but there is also three actual bottle openers complete with corkscrews I can lend out.
#38
"When the towels and linens smell mostly like bleach — red flag."
gie 3 years ago
A woman in the UK ended up with bleach burns from a hotels face cloths that weren't rinsed out properly. Hotel linen services use use industrial cleaners, so do the extra packing and bring your own face and wash cloth at least. I bring a Korean style wash cloth bc they dry fast, inexpensive, and durable.
CrazyDogLady 3 years ago (edited)
I usually bring my own towel, but this is getting out of hand - in the previous posts and comments the advice is to bring your own blanket and pillow, sandals to wear in a shower, your own cup to drink of, now towels, wash cloth, I have seen a bug spray and other things recommended... I don't think my suitcase is large enough just for the extra stuff I should supposedly bring to the hotel.....
Load More Replies... Mandificent Fazbk 3 years ago
I ran 4 Airbnb's. Bleach was my best friend. As in, you don't want to know.
Paul Davis 3 years ago
The big problem with even sleeping at hotels or using their towels is that they tend to stuff their washers so full they don't actually clean anything. Management pressures the launderers to get through more laundry in a shorter and shorter period of time, and doesn't have any method and doesn't seem to care whether anything actually gets clean at all, again, until either they end up in court or get fired.
NicNor5560 3 years ago
Got a full body rash at Days Inn because of the sheets. The halls were smelly too from the bleach. Never again. We told the agency who was paying for our expenses that DI has to be out the list for us.
Mandificent Fazbk 3 years ago
This could also be an allergy to the detergent . Both my daughter and I have it. That's why I only use premium detergent.
Load More Replies... #39
We give free toothbrushes, deodorant, slippers and rubber ducks to anyone who asks. If you go to the front desk late at night when the auditor is working and ask, "can I have some free stuff?" They will probably give you something.
Gary Davidson 3 years ago
NO! Don't ever just ask, "Can I have some free stuff?"....that would be rude and ignorant and likely to be met with a surprised, shocked, stare. The question should be, "It seems I left my toothbrush at home and didn't pack it. Do you have one for guests who forgot theirs?"....and if they provide one, be sure to say thanks!
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Instead of asking like that, ask nicely if they have any complimentary toiletries, especially if you’ve run out of something or the airlines lost your luggage. And please don’t be greedy, and only ask for what you need.
Ronnie Beaton 3 years ago
I stayed in an Apex hotel in Edinburgh a couple of years ago and got a free rubber duck. His name's Floyd. :)
#40
Perhaps a little late to the party, but I'd **strongly** suggest you carefully read where you're making your reservation. Most hotels now have their own website and, more importantly, imitators. You're not (very) likely to get your credit card stolen, but you are likely to be getting overcharged and/or have your reservation bungled. I've had probably hundreds of bizarre requests offered to people which we physically cannot fulfill -- by third-party agencies that would claim to be working for the hotel. TLDR: Make sure you're checking the website for the hotel, not an advertisement that looks like their hotel.
Katherine Boag 3 years ago
Clicked through to a hotel website once from a major 3rd party booking site and got 100 pop ups, and awkwardly it was on a work pc. Had to shut down and call IT and they had to fix it after hours as it was right on 5pm :s
Stymied Egan 3 years ago
This is a mistake I made, if you are traveling to a large spread out city, double check the address of the hotel. I made a reservation for a hotel, it was not in the area where we were going. I was able to adjust the reservation, same chain different area, since it was made far in advance. It was my mistake just assuming the hotel on the map was the only one in the city.
Foogle Phish 3 years ago
The same when calling the hotel. Many searches will provide a number to a 3rd party call center that has nothing to do with the actual hotel. The best way I've found to ensure you call is going to the actual hotel, is to search for it on Google MAPS. Not just a Google search, but on maps. Find the hotel and click. Then use the phone number listed there. Will get you to the actual property, not just a call center.
#41
Look at the bathroom in the pictures on their site. If it is super nice, usually the rest of the hotel is, too. If it’s just a standard looking bathroom, dig deeper before booking
21stCenturyLesbian 3 years ago
I've stayed in many an exemplary holiday inn without a special bathroom. I think it's got more to do with choosing your hotel wisely
Delilah Evil 3 years ago
Meh, I am usually just there to sleep and shower. I don't need to pay more for that
#42
If you need a crib, call ahead. At our hotel, we only have eight cribs, and it isn't all too uncommon for them all to be lent out on our busiest days. Call ahead and see if we have any available or if we can set one aside for you
RandomFrog 3 years ago
When my lil brother was still young ( were talking 1-3yrs) would do this all the time and they always had cribs.
FreshGanesh 3 years ago
Location location location. Disneyland resorts often run out of cribs and rollaways. I’m sure it’s all about the likelihood of several children at the location.
Load More Replies... Pinky Gladys Gutsman 3 years ago
Don't be an a**hole if the Property doesn't have a crib. If you really need one, BRING YOUR OWN. Most of the places I've worked don't have them. Safety measures. Also not worth the drama. You ever cleaned one? It's AWFUL
Rose Ann Fisher 3 years ago
Know terminology in the country that you are visiting. I went to Ireland with a group of friends from church and roommates found it difficult to sleep in a full size bed. They asked for a cot. When we returned from sightseeing, they placed a crib in the room!
Kat Ashworth 3 years ago
Camp bed is the term (at least in the UK, but I guess Ireland too) for future reference.
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Shreeky 3 years ago
Westgate Resort in Gatlinburg, TN has quite a few cribs and bassinets for guests. Usually can get one to use for free, IF you are NOT rude to any of the employees. My ex-husband used to work there back in 2010-2011 as a runner and the runners are the ones who will bring one to you if needed. They can only provide one per room due to the size of the resort being really big on the amount of rooms they have. The runners WILL make excuses up if someone gets an attitude with them(my ex-husband would do that quite often, mainly cause they only get paid little over minimum wage and they were NOT allowed to accept any tips or they would get fired on the spot for accepting any type of tips)
Becca Hauck 3 years ago
I'd never have my baby in a public crib. That's what those fold up cribs/playpens are for.
#43
Be nice to concierges, seriously. We can help you make it one of the best nights you have in our city, impress your SO or generally hook it up for you. Be a jerk and I will drag my feet to do anything for you.
Gaya Knust 3 years ago
How about being nice to everyone (unless that person deserved it)? I find it a tad depressing that in those types of posts people have to "remind" everyone else to be nice to the employees responsible for your room, food, etc, and that reflects on the number of people who must behave like complete arseholes to staff.
Joshua Howard 3 years ago
Tell me you don't work in the service industry without telling me you don't work in the service industry. I'm not criticizing, honest. But yeah... most people I see on my shift are polite, if short, because I work Audit... but that means the really NICE people and the arseholes stand out even more. Seriously, I've had a guy YELL at me and tell me I must just not be good at my job because the bulb had burned out in the sign and he had trouble finding the place. I'm standing there being held up by my cane just arching my eyebrows at him. Told him I understood he had a long day and was frustrated, but I was the only one there until 7am, and I am being as polite as possible, but was he expecting me to find a ladder, climb it, and change a bulb at 12:30 in the morning? To his credit, he did apologize, but that is one of a dozen stories I have...
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The Q 3 years ago
I see here that people say be nice to the concierges, bellhops and room service. I have only a few times in my life stayed at a hotel that had these employees. Those stays were because of a company I was working for had a conference there. Most hotels I can afford smell like curry as soon as you walk in the front door.
survivalrhino 3 years ago
Thanks, but if I'm actually in a place where I want to explore, ain't going to listen to a concierge who is getting commissions on referrals-- I'll figure it out on my own. I usually stop by local firehouses, world wide-- people who put their lives on the line usually know where to go .
#44
Not a hotel worker, but I have some advice: Wipe down parts of your room when you get there with some Clorox wipes. You have no idea how many people don't wash their hands after going to the bathroom and touch that handle you just touched before you started eating your food. Do you want someones shitness on your sandwich?
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Bring a can of Lysol, or other sanitizer too spray the bed and bathroom, including the fixtures.
Christine Jordan 3 years ago
Absolutely, every time! I also spray the bathtub.
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YELLING!!! 3 years ago
That's why I never eat a buffet. I've seen too many dudes leave the bathroom without so much as a quick rinse.
Katherine Boag 3 years ago
I touch tons of stuff out in the world before eating, its fine unless theres visible poo particles
august is mentally unstable 3 years ago
you could get really sick doing that :(
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#45
I've worked in 2 different hotels. In both, the coffee was never changed between about 11 am and 4:30-5 am the next day. If you want a cup of coffee between those times, ask. I'll be more than happy to brew a fresh pot for you.
Scotira 3 years ago
😳 OMG 🙈 I feel truely sorry for all of you in the US. For coffee: the Italian way it is 😅 fresh with every cup.
Keller22 3 years ago
Ah, you Europeans have more sophisticated tastebuds than we in the US do. 😊
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Rumple Schleppskin 3 years ago
Is one of those supposed to be a pm? 11a-5p or 11p-5a I mean, you'd run out in 18 hours wouldn't you, just from people pouring a cup and saying... Ewu, ughh that's disgusting!..
#46
My friend and I stayed at 9 different hotels in 10 days, and we always asked the price and discussed it between us before agreeing to stay - every single person said "this is the last available room for tonight" It truly made us wonder if this was a universal trick for all hotels
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Like the airlines, hotels overbook, because a certain percentage of people are no-shows. So they may, or may not, have rooms available.
Paul Davis 3 years ago
In other words, just don't travel and definitely don't try to stay in hotels. Screw these greedy scumbag people who are always pinching pennies and screwing over their guests.
Pinky Gladys Gutsman 3 years ago
Did you travel during peak season? Then it's probable. Especially if you didn't book ahead.
Shreeky 3 years ago
Depends on the locations and the time of the year. Places in high tourist spots like near Disney amusement parks or Myrtle Beach or Gatlinburg... from memorial Day weekend until after Labor Day weekend is when you will actually have problems booking rooms being peaked tourist season times(trust me I used to live next county over from Gatlinburg for lil over 15yrs and had friends and ex-husband working in Gatlinburg and locals calls those times of the year "Touron Season"= tourist+moron season) Also during Septembers, Pigeon Forge will be solid booked during "Rod Runs" at all hotels/resorts/motels on the strip IF you do NOT reserve months ahead of time.
Joshua Howard 3 years ago
Depends on what night it was, actually. Summer and holidays are Busy Season for hotels. Currently, I work at 1 hotel within walking distance of 9 others, with a new one currently being built on the same street. There have been many nights I've had three other hotels call me and ask if I have anything available because they got overbooked. Sometimes I can help out, sometimes I can't. Last time, it wasn't even a weekend or holiday, just a particularly nice day, and people had been out and didn't want to drive home. I walked into work with 10 rooms left to sell, and was down to 1 when audit hit.
#47
If you encounter a problem, do not deal with it all night and then demand a discount in the morning. We want to fix problems, not compensate for them. Plus, if you stayed the whole night with, as you say, the loudest heater in the world, then to me, it couldn't have been that bad; otherwise you would have wanted it fixed right away. Waiting until the next morning tells me the problem was either not a problem at all, or just enough of a problem to leverage for a discount. Either way I won't take it seriously. However, call me as soon as you notice something unsatisfactory (this is why it helps to check everything you intend to use in the room before unpacking) and I WILL fix it for you, often upgrading you to a nicer room because I feel bad.
Brandon Walker 3 years ago
Some people don't want to move rooms at 3 in the morning just because a front desk person would rather do that than compensate for it the next day, we know you have to be awake because it's your shift, that doesn't mean we should need to stay awake, also, it's not really about how YOU want to solve SOMEONE ELSES problem, they are the one with the problem, it's about what they find satisfactory, don't get me wrong, they should be polite, but this one's on here like three times as if people actually think it's reasonable for someone who has to be out early in the morning for a meeting, or a drive, or whatever else, to stay up at midnight to talk to front desk, wait on maint to try and fix the issue, and then move all their stuff to a new room in the middle of the night, and now it's 345 am, and they have to wake up in 2 hrs, all because that's a little favorable to the guy who has to be up all those hours anyway for their scheduled work shift .
Sarwoo Bindhi 3 years ago
Agree...had a minor issue of a hair conditioner bottle being completely empty in the hotel shower. I only realized this half-way through my shower. I didn't want to stop mid-shower, dry off, get dressed, call front desk & walk down to get the conditioner or ask to have it brought up. It was just easier for me to finish the shower & not condition my hair. It was late, I was exhausted from a long day and just wanted to go to bed.
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Elise Thompson 3 years ago
Sometimes as a woman traveling alone I don't want a strange man coming to my room to fix the TV/sink/heater in the middle of the night. Some people have kids they don't want woken up, so many people just live with it. Not everyone is lying to cheat you out of money.
Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
North Dakotans and Canadians "don't want to make a fuss". Don't want to "put the staff out". Cultural thing that costs us dearly many times.
Mykidsartrocks 3 years ago
At ours (it is rather small and not super busy), we call the guests sometime after check in to see if their room is to their satisfaction.
Stymied Egan 3 years ago
My husband is the kind of person that doesn't want to bother anyone. I'd call (yes, I can be a Karen), but he wants to wait. So, what happens is we "report" a problem about the room at check out. I have no idea if anything is done after we leave. Neither of us expect a refund or adjustment.
Mandy Delaforce (PC Girl) 3 years ago
Most of the motels I've stayed at, don't have staffing after 8pm or before 7am. And over here, a hotel is a place where you drink - the pub - which sometimes offers accommodation, but only a room with a bed and a shared bathroom. Think backpacker hostel.
Kathy Loman 3 years ago
I've woken up night clerks because of issues with my room. 🙄 I moved twice in one night. Never again. If it's a problem then I'll either fix it if I can and not tell you or I'll tell you when I check out.
#48
Maybe everyone knows this, but if you want fresh towels you should put the towels on the floor. If you hang them they will not be changed and you'll have to ask for new ones.
Mitchell 3 years ago
I have the opposite experience and it annoys me. The hotel has a little card saying they are environmentally friendly and will only change towels that aren’t hung, yet they change mine daily even if they are hung. That’s not environmentally friendly. Neither is throwing out the little bar of soap that I used ONCE and replacing it with a new one.
Susan Reid Smith 3 years ago
We break the little bar of soap into two parts for sink and shower.
Load More Replies... FreshGanesh 3 years ago
87/13 rule. We’ve all been brainwashed to think we play a much more significant role in reducing environmental waste or excess consumption. Seriously, all the towels washed daily by all the humans alive wouldn’t even make a remotely measurable difference. 87% corporations/nations, 13% all humans individually.
Cathy Hurd 3 years ago
I'm not environmentally friendly, I can't use a towel more than once. There are still germs and bacteria on a just washed body.
#49
Anything left in the rooms that is taken to the lost amd found is considered up for grabs after a week.
FreshGanesh 3 years ago
Again, this speaks to type of hotel and quality. Our HK dept catalogues all finds and it goes to guest services and is mailed to the guest once we’ve contacted them. It doesn’t matter if it’s an earbud or tennis bracelet. Recently had a guest who left a metal golf tee. It initially looked like it may be unworthy to claim, but it was actually a vintage Tiffany’s trinket worth more than most items left behind. You just never know. Best to return if possible v
Cathy Hurd 3 years ago
Gotta be careful with forgotten lingerie though (wink, wink)
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Athena Bloom 3 years ago
A few months ago, I forgot a stuffed animal in my room. He blended in with the sheets, and despite doing multiple room checks on the way out, he was still misplaced. It was an expensive one because it's one of the ones that you can microwave, is weighted, and has lavender seeds in it. I brought it because it works as a good heating pad when I'm on my period. My dad, the one who rented the room, contacted the staff the next day, and they were so lovely! I think they were under the impression that I was a young child by the way my dad retold the interactions (I'm actually an adult, so it was very funny). We got him back safe and sound not even a week later!
Luna Crow 3 years ago
If it was abandoned and forgotten about for over a week, you're only "stealing" from the landfill.
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Darcy Marie 3 years ago
I stayed in a hotel once and i got horribly air sick on the way and threw up all over my hoodie. I decided to just throw it away at the hotel but they wouldn't take it until i wrote a signed note stating that i intentionally threw it away. Even after that we got a call after check out asking to confirm i didn't want that sweatshirt back. I appreciate that they were so intent on making sure i wasn't leaving something behind, but please, i do not want that vomity sweatshirt. Burn it.
#50
THEY DON'T WASH THE DUVETS.
FreshGanesh 3 years ago
This depends on the quality of the property/brand. We wash every piece of bedding and sanitize pillows between quests. We’re an independent autograph property, so may have better standards than most. We send no-res or overflow guests to one of three nearby properties and the cheaper of them has same standards. An aside: a lot of hotels have done away with duvets and now use throws & the like. We do all white sheets with a thin duvet & white protector/cover with no real cover and a thin blanket folded at bottom (it’s never cold) and it all gets washed.
Rose Ann Fisher 3 years ago
Sounds wonderful! I wish I knew where you worked.
Load More Replies... Trophy Husband 3 years ago
In the US, it's against health code to leave any linens unwashed between guests. That doesn't mean that every hotel actually follows the rules. If I stay at a run down place (which I don't anymore, but before I had a family I did), then I made extra sure to remove that and then wash my hands!
Hollers 3 years ago
Former housekeeper at a Disney hotel, can confirm! As long as there’s not a bunch of hair and no noticeable stains, blankets are in fact reused. They get layered between sheets so there’s “no direct contact” with people but all the other linens are replaced with clean ones.
Jennifer Brekke 3 years ago
I'm an Airbnb Hostess & can say I absolutely wash all sheets, towels, AND THE DUVET COVER every time. I have 2 sets of bedding/towels (a blue set & a gray set) & switch between guests. I stayed in a Airbnb-type place once & really wondered how long it had been since the bed blankets were washed. Grossed me out.
#51
Don't come up to the front desk expecting me to know what room you're in! I see so many people every day I can't tell you apart from all the rooms we have.
#52
If you want to extend your stay another night, for the love of god let the front desk know BEFORE 11am on the day you were supposed to check out. So many people do this and it annoys me to the highest degree!! Same goes for late check outs... if you'd like to stay after the 11am checkout time, TELL SOMEONE before the fact!
Angelia Rhodes 3 years ago
And why does it matter? Housekeeping!!! there are schedules based on check ins/out, and it all has to be done by 3, which is when the stampede begins.
#53
please try to understand that the front desk agents, housekeeping staff, and maintenance staff do not make the rules. If we say "Sorry, check in is at 3pm" or "unfortunately we can't take a bed out of one room and out it into yours" it's because there are rules in place set by management for a reason. Plus, book another room. Like I'm really gonna give the ok to drag a bed out of the adjacent room and haul it into yours.
#54
The remotes for the TV are rarely cleaned.
Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
Stayed at one hotel, don't remember where, where the remotes were in a little plastic bag. Ecologically unsound, but most likely clean.
#55
I only worked for a short while at two separate hotels and was a part of the engineering department. I don't know a whole lot about the rooms, the closest I got was in the down time we folded a fuckload (I believe that's the official word for it) worth of towels in the downtime. Anyways, we cleaned the hot tubs every week, which is good, but when a coworker explained to me why, I didn't ever want to go in one again. (It honestly was huge a pain.) It's not the reasons you'd expect, people don't usually have sex in them (that I knew of, and I was down there all the time during my shift), but disgusting nonetheless. I won't get into the details, but just trust me, they're disgusting. Which brings me to the next point: if the hot tub is cold, we probably just cleaned it and it didn't have the chance to heat up. So be grateful that you aren't swimming in whatever you would have been. (I honestly am a little skeptical of my coworker, but it doesn't seem too far fetched.) Also, if the hot tub is cold, or for whatever reason you have a complaint, be vocal (but polite) about it. We're people too, and we feel good about doing a good job, but we also have special privileges that we can share "tell the bar/restaurant dimodo comped your next meal/coffee/drink/whatever because [hotel] promised a hot tub and it was being cleaned". However, if we feel we're being put on the defensive, we probably won't think of it or if we do, we probably won't help you
#56
I just found out that if you are caught smoking in a non-smoking hotel and you have not checked out yet, they can (and probably will) charge you an extra $200+ in damage. They then have to decommission the room for a day.
Brenda 3 years ago
I smoke. Many places have a few smoking rooms, but they all have smoking areas. No need to smoke in a non-smoking room
Rabbit-Of-ill-Portent️ she/her 3 years ago
Same. Just because I've damned myself to an early grave, it doesn't mean I have to take everyone else with me
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#57
Wash the glasses or use your own. I hear many housekeepers just wipe them clean.
#58
Hi, I work at a hostel and my advice is if you can't get something from one receptionist wait for another shift and ask again. Some people are just good and will give you anything. And when complaining - please be polite, not arrogant - you'll get a better service. And if you are in a foreign country and you don't speak good English - smile! You'll get a better service. Don't speak french when I've already told you that I don't understand.
Kay Phillips 3 years ago
Learn English? It's a pretty basic thing if you want to travel abroad
Load More Replies... #59
look up the hotel ahead of time for directions and dining options. I can't tell you how many people call us and are lost and just tell us "I'm on 80 west". We can't pin point where you are on the freeway. If I say to look out for the Adams avenue exit ( not all of them have an actual exit number) and you passed it up already, you might end up in San Francisco (happened twice). Use the power of the Internet!!!!!
#60
don't leave valuables in your car. Even with security on the premises, two or four eyes can't watch the whole hotel at once. What good is recorded video if your [things] is already gone.
#61
Hotels love charging smokers. It's really not worth even trying. A towel doesnt help.
Barong 3 years ago (edited)
I’m unsure about what a towel would be used for. Can anyone please explain? Not that I smoke, just curious.
Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
Under the door to prevent smoke getting into the hallway. Didn't you smoke dope in the dorms?
Load More Replies... #62
If you stay more than 10 nights a year in hotels, SIGN UP FOR ONE OF THE REWARDS PROGRAMS! Seriously, most of them are free and as long as you can handle a few spam emails and sales calls you are golden. It is certainly worth it, there is normally a base % discount you get just for having the membership, plus the staff treats you well in case you write a review online.
#63
If you encounter a problem, you'll get further by not being an @$$ to the staff. Including upgrades, refunds, et cetera. We like giving that stuff to the nice people.
#64
As a former housekeeper, never use the glasses, unless they are plastic and sealed. Take sanitizer wipes to use on remotes, door handles etc. Avoid the comforter as its rarely washed. If you are staying in a hotel for an extended period of time, be nice to your room (and therefore your housekeepers). I've worked with cleaners who've done some nasty stuff to dirty tenant's rooms.
#65
Security deposits/Damage deposit: I had this one woman argue with me for half an hour about this. She did not understand why she needed to put down a $200 cash/debit deposit because she did not have a credit card. She even said, "I promise I won't break anything or take anything!" It took one of our regular guests to walk up to her, tell her the exact same thing in the exact same words before she finally left. Basically, yes we do need a deposit if you pay in cash or debit. We will hold that on your credit card too if you are paying with credit card. Why do we need it? What if you break something or take something? What if you smoke in the room? We must have SOME way to cover our a*s. Another unrelated tip: Don't walk up to the desk and check out, while reeking like weed or cigarette (if checking out of a non-smoking room). I will be a douche and send someone up to your room right away to check for evidence (kinda my job description as supervisor/MoD) On a semi-related note: Ontario will allow smoking in stairwells, but Alberta does not. I always thought that was kind of weird.
#66
don't get all butthurt when you don't get a rare you saw online or at another hotel. Houses in nicer towns cost more and houses in shitty towns cost less. Same logic applies to hotels. most hotel agents can't just whip up a magic rate. We (I) can't lower your rate without a corporate discount code/AAA/ AARP/ Govt./ etc. Our managers get a day report that actually shows rate changes. Is saving $10 really worth having someone get written up?.
#67
DO NOT trust the hotel info on Expedia or other third party booking sites %100. Some will that we offer a 24 hour shuttle service when it only runs from 7am-10pm. Some Expedia agents even pretend to be staff members at our hotel! (You call, they say they'll transfer you to us, transfer you to another Expedia employee). Happened several times.
Aileen Grist 3 years ago
I was looking to book a fortnight in Christchurch, Hampshire, UK. That's what I put in the search area. I came very near to booking a really cheap room with fridge and everything - I only realised where it was when it said handy for the airport. Expedia nearly had me booking Christchurch, New Zealand!!
UnpopularPanda 3 years ago
I only read the first line and thought you were speaking about NZ so not Expedia really. AI, like humans processes data which is more common or known. I've booked not hotels but flights (non refundable, non cancel-able) between incorrect locations for not being careful myself.
Load More Replies... #68
Front Desk Clerk here: 1. Be aware of the kind of hotel you're going to. 2. Say you have AAA or CAA, usually most people will just say OK and not check the card. 3. When you book online, you're paying the booking company, not us. It's a third party sale. We sell the rooms to the website, and they sell them to you.
#69
Not a hotel worker, but if you want to try and cut a deal with a hotel rate call at night when the night manager is on duty. They're usually more likely to work with you.
#70
For f**k's sake do not use a travel agent. Their incentives are all perverse. I've seen agents book rooms at a ridiculous rate, and they sometimes even decline discounts when they are offered.
#71
Free phone chargers!!! Just ask!
Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
They come out the lost and found box. Play it forward and return them when you check out.
#72
Tip the housekeepers!
#74
If you don't want to be disturbed then use the sign. You would be amazed at how frequently hotel staff walk in on people who didn't bother with it.
Roman Hans 3 years ago
The shortest period of time recorded by scientists is the nanosecond between housekeeping knocking on your door and unlocking it to see you naked.
UnpopularPanda 3 years ago
No, that's between the light turning green and the a*****e behind you honking
Load More Replies... #75
Tip the front desk staff. We like that :) Also when you get a survey, via email, don't just click random numbers (1-10 satisfaction scale usually) they actually matter. But be honest of course. And...I wouldn't walk around barefoot in the rooms. FILTHY CARPETS.
Megan Curl 3 years ago
I would tip the chambermaid upon arrival before the front desk person. The maid makes a difference. I’ve never even heard of tipping reception.
SadTrashPanda 3 years ago
The problem with tipping is when you arrive and the long-ago reserved room with a desirable view from the window is unavailable, no explanation or upgrade offered, implicitly suggesting that you didn't get it (again, despite confirmed reservation) because you didn't tip the front desk guy.
Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
The other reason to avoid pre-tipping is that the housekeeper you tipped may not be the housekeeper who cleaned your room the last three days.
Load More Replies... #76
Many things such as fans, heaters and even bathrobes might be something stored in one place in the hotel, if you need something you should ask for it, it's not always in every room.
#77
I worked for the ritz carlton for a few years. In my orientation, the HR rep told everyone that each employee has a special allowance of $1,500 to make sure they can help the guests feel like their stay would be memorable. There was a story about a guest who lost his Rolex and asked the front desk if they had seen it or one of the maids took it and complained a lot. When the guest finally left, the guy from the front desk went out and purchased the guest a new rolex and was reimbursed fully by the ritz. The guest was extra happy and is now returning to the same property every year. So, every Ritz Carlton employee in the U.S. has a $1,500 account for guests if needed. Not many people know that.
Rod 3 years ago
In 2020 the cheapest Rolex on the catalogue was $5700 so it looks like this story is just BS...
Mama Panda 3 years ago
The author didn't say what year, just said "for a few years". Also, there are Rolex watches with smaller price tags than $5700. Maybe you are just BS.
Load More Replies... #78
Don't have a credit card? Or only have a credit card with a small amount of money on it? For some reason, booking.com is the only online site (that our motel uses, anyway) that does NOT check the validity of credit cards when you book a room. I have used this knowledge to my advantage by using worthless prepaid/gift credit cards to book the "non-refundable" rates on their website, which is usually about 10% less than the refundable rates. I then simply call the motel and tell them that they will be unable to preauth my credit card, and that I will be paying with Debit when I arrive. This has not yet failed to work.
Kay Phillips 3 years ago
Booking com absolutely checks the validity of the card. Just two weeks ago I received an email that my card didn't have enough money for the reservation I did on booking, and the booking would be canceled if I didn't add a card with enough money.
#79
The glasses for toothbrushes are not always washed since the cleaners are in a hurry, often they are just held under the tap and rinsed (if even that). Check for lip prints.
#80
Don't assume that anyone will see the special request field in your reservation OR be able to accommodate your requests even if they do see it. If I have one room left and it's a smoking room, you can't just write "NON SMOKING ROOM THANKS" in the request field and then call me a "stupid f*****g b***h" when you end up with a smoking room anyway. Well, you can actually. But then you can't be surprised when I kick your a*s out into the cold without a refund.
BusLady 3 years ago
What am I missing here? If you request a non-smoking room for health reasons and they give you a smoking room, you shouldn't insult the staff. But what do you do now when you might not be able to get another reservation somewhere else? You made the reservation in good faith and they ignored a valid request?
Megan Curl 3 years ago
Whoever wrote this needs to change jobs ASAP because you have no business being in hospitality.
#82
Never use a Park, Sleep and Fly service at an airport hotel. No one is watching the car, it just sits there for however long youre away, and no one at the hotel really gives a c**p about your car. Most of the time it isn't even monitored. Youre better off leaving your car at home and taking a taxi to the airport.
#83
Your breakfast food is likely always been handled in an unsanitary manner during set up. (typically desk clerk in lower end hotels)
#84
Don't just slap your expensive car keys on the counter and ask what the room rate is; I will double or triple the going rate because I know you can pay and you're most likely exhausted and wont bother to go elsewhere.
Kay Phillips 3 years ago
Haha what was that about treating front desk staff nicely? You deserve all the s**t guests give you and more
#85
Quit being such assholes. Im at work on every holiday while you are there enjoying time with family, so quit being a d**k about petty s**t. Also, The front desk is in charge of your room and the room rate. If your mad at the restaurant talk to your waiter, dont pay your bill and then come b***h to me at the desk about what your waiter did. Also, quit lying. Just tell us the truth about whatever your situation is and im more likley to help you. Finally and most importantly, if you name drop big whips in the property or corporate office about how they always take care of you, I will immediatly give you the shittiest room in the hotel. People are here on their anniversaries, birthdays, and weddings, they need a suite more than you do because your f*****g dog is sick so you wanted to stay close to the vet.
Mama Panda 3 years ago
Wow! Maybe working in hospitality isn't your thing. I think this would be a huge red flag in that it's time to look for a different field of work. You have no business working with the public with an attitude like that. I don't give a s**t if you think it's trivial for someone to be upset because their dog, who is a member of their family, is sick, you shut your pie hole and try to be sympathetic or at least fake it. Maybe take your own advice...Quit being such an a*****e!
#86
Only stayed in hotels before, but here is a few, small tips: - Keep as much as possible in one spot. Unless you are to spend a long time, it's pointless to put clothing into the provided cabinets. - Plastic cups and fork/knives are great, cardboard plates, too. - Try to keep yourself to drinks from cardboard containers. You can throw them away with ease. - Food/snacks with minimal waste is the best kind. Try to avoid eating at all in the room, tho. - Keep waste at a minimum, and gather it in the same bin. - One towel for hands, one for body (after shower/bath). - Sexy time? Put a large towel under your privates. They may change sheets, but the mattress... No... - An external HDD with some movies connected to your laptop is better than the c**p on TV. Cheap rooms rarely have good TV.
#87
If continental breakfast is included, probably a bad sign
Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
TAANSTAAFL. There's no such thing as a free lunch (breakfast). You paid for it.
#89
be prepared if you have a special diet, are allergic to gluten, or are vegan. Ask about the food options in the area but don't be surprised if the desk agent doesn't know any good places to get gluten free food, especially if the person you're asking probably eats just about anything seeing as how they're overweight.
Annie Bieber 3 years ago
Wow...no kidding...welcome to the Douchepacker Inn.🙄
Load More Replies...
What do you think ?
JuniorCJ82 3 years ago
How are any of these red flags? This article was poorly titled. It's about hotel tips for guests, not gross/illegal things hotels do.
Sean The Sheep 3 years ago
"red flag" is a lovely phrase for search engine optimisation getting the clickbait out there. The headlines are written by those charged with getting maximum potential advertising readers.
Load More Replies... Brenda 3 years ago
When my kids were young, we always tried to drive straight through from Houston, TX to Nashville, TN when visiting my parents. Once we had to stay at a hotel but didn't have credit cards and a limited amount of cash. Hotel manager was awesome! We explained our situation and he worked with us. Put a temporary hold on our debit card, and waited until Saturday/Sunday midnight to do it so we wouldn't get an overdraft fee. Gave us a bigger room than we could really afford, and at a discounted rate of the smaller room. He also provided snacks, drinks and sandwiches for us (it was like 10 or so). We came down early while he was still there. He reversed the hold, let us pay cash and we didn't have to leave until 11am. He literally saved us that night. The next time we traveled, guess where we stayed
Angie Cameron 3 years ago
Basically all the same kinda stuff. Be polite, don't be a d**k and yeah.
Nitka Tsar 3 years ago
I think some of this is nice to know but it is probably different from country to country, maybe state to state and for sure hotel to hotel. I do hope that higher hotel chains have their standards, even in countries without inspectors for these things. I've only been in a Hotel/ Motel/ Hostel a hand full of times and always in my own country, once in my country of birth and once on a vacation and have never felt as if I should watch out for unclean things around them. I think it has to do with peoples mentality in each country as well. For example: I think we might agree to expect perfectly clean rooms in Japan.
TheDivineMsM 3 years ago
Former hotel worker here: if the comforter or blanket on the bed is thick or really huge, it likely only gets dry cleaned every month or so. Which means tons of people have slept under that blanket without it being washed. Always look for newer hotels that have thin blankets , they can be washed regularly and are much cleaner and more sanitary.
Hannah Hudson-Lee 3 years ago
The bit about not waiting until the morning to tell them about a problem is good advice. I was staying in a hotel in Dublin. Nice place, but we had a small budget room with a stunning view of the bins. No complaints on that score, it's all we could afford at the time. In the middle of the night, the whole room suddenly vibrated in a weird way for about a minute and then stopped. A short time later it happened again. It definitely wasn't a minor earthquake (I have experienced a couple). When it woke me a third time, I went to investigate and realised it was happening whenever one of the lifts (near our room) was being used. So I went and told the front desk before heading back to bed in the other lift. The next morning when we went to breakfast there was an engineer working on the lift with a worried look on their face. I don't know what was up with the lift, but I got profusely thanked by the manager for alerting them, moved to a top suite with a view of the river, and a free dinner!
Hannah Hudson-Lee 3 years ago
The best part was, I didn't complain or ask to be moved room. I just said, "I think there may be a problem with lift A. It has started making our room vibrate when its in use, and it wasn't doing that earlier. You might want to stop people using it and call the engineer to be safe."
Load More Replies... Ashley Kelly 3 years ago
Some good tips but a lot of generalizations, too. Large chains that aren't franchised can often have a better rate on an outside website.
Kandrea's World 3 years ago
Part 2. The sheets and towels were washed in industrial machines. We were instructed to pack them in as tight as cement. We would often bloody our knuckles pounding them in. So they barely even got wet during the wash. When they came out, we would spread them out on a table and pick all the hair and pubic hair off of them and then fold them. I quit after a week because this was all beyond disgusting. Also your tip rarely goes to the people "cleaning" the room unless they steal it.. We were supposed to give all money left behind to the housekeeping manager. Honestly, none of these people deserved a tip because your room wasn't actually being cleaned.
Kandrea's World 3 years ago
I used to work housekeeping in a high end hotel. The president of the USA even stayed there during one of his visits. Let me tell you how the rooms are cleaned. The staff was trained to use the johnny mop on the toilet and then to clean the sink. I refused to do this. The tub was never cleaned unless there was a visible ring. It was rinsed out to remove hair and that was all. The toilet seat was never wiped unless visibly dirty. The bathroom floor was never mopped, just swept. The sweeper was only run if the carpet was visibly dirty. Nothing in the room was ever wiped down. If the bed wasn't used, it was not stripped. The duvet was never washed. Several members of the staff would remake the beds with the same dirty sheets and throw the clean sheets down the shoot just to make things easier on themselves. Any unused towels are not changed out. The ice bucket was never washed.
JuniorCJ82 3 years ago
How are any of these red flags? This article was poorly titled. It's about hotel tips for guests, not gross/illegal things hotels do.
Sean The Sheep 3 years ago
"red flag" is a lovely phrase for search engine optimisation getting the clickbait out there. The headlines are written by those charged with getting maximum potential advertising readers.
Load More Replies... Brenda 3 years ago
When my kids were young, we always tried to drive straight through from Houston, TX to Nashville, TN when visiting my parents. Once we had to stay at a hotel but didn't have credit cards and a limited amount of cash. Hotel manager was awesome! We explained our situation and he worked with us. Put a temporary hold on our debit card, and waited until Saturday/Sunday midnight to do it so we wouldn't get an overdraft fee. Gave us a bigger room than we could really afford, and at a discounted rate of the smaller room. He also provided snacks, drinks and sandwiches for us (it was like 10 or so). We came down early while he was still there. He reversed the hold, let us pay cash and we didn't have to leave until 11am. He literally saved us that night. The next time we traveled, guess where we stayed
Angie Cameron 3 years ago
Basically all the same kinda stuff. Be polite, don't be a d**k and yeah.
Nitka Tsar 3 years ago
I think some of this is nice to know but it is probably different from country to country, maybe state to state and for sure hotel to hotel. I do hope that higher hotel chains have their standards, even in countries without inspectors for these things. I've only been in a Hotel/ Motel/ Hostel a hand full of times and always in my own country, once in my country of birth and once on a vacation and have never felt as if I should watch out for unclean things around them. I think it has to do with peoples mentality in each country as well. For example: I think we might agree to expect perfectly clean rooms in Japan.
TheDivineMsM 3 years ago
Former hotel worker here: if the comforter or blanket on the bed is thick or really huge, it likely only gets dry cleaned every month or so. Which means tons of people have slept under that blanket without it being washed. Always look for newer hotels that have thin blankets , they can be washed regularly and are much cleaner and more sanitary.
Hannah Hudson-Lee 3 years ago
The bit about not waiting until the morning to tell them about a problem is good advice. I was staying in a hotel in Dublin. Nice place, but we had a small budget room with a stunning view of the bins. No complaints on that score, it's all we could afford at the time. In the middle of the night, the whole room suddenly vibrated in a weird way for about a minute and then stopped. A short time later it happened again. It definitely wasn't a minor earthquake (I have experienced a couple). When it woke me a third time, I went to investigate and realised it was happening whenever one of the lifts (near our room) was being used. So I went and told the front desk before heading back to bed in the other lift. The next morning when we went to breakfast there was an engineer working on the lift with a worried look on their face. I don't know what was up with the lift, but I got profusely thanked by the manager for alerting them, moved to a top suite with a view of the river, and a free dinner!
Hannah Hudson-Lee 3 years ago
The best part was, I didn't complain or ask to be moved room. I just said, "I think there may be a problem with lift A. It has started making our room vibrate when its in use, and it wasn't doing that earlier. You might want to stop people using it and call the engineer to be safe."
Load More Replies... Ashley Kelly 3 years ago
Some good tips but a lot of generalizations, too. Large chains that aren't franchised can often have a better rate on an outside website.
Kandrea's World 3 years ago
Part 2. The sheets and towels were washed in industrial machines. We were instructed to pack them in as tight as cement. We would often bloody our knuckles pounding them in. So they barely even got wet during the wash. When they came out, we would spread them out on a table and pick all the hair and pubic hair off of them and then fold them. I quit after a week because this was all beyond disgusting. Also your tip rarely goes to the people "cleaning" the room unless they steal it.. We were supposed to give all money left behind to the housekeeping manager. Honestly, none of these people deserved a tip because your room wasn't actually being cleaned.
Kandrea's World 3 years ago
I used to work housekeeping in a high end hotel. The president of the USA even stayed there during one of his visits. Let me tell you how the rooms are cleaned. The staff was trained to use the johnny mop on the toilet and then to clean the sink. I refused to do this. The tub was never cleaned unless there was a visible ring. It was rinsed out to remove hair and that was all. The toilet seat was never wiped unless visibly dirty. The bathroom floor was never mopped, just swept. The sweeper was only run if the carpet was visibly dirty. Nothing in the room was ever wiped down. If the bed wasn't used, it was not stripped. The duvet was never washed. Several members of the staff would remake the beds with the same dirty sheets and throw the clean sheets down the shoot just to make things easier on themselves. Any unused towels are not changed out. The ice bucket was never washed.
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