17 Things You Should Never, Ever Do During Your Hotel Stay
A stay in a nice hotel room is relaxing and can increase your vacation experience. You get to enjoy the ambiance and different amenities to get the real holiday feeling.
More than white towels and well-lit rooms, hotels might not be what you think. Even if you paid for the entire room, there are things you shouldn’t do. It’s not just because of the rules but also for safety and hygiene purposes.
There are plenty of things you shouldn’t do in a hotel room, no matter how “normal” it feels. To give you a little bit of guidance, we’ve created a list of things you shouldn’t do in a hotel. Ever.
1. Take Home ”Souvenirs”
Your hotel room probably has the softest robes, towels, and pillows. While they’re light to touch, you shouldn’t take them home. Yes, we understand how you’d like them to be a part of your household, but it’s not worth the trouble to steal them.
You can only take slippers and disposable bathroom supplies from a hotel room. Every other thing from your hotel should stay put. Remember that the hotel has your credit card details and can easily charge you for items that shouldn’t be taken away.
2. Don’t Use the Bedspread
A bedspread makes any hotel bed look luxurious and comfortable. However, know that bedspreads are for decorative purposes only. Don’t use them; ask for an extra blanket instead.
Your hotel deep cleans the entire room after guests, but that doesn’t always include your bedspread. You have no idea what kind of germs and bacteria it holds. I put the bedspread inside the cabinet to avoid possible contact with it.
3. Not Disinfecting the Remote Before Use
A hotel room’s remote is probably one of the most used items. Many people already touched it, so dirt and germs built up over time. Unfortunately, it’s a small item that housekeeping can easily forget while rushing through to clean the entire room.
Before you touch the remote, disinfect it if you can. You can spray some alcohol on it or rub it clean with a disinfecting wipe.
4. Assume the Glasses Are Clean
Never assume that the glasses are clean. Some hotels only have time for a quick rinse before putting them back into your room.
To prevent ingesting leftover soap, thoroughly wash your glasses with hot water and soap, just like how you do it at home.
5. Directly Use the Coffee Maker
Quick access to a cup of joe is convenient inside a hotel room. However, the hotel’s coffee makers might not be clean, affecting your health and the coffee’s taste.
Before you use the coffee maker, empty it and rinse it with hot water. This should help wash out any coffee buildup and kill any germs. I like to do a double rinse just to be sure, it’s not a lot of work and it does make the coffee taste better.
6. Walking Barefoot
Have you ever tried walking on the hotel floor barefoot? Most hotels have a carpet, which feels nice on your feet but are rarely deep cleaned. Walking around barefoot can make your feet dirty or icky, depending on the state of the carpet.
Use the room’s slippers or pack your flip-flops when walking around your room. Also, don’t sit on the floor, as the germs might touch your clothes and skin.
7. Place Your Suitcase on the Bed
Placing your suitcase on your bed to unpack can be convenient. However, if your suitcase has been on the floor or dirty surfaces, putting it on your bed can spread bacteria to where you sleep.
Use the luggage rack or any other hard surface as you unpack. Sometimes, I just place them on the floor, never on the bed or sofa, as that’s what I will be using the most.
8. Using the Wi-Fi Carelessly
A hotel’s free Wi-Fi is convenient, especially if you need to do some work. Unfortunately, a Wi-Fi network can be unsafe, especially since any guest can connect and hack into it.
Avoid using the hotel’s Wi-Fi unless you have to. When you must, avoid entering passwords, credit card details, and other sensitive data while connected to the Wi-Fi.
9. Keep the Doors Unlocked
A world-class hotel can make you feel safe, especially since the premises are tightly secured. However, you might not be aware of what could happen overnight. Unfortunately, incidents may occur while you sleep or are away.
Always keep the doors locked in your hotel room while you’re inside. Otherwise, unwanted visitors can easily sneak in. Or you may get an unfortunately timed visit from housekeeping while you’re napping or showering, which happened to me more than once.
10. Leave Valuables Unprotected
Another security habit you shouldn’t skip is to protect your valuables at all times. Yes, housekeeping might not steal your things, but there are still others who can sneak in. When non-hotel staff gets into your room and gets a hold of your things, the hotel might be unable to retrieve the item.
Always protect your valuables, especially when you leave the room. Most hotels have a vault where you can store your things. Use the vault to keep your jewelry and passport safe.
11. Use the Minibar
The cost of a beverage in a minibar is exceptionally high. You can buy the same products at the grocery store for one-third of the price. Unless you have to, never use the minibar.
You can bring your own beverage to save on costs. I place my drinks inside the minibar to keep them cool. If it doesn’t fit, I usually take out some of the hotel drinks to make space for mine and put them back before I check out. It’s important to not that some high-end hotels started to charge for using the fridge, so check that out before you put anything inside.
12. Sneak in Pets
Pets are a part of our life. As much as we want to bring them during a hotel stay, you should make other arrangements for them if the hotel isn’t pet-friendly.
Sneaking in pets can lead to high fines or termination of your stay. Also, sneaked pets can trigger hotel guests/staff allergies. You can try to look for a pet-friendly hotel or book a pet hotel separately for your furry friend.
13. Trashing the Hotel Room
It should be pretty standard not to thrash your hotel room. Thrashing disrespects the cleaning staff and can result in hefty fines if it includes damaged furniture and stained cushions.
Don’t leave a giant mess in your hotel room. You can keep your bed unmade but you should generally leave things as you found them. Poor behavior, such as leaving a mess, can ban you from the hotel for future stays.
14. Lie About Damages
Accidents can happen during your hotel stay. You might knock over a glass of wine, leaving a permanent stain on the carpet. While it’s easy to cover it up with a towel or furniture, you must be honest about damages.
When you check out, the hotel staff will inspect the room for lost items and damages. If you lie, the hotel can charge you more if they have proof that you caused the incident. And if you don’t own up to it, the hotel can block you from staying there again.
15. Make Loud Noises
Hotel rooms can be a great romantic getaway, especially during honeymoons. It’s expected to be intimate with your partner during your stay. However, loud noise from your activity can disturb others.
A hotel room isn’t completely soundproof. Any loud and excessive noise can pass through the walls, leaving your hotel neighbors uncomfortable. As much as you can, try to keep it down.
16. Smoke In Non-Smoking Room
Never smoke inside a non-smoking room. Not only will you get fined, but you will encounter consequences from the hotel. In most cases, there’s a designated smoking room that allows you to smoke any time you want.
Smoking inside a non-smoking room means you have to pay for the cleanup. The cleanup includes deodorization and deep cleaning. Plus, you might trigger the fire alarm, which would be an additional offense.
17. Cook Without a Kitchen
Staying at a hotel can be costly, especially if you travel on a strict budget. You might want to cook your meals to save costs. However, if your room doesn’t have a kitchen area, you shouldn’t cook any meals inside.
Don’t try to cook instant noodles inside a kettle, as it can lead to damage and potentially a fire hazard. Also, don’t bring your cooking appliance as it violates the hotel policies and might cause a fire. Stick to cold meals or order takeout.
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