We all have our routines in life. If you’re a frequent hotel guest, odds are that there are some habits that you’ve picked up over the years, whether logical or not. In this post, I thought it would be fun to share some of my habits when staying at a hotel. I think some of these make sense, while others might be a little strange.
I’ll share mine below, in no particular order, and I’d love for OMAAT readers to share their habits in the comments section, to see how they compare…
In this post:
Check room inventory just prior to arriving
Obviously everyone wants to have as nice of a hotel stay as possible, and in that regard, it’s worth doing a little research before checking in. Shortly before arriving at a hotel, I’ll always check what room I’ve been assigned, assuming I’m staying at a hotel group that makes that information available through its app (obviously this doesn’t work for independent properties, or smaller hotel groups).
I also check what rooms are still for sale, just to get a general sense of whether I should ask about the possibility of a room upgrade, what would be realistic, etc.
Enter the room slowly, and make a noise
When you check into a hotel room, you expect that it will be empty and properly serviced. However, sometimes mistakes happen. I remember several years ago entering my hotel room for the first time after a long flight, only to find the room occupied.
Ever since, I open the door very slowly when first entering the room, and maybe say “hello” or something along those lines, to make sure there’s no one in there. Fortunately it hasn’t been an issue since, but the one experience was enough to traumatize me. 😉
Take a picture of the hotel room number
When you check into a hotel, you’ll typically give your key in an envelope that has the room number written on it. As soon as I get to my room, I take a picture of the room number (either the placard by the door, or the key envelope), and then discard the envelope.
Why do I get rid of the envelope with the room number? Well, it’s easy enough to lose a room key, and the last thing you want to do is have someone else with not only your room key, but also your room number.
Check alarm clocks immediately
As much as housekeeping does a good job cleaning rooms at most places, all too often they don’t seem to check if alarm clocks have been turned off. So I always check clocks to make sure that they’re not set. Then again, given that I get up unpleasantly early no matter where I am, alarm clocks typically don’t actually wake me up, but they do startle me.
I’m hardly the most tech savvy person on earth, but I’m kind of amazed that people still use in-room alarm clocks, given that anyone’s phone can function as an alarm. They are slowly being phased out at many hotels, which I frankly don’t mind.
Check the air conditioning, shower, and Wi-Fi
When you arrive in your hotel room, you hope that everything is functioning as promised. However, all too often that’s not the case. So the first thing I’ll do when I get to a hotel room is checking the air conditioning, shower, and Wi-Fi, to make sure that they’re all working correctly.
You don’t want to find out that the air conditioning isn’t working late at night when you go to bed, and when there may be no rooms you can be moved to. Similarly, you don’t want to only find out the shower is having issues when you’re rushed in the morning prior to departing. While hotel Wi-Fi has come a long way over the years, not all areas of the hotel have the same signal strength, so I also try to check that ASAP.
Use the deadbolt whenever in the room
Without exception, I always use the deadbolt when I’m in the room. This is just a basic safety protocol, since there are all kinds of people who may otherwise be able to access your room. So whether it’s the day or the middle of the night, I always have the deadbolt in use.
All too often we hear stories of rooms being broken into (including while occupied), and in a vast majority of situations, that could be prevented by simply using the deadbolt.
Use the “do not disturb” sign when in the room
I realize some people will disagree with me on this, but I almost always have the “do not disturb” sign on when I’m in the room. When it comes to hotel housekeeping, my strategy is to just let the hotel know when I’m leaving the room so that it can be serviced, rather than having housekeeping constantly checking to see if it’s a good time for my room to be cleaned.
The only time I won’t use the “do not disturb” sign is if I just arrived, and if I’m expecting there might be a welcome amenity delivered, or something along those lines.
Check the closet and under the bed
I admit that this falls into the “strange” category. Once I arrive in a hotel room, I always check both the closets and under the bed. I recognize that this is probably entirely irrational, but you’ve gotta make sure there are no ghosts or other weird spirits there. I’m totally serious, by the way (well, about checking… I’m not sure why I do so, though).
I know other people look for hidden cameras and other things, but that’s not something I do, personally.
Never slam hotel room doors
This is more of a “golden rule” policy of mine than anything else, but it’s something I do religiously. When staying in a hotel, it’s easy to assume (or hope?) that sound insulation is good. Often it isn’t. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been woken up by other people in nearby rooms closing their doors loudly in the middle of the night.
So whenever I exit my room, I always try to close the door manually and quietly, rather than just letting it slam. This also serves another purpose, so I can make sure that the door is closed correctly. Similarly, I try to keep my voice down in the hallway.
Use the gym to get free water
I drink a lot of water. I’m not a water diva, and I’m happy to drink tap water anywhere that it’s safe to do so. That being said, sometimes I end up in places where it’s not safe, and then you find that a hotel only gives you a couple of bottles per day.
While some hotels are happy to send up more water complimentary, others aren’t. Regardless, my approach is to typically just go to the hotel gym to get water, since it’s almost always readily available there.
Consider tipping housekeeping
The topic of tipping hotel housekeeping is controversial. I’m not trying to open that whole can of worms, but rather am sharing that tipping housekeeping is part of my hotel routine. Admittedly it depends on where I’m traveling to, but it’s something I try to do in the United States, since I know what economic conditions are like for housekeepers, and what our general tipping culture is like.
The reality is that hotel housekeepers are among the hardest working and lowest paid employees at hotels. While the bellmen are often tipped simply for briefly handling luggage or opening a door, housekeepers do a lot more for guests, but aren’t rewarded as often. I guess it comes down to “out of sight, out of mind.”
While I don’t travel with much cash, I try to bring some small amounts of money with me to tip hotel housekeeping, as a gesture of appreciation for the hard work they do.
Bottom line
We all have our habits in life, so I figured it would be fun to share some of my habits when staying at hotels, and compare those to others. I think some of these make perfect sense, while others perhaps border on paranoia. Then again, who doesn’t have some strange rituals?
What are your hotel habits, and how do they compare to mine?
Do you check under the beg for the boogeyman?
Agree with all pointss except the last one about tipping housekeeping. Never done it and not about to start now. If the US can’t figure out how to pay hardworking people a decent living wage, that’s not the rest of the world’s problem.
Very good to see your article of habits.
We just arrived to one of favorite hotels and find the connecting door open. We always check them.
Closets - the room we had last week, has three small closets, most are just hanging racks, one for the iron board. One closet is small with just a shelf, not much use, we didn't look inside.
A few days there was a smell in the...
Very good to see your article of habits.
We just arrived to one of favorite hotels and find the connecting door open. We always check them.
Closets - the room we had last week, has three small closets, most are just hanging racks, one for the iron board. One closet is small with just a shelf, not much use, we didn't look inside.
A few days there was a smell in the hallway, housekeeping sprayed. A day later the oddest thing, when we approached our door the smell was more intense. We told management. They didn't react much. We cleaned our door inside and out, it is wooden, it is absorbing a smell.
My wife thought it was a dead animal somewhere. So on the third day, (the hotel probably thought we were weird saying our door smells).
I began to check everything, I started looking into the vents, then I opened the unused small cabinet by the door, and found a bottle on the shelf and the smell was so bad.
The previous guest left a bottle with a quarter of milk, the screw top loose. The milk was rotten. It was embedding into the wood.
That is why our door particularly smelled.
Housekeeping came, yes it was their mistake not to check all closets, but also the previous guest, who turned out to be Globalists, it certainly looked intentional, pissed at the hotel. They don't know who the next guest is.
Strange and very poor behaviour from anyone to do let alone a Globalist.
The hotel compensated us, because in the last, it is still the housekeeping who skipped checking the room.
This time coming back to the same hotel, they left the connecting door unlocked.
It is a good hotel but it is certainly seeming strange.
After 26 years traveling for business, my routine has been standardized; the most important factor is my own personal safety. All your procedures are most understandable. I would add the following:
1. at check in, request 2 room keys. Secure one in your bag(s), and carry the other (without the room number sleeve) in your hand. Never go directly from elevator straight to your room if there are others in the elevator, especially if...
After 26 years traveling for business, my routine has been standardized; the most important factor is my own personal safety. All your procedures are most understandable. I would add the following:
1. at check in, request 2 room keys. Secure one in your bag(s), and carry the other (without the room number sleeve) in your hand. Never go directly from elevator straight to your room if there are others in the elevator, especially if another guest exits with you on your floor. Make a note of the fire escape route.
2. Once in the room close the door and lock it with the deadbolt. Close the (blackout) curtains before turning on any lights that are not already lit. Only at this point can you begin to relax.
3. Fast forward to the issue of tipping: get to know housekeeping; they are usually to be found either in the hall or elsewhere on the property, or even riding the elevator. ALWAYS leave a tip and a personal note. Since I buy flowers for my room and stock the fridge, I invite housekeeping to help themselves to both the food and the flowers. Do unto others . . .
I always immediately check the in room safe works correctly …about 1 in 7 times I see that scary word “batt”. I also clean the handle of the toilet with an antiseptic wipe along with the TV remote….just imagine what’s on them!
I won’t ever drink from plastic so I take my refillable bottle to the gym or the lounge.
Glasses: how are glasses cleaned? Check the housekeeping cart - see a dishwasher rack of clean glasses? If not, ask for wrapped glasses.
Tipping: some hotels have a person remove dirty towels and bed linens before housekeeping shows up-they could take the tip or part of it. I find the housekeeping person who will clean my room and hand the daily tip to them.
I always look under the bed. Have found toys, beer cans and lots of clothes (usually wearable). At Ritz properties, you'll find a sign "We look under here too!"
12. Ignore Rules 1-11 and book a serviced apartment, complete with full kitchen.
The last thing I want to do on vacation is cook!
First, thanks for sharing your hotel habits as a seasoned traveler.
I find most to be pretty normal, even the 'I check the closet and other compartments' thing. I just don't do it to find ghosts, cameras or even skeletons, but sometimes it's the place where handy items are stored, like an iron, an extra blanket, or even a mini fridge.
On arrival I always ask for the wifi code and about breakfast....
First, thanks for sharing your hotel habits as a seasoned traveler.
I find most to be pretty normal, even the 'I check the closet and other compartments' thing. I just don't do it to find ghosts, cameras or even skeletons, but sometimes it's the place where handy items are stored, like an iron, an extra blanket, or even a mini fridge.
On arrival I always ask for the wifi code and about breakfast. Wifi is quite common nowadays, even in remote parts of the world, while sometimes breakfast comes included as a positive surprise, or at an unbeatable rate and much cheaper than when booking online.
And finally, if everyone would be so considerate with the slamming door principle, or with being considerate in general when staying in a hotel, especially at night, the world would be a much, much nicer place.
Most would consider it a funny matter. We have indeed found ghosts (spirits who have not passed on).
Its not like the movies.
We have compassion, my partner knows how to help them pass on, and we have done it in various hotels around the world.
If you don't know, just pray for them and ask God to bring them home.
Its the kindest thing we could do for them.
Ben, I love these columns where you share YOUR version of how you travel, handle issues, your hotel requirements, and your general regimen of steps you take during a trip. While many may disagree with exactly how you do things, it's refreshing to get another perspective, especially from someone who travels a great deal and internationally. Keep it up, please.
The slamming door one is a pet peeve of mine. People don't have any situational awareness it seems, letting the door self close almost always is a loud slam. I always try to ease it shut.
And even those who claim Situational Awareness end up over-leveraged, over-exposed, and liquidated by a 'door slam.' *cries in Leopold Aschenbrenner*
The don't slam the door one is a pet peeve of mine. People don't seem to realize if you let the door self close it will be loud. Really annoys me, I always try and ease it shut and have converted my wife to this method now.
I don't do as much checking as you do but I do pull up the corner of the bed sheets to look for bedbugs and use some wipes to wipe down the remote, the light switches and door handles. I also have to check whether I got my non-feather pillows or I'll be sneezing all night.
I'd gotten so used to paying digitally that I would oftentimes not even carry any cards with me. To address tipping in situations where digital payment doesn't make sense, I started carrying a simple brass money clip with a selection of $1, $2, and $5 bills.
If you are trying to be kind, then never tip (or even carry) $2 bills. The recipient will use at at some store than has no slot for it. No business is happy to receive $2 bills.
Maybe not in Ohio, but, elsewhere, them $2 bills are still pretty freakin’ cool, dawg. Shout out to my fellow numismatists!
and then they'll pay it out to the net customer who is due more than $2.
i can't imagine worrying about this.
I personally also do almost all of these thiings with the exception of checking under the bed, that is quite hard with boxspring beds. I always tip, every day, when leaving the room. I either call for housekeeping or adress them in the hallway is they are around. My standard tip is 10$ daily.
I just had my first issue with AC in a hotel a couple days ago. Checked into a hotel past midnight in Sao Paulo, took a nice long shower and got ready for bed (after a nice day at the beach in Rio), only to discover that the AC wasn't working around 2am. And the room was very hot.
Tried going to bed, but I couldn't sleep. So I went down to reception to sort it out. Turns out the AC remote just didn't have any batteries (easy fix thankfully).
Recent stay reinforced the need to check the shower first thing…
Had a late arrival and a very early wake up. Only learned in the morning that the hot water wasn’t working. Had no choice but take the cold shower. A lesson learned!
Ben: "I’m not trying to open that whole can of worms..."
Also Ben: *spends three paragraphs prying the lid off*
"I’m kind of amazed that people still use in-room alarm clocks, given that anyone’s phone can function as an alarm." One word: backup.
I work in hotels. I have many of the same you do. I would add. In most cases the deadbolt can still be opened by master keys, it just gives a different light when entering so you know it was on / someone is in there. Also use the privacy latch, always.
I also check for unwanted guests in two places. If there is an under window PTAC, I pull off the cover to...
I work in hotels. I have many of the same you do. I would add. In most cases the deadbolt can still be opened by master keys, it just gives a different light when entering so you know it was on / someone is in there. Also use the privacy latch, always.
I also check for unwanted guests in two places. If there is an under window PTAC, I pull off the cover to see the cleanliness and if anything is living there as it’s a heat and water source.
And I always pull back the bed sheets Just along the main side to inspect the mattress seam for any bugs or their trail of small blood spots.
Obviously in higher end hotels this is less needed. But in independent and more economical hotels it 100% is.
I would add checking toilet functionality to the list. One time in an upper scale NYC hotel, it was perfectly clean but - it didn't flush properly. Glad I discovered this one before needing number two.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS check the toilet as soon as you arrive. Both the toilet bowl and under the seat itself.
If I see any issues -- cleanliness, etc. -- I take a photo. That way a hotel can't dispute it.
Besides checking under the bed or the nightstands, I check the drawers as I've found underwear, sex toys, and even a wallet left behind by previous guests.
Yowzers! Where you stayin’ at?!
JW Marriott Marquis in Miami Beach had a dildo in the nightstand. Meanwhile, the JW Marriott in Scottsdale had worn exotic lingerie in a drawer. A Hyatt Place in Denver had jeans and boxer briefs in the closet.
Are you sure those weren't the 'welcum' amenities ?
... lol
Got’em!!
Tim?
Last year on a trip to Panama it happened twice that I got a room that was already occupied. Fortunately there were no occupants at the time, only clothes, but in one room the TV was on.
This was at 2 different Intercontinental hotels. At the reception they just shrugged, so maybe it happens frequently.