Just like comforters, hotel floors are notoriously filthy. Some will be worse than others because 5-star resorts keep their floors a lot cleaner than some random motel on the side of the highway will. Even if they vacuum them every day, it’s likely that something will be lingering around, and you want to avoid stepping on it.
Never, ever walk around barefoot in hotel rooms. If you don’t want to keep your shoes on, bring a pair of slippers for when you’re ready to kick back and relax.
Be Nice, Even About Complaints
Even though it’s the concierge’s job to make you happy, that doesn’t mean you should lash out at them about everything that you’re unhappy with about your stay. If something is off, speak to them calmly about it, and don’t get too upset.
You don’t want to make the situation worse for yourself or your family. Plus, if you make friends with the front desk staff, your stay will be a lot more enjoyable – and you may even find yourself with some great upgrades!
Take the Comforter Off of the Bed
If you’ve ever seen any type of reality show or comedy where they use black lights on hotel room comforters, you know exactly how dirty they can be. Sheets and pillowcases get washed after every guest (or every couple of days, if you’re staying for an extended period of time.) Comforters, on the other hand, get put right back on the bed and straightened out to look acceptable.
If you care even a little bit about germs, you don’t want to lay anywhere near or around those things. Take them off, toss them on a chair or in a corner and sleep with the sheets and thin blanket.
24-Hour Wake Up Calls
Almost every hotel offers wake-up calls, which are extremely handy to have when you’re traveling alone and you’ve got obligations, like business meetings in the morning. Of course, even if you’re just on vacation and don’t want to miss the tour you’ve got lined up with the kids the next day, take advantage of the hotel’s wake-up calls.
And, if you’ve got a job where you work remotely or have odd hours, you can request them for any time, day or night.
Bring Quarters
You will most likely use your credit card to check in and pay for everything, from the actual room to room service and anything else you can charge during your stay. But there will be things that require cash, like vending machines and games in the arcade – and sometimes, things happen.
Machines break down and reject dollar bills, so it’s best to have a backup plan. Plus, a handful of quarters will keep the kids busy in the game corner of the lobby for a while.