Any Problems With Hotel... Uh, Cleanliness?

[Ornery]

Haven't stayed in too many hotels since our honeymoon, 20+ years ago. Saw a report by 20/20 a few years ago, about the lack of "real" cleaning that takes place between visitors. One girl had all kinds of bites on her back from some critters in the mattress.

Does it bother you to sleep in a bed that literally hundreds of people have slept in before you? Are supposedly, freshly washed linen enough to put your mind at ease? Do you wear "flip flops" in the shower? Use your foot to flush the toilet?

I didn't use to think about this stuff, but it makes me cringe to think about using a hotel this summer for vacation now. I was even kicking around buying a trailer with shower for the occasion. Damn, didn't think about it long. Those cost real money! :Q

How do you business travelers deal with it? Try not to think about it, or what? I don't envy you your jobs!

 

[kranky]

Fortunately, my company puts us up in nicer hotels. (Marriott, Radisson, etc., and Holiday Inn in smaller towns.) I have only had a couple cleanliness "issues" in many years of traveling. I steer clear of Motel 6 and the like.

The couple of times I had a problem, I go to the front desk, check out the person's name tag, and say &quot;Excuse me, <Bill>, my room hasn't been cleaned properly, and I wanted to give you a chance to correct it first.&quot; When they see you noted their name, you're in good shape.

I haven't been asked what I meant by &quot;correct it first&quot;, but they assume I mean &quot;...before I report this to the main office&quot;. Each time they gave me the option to change rooms or wait while they sent someone to resolve the problem right then. Once they gave me the night's stay free.

Anyway, in my experience the bigger chains have been clean. I found the management to be very concerned with customer satisfaction, but the help is sometimes not on the ball. I'm willing to give them the chance to make things right. I'm sure someone will chime in with a horror story, though.

 

[luv2chill]

sometimes it's a form of obsessive/compulsive disorder.

For instance, one of my good friends has problems with hotels... more the bathrooms though. She has to put towels down on the floor because she can't stand the thought of her feet touching the bathroom floor.

I'm not grossed out by other peoples' &quot;cooties&quot; so staying in hotels doesn't bother me (unless it's visibly disgusting [pubic hair and the like]).

l2c

 

[Harrald]

I don't travel for a living. When we go on vacation though we tend to spend the extra bucks for a decent hotel. Once in Orlando we stayed in a motel8. There were bugs and grime in the room (We lasted about 2 hours). That was the last &quot;discount&quot; hotel/motel we've ever been to. Now it's Marriott hotels. Plus they give free nights away if you use them on a regular basis.

 

[Viper GTS]

If you really want to see something nasty, go in with a blacklight &amp; see the semen stains all over the place.

:Q

Viper GTS

 

[PattySmear]

That's what you get for being a tightwad when it comes to accomodations.

 

[Total Refected Power]

Ornery:

Our local TV station did a story on hotel cleanliness. What was found was revolting. Fecal bacteria, dried semen, blood stains, urine stains and pubic hairs. The really bad stuff were the blankets. They are not required to be cleaned very often so they are filthy! It didn't matter the class of hotel. All had problems, but some worse than others.

I tend to not worry too much but do wear pajamas and socks to minimize contact. My wife sometimes brings her own sheets and pillows if we have the time and space.

Its largely psychological but can ruin a trip!

 

[Isla]

I would die of a bowel rupture if I had to travel regularly.

There's just no john like the one at home...


Personally, I prefer to stay at Bed and Breakfast Inns... I find that the owners usually work harder to create a pleasing environment. It doesn't have to be perfect, but I do like to feel like things have been made tidy for me. On our honeymoon, I noticed a fresh, unwashed bloodstain on the sheets of the bed. Like the sheets had not even been changed. Since then I have been a bit leery of hotels in general. It was a 'decent' hotel, too... can't remember which one but it was one of the supposedly good ones. (edit: It was a Mariott in Atlanta GA.)

Of course, I have never had to travel for business and probably never will... and if I ever end up on a lecture circuit, you can be sure I will seek out the nicest places (and take plenty of prune juice).

 

[Azraele]

As long as I'm not stuck in a roach trap then I'm not too worried. The 'better' hotels try to make sure that things are kept clean to keep customer base happy. Also if there is a problem, try calling the corporate headquarters. Corporate is usually good about helping you out if something goes wrong.

 

[Ornery]

Viper GTS, that's the part I left out. In the 20/20 report I saw, they did do the black light thing. Ugh...

Great tip kranky. We used Holiday Inns 20 years ago, and they were nice. I wish I'd never seen that 20/20 piece!

God TRP, erase your post and I'll try to forget I ever saw it :Q

 

[kranky]

LOL @ Isla &quot;bowel rupture&quot;.

I have a friend who will not travel for that reason. He insists &quot;I cannot drop the kids off anywhere but at my own pool&quot;.

 

[sharkeeper]

A blacklight is an EXCELLENT way to see how clean (or dirty) a place is! I have a mineral collector's lamp featuring both shortwave and longwave (black) lamps. You would be surprised how gross the kitchen looks around the stove. If you have room mates you can tell if they're choking their chicken too because...well never mind!

Cheers!

 

[Doggiedog]

How about the story of an elderly couple that was staying at a hotel for a couple days and starting smelling something weird and found a murdered person underneath the bed that the cleaning people never bothered to check? I forgot where I read it but that's pretty sick sleeping above a dead body for a couple days. I think they won some kind of lawsuit against the hotel.

 

[vi edit]

After being in a) boy scouts and b) college, there aren't too many things that I haven't slept on/in.

Not to much of a deal to me.

 

[Isla]

<< I cannot drop the kids off anywhere but at my own pool&quot;. >>



ROTFLMAO!

Thanks, kranky. That was the best laugh I've had all day!

I will have to remember that one.

 

[Emulex]

they vacuum the floors between guests.

what happenes when someone with athletes foot walks around barefoot on the carpet?

they vacuum it?

then you do...

bingo..


shower shoes are a must at ANY hotel.

 

[BoberFett]

Just don't think about it. I used to be very concerned about cleanliness and it just ruined whatever trip I was on. Now I relax and have fun.

And it does help that my company puts me up in pretty posh accomodations.

 

[Total Refected Power]

The short and curly pubic hairs sent my mother over the edge. A couple were on her pillow in the Hilton she was staying at. They made a stink and things were taken care of but she now wears full body armor when she goes away.

 

[Bleep]

I have stayed in many many hotels and motels. You cant do much about the stuff you cannot see, my only advice is DO NOT!! take a nap or lay down on the bedspread most are really (loss of words)
Bleep

 

[trmiv]

You think hotels are bad, try staying at a backpackers hostel. When I was in New Zealand, I went on a bus trip and stayed at hostels, man, some of those things were bad!! Once I stayed in, they didn't even bother to clean it after the people before us left. We got in there the room was filthy, trash on the floor, banana peels, apple cores, it was nasty. Granted hostels are MUCH cheaper than hotels, but still, clean the damn place up!!

 

[WetSprocket]

I was a manager at a motel for a couple of years. The only thing I would say is if you're paranoid carry your own blankets. Don't use the bedspreads either. Like said before they dont get cleaned as often. Most of the other stuff if you have good housekeepers it's not a problem, at least where I worked. Try to always get a nonsmoking room too, they seem to be alot cleaner.

 

[Moonbeam]

Put cotton in your ears so those cockroaches that crawl into your ears and lay eggs in your brain don't get in. They're all over motels and hotels.

 

[Emulex]

i've never seen roaches or anything that looks like them. i'd leave the motel or something .. maybe the $29.99 or $3/hour ones have roaches.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

I've seen quite a bit of dirty housekeeping in hotels/motels, and it doesn't really seem to be directly related to cost. I know (or am pretty sure) the sheets are clean, but the blankets don't always seem quite right. I like to bring my own pillow if I can.

 

[Ornery]

Well, I'm going to do it. I'll take these tips along with me. The boys will be in the same room, with cots I assume. So they'll be able to use their own sleeping bags and pillows.

• Stay at higher rated hotels
• Don't lay on spreads
• Bring own pillows
• Shower shoes
• No Smoking rooms
• Ask for cleaned room if neccesary
• Don't touch anything!

OK, looks good. Thanks to you guys, we'll get through this