10 Things Hotels in California Don’t Want You to Know
Staying in a hotel can make for a fun time. You don't have to do the dishes, you can take as long of a shower as you want, and you don't have to change the sheets. It is nice from time to time to stay in one, especially when you travel. Which hotel to stay in can make or break a trip. Staying in one with a hard bed, that hasn't been cleaned, or doesn't meet your standards can ruin a trip. Having a clean room, plenty of amenities, and a soft bed can make a trip much more enjoyable. When it comes to staying in hotels, there are certain things that the staff don't want you to know and aren't telling you. Here are some of the secrets they have been keeping from their guests.
Who Gets the Worst Rooms
Not all rooms are created equally when it comes to hotels, and staff are aware of this. Deciding who gets what room would seem like first come first serve, but that isn't the case. Typically, guests that book online or use deals to book their rooms, will be the ones getting the worst rooms. That is because hotels view these guests as ones who are saving money and not for the hotel itself. They view this as the guest isn't as likely to book with them again, and they aren't regular guests.
Staff Uses Your Bathroom and Beds
When you stay in a hotel, you expect that only you and the people in your room will be sleeping in your bed and using your restroom. That isn't necessarily what is happening though. If a maid has to go, they aren't going to stop working and make their way to the employee restroom, when they are already in one. When it comes to the bed, if a room is cleaned in a timely fashion, the maid may take a little nap until it is time to do the next room. They are granted so much time per room, so the quicker they work, the more time for some rest.
Someone Has Died in Your Room
With many deaths taking place in hotels yearly, you have likely stayed in a room where someone has died, and perhaps even slept on the bed that they died on. Hotels will not release this information, so you will likely never know, but the next time you stay in a hotel, let that information sink in. You are likely sleeping with a ghost.
Hotel Safes Are Not Safe
When on vacation, there are certain things you want to keep safe and locked away. It can be your passport, extra cash, or your technology. Using a hotel safe should seem safe, but in reality, your precious items could still be stolen. Hotel employees have ways to get into your safes, and when you are out of the room, nothing is stopping them from going in and taking your extra money, passports, or technology.
The Staff Looks At Your Social Media
This might sound a little creepy, but yes, there are staff that will look at your social media. They do not do it to stalk you, but to see if you post about the hotel, if you like it or dislike it, and how often you stay with them. Depending on your response and which hotel you are at, it could lead to getting complimentary nights or upgrades, if you rave about the place you are staying.
The Dirtiest Object in Your Hotel Room
Many people prefer Airbnb's these days because they find hotels disgusting. They aren't entirely wrong. With new people coming and going all the time, not everything will be as clean as you want. What is the dirtiest item in the room though? You may be surprised to find out it is the remote control of the TV. The next time you stay in a hotel, perhaps use gloves when changing the channel.
You Should Take All the Toiletries
It has been mentioned in many television shows and movies for years that hotels expect you to take the toiletries, and while it may be funny on TV, they aren't wrong. If anything has been opened or used, it will be thrown away, and some items, even unused will get tossed as well. Why leave behind free soap, shampoo, lotion, or any other toiletry? Pack them away, and keep them as spares for the next time you travel.
Avoid Using Drinking Glasses
Similar to the dirtiest item in the room, the drinking glasses in the room should not be used unless you desperately need them. It is likely that these have not been run through a dishwasher in a while, and were rinsed off in the bathroom sink, and a wash rag that cleaned things in other rooms. It is best to get a paper cup or bring one from home. You never know what could be on the glass.
Hotel Sheets Are Not Changed Often Enough
You would not be alone if you thought the sheets were changed daily in your hotel room, but that is not the case. Many hotels do not change or wash the sheets as often as you think. They will change them out and clean them maybe once or twice a week. The higher-end hotels could change their sheets more, but likely you are sleeping on the same sheets every night, and in some cases sheets someone else was on before you.
Being Polite Can Save You Money
It may seem silly, but being polite could save you money at hotels. If you are generous and nice to the employees, specifically the front desk, there is a chance they will waive some fees for you that they won't waive for other guests. It doesn't hurt to try, and if it doesn't work, at least you were nice to someone else, so it is a win/win situation. Hotel staff love helping guests who are memorable and overly nice to them, especially compared to some of the bad guests they deal with daily.
The next time you stay at a hotel, be aware that some things are being hidden from you. There are ways to save some money, and there are some things you may not want to touch. Be sure to ask questions if you feel that something is being kept secret from you. To read the full list of more secrets that hotels aren't telling you, make sure to click the link in the first paragraph.
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