This article was originally published on TheFunPost
Hotels are supposed to be a chance to get away and relax in a calming and clean environment. However, when you look below the surface, you might find that hotels are not all that they are cracked up to be. Hotels are full of juicy information, and staff members have let us in on some of their best-kept secrets that will leave your jaw on the floor. You might want to rethink your next hotel stay after reading these secrets hotels are keeping from you because they are going to completely shock you!
The Cleaning Staff Sometimes Take Naps In Your Bed
When you leave your room and let the maid service in, you might wonder what takes them so long to clean it. Well, you might be surprised to find out that they sometimes take naps in the beds. One 5-star hotel maid shared her personal experience with taking naps on the job.
If the maids are really tired and have extra time, they might lie down in your bed to catch up on their sleep. If they have large suites, they are given more time to clean, so they use the extra time to sleep. What else are the housekeepers not telling us?
There Could Be A Body Under The Bed
While we always thought "the body under the bed" was an urban legend, there is some truth behind it. Although this is an infrequent occurrence, it might make you check your hotel room more thoroughly when you check in next time because some people found they were sharing their room with a corpse.
In both Mexico City and Thailand, people complained of a foul odor in their room, and a body was found under the bed. While this is the worst-case scenario for a hotel stay, it is not impossible. Surprisingly, this doesn't stop people from staying at these hotels.
You Might Want To Disinfect The Remote Control
As you settle into your hotel room in the evening, you might want to watch some TV before going to sleep. However, you should consider wrapping up the hotel remote before touching it. Research has found that one of the dirtiest items in a hotel room is the TV remote.
After testing over a dozen remote controls, it was found that they had sky-high levels of bacteria, including traces of E.coli and a dangerous bacteria that can cause skin infections. Apparently, the cleaning staff never touches the remotes, and it makes us wonder what else they aren't cleaning.
You Can Lose Your Room To Someone With Status
So you booked your hotel room months ago, paid in advance, and you show up only to be told you don't have a room. Just like airlines, hotels can overbook to minimize revenue loss from unsold rooms. They might even walk you to another property so you can still have a hotel stay.
This all depends if you have a status at the hotel or not. Hotels never want to annoy their loyal guests, so they won't bump those people. A single-night stay or booking through a third-party site might get you pushed to the second location if they overbook.
You Can Cancel Your Stay Without Paying A Fee
If you have ever waited till the last minute to cancel a hotel stay, you know how annoying it is to be hit with the cancellation fee because you waited too long. However, there is a trick to getting out of that fee, and we are surprised we didn't think of this.
If you wait to cancel after the cancellation period, call and switch the dates for your hotel stay. The cancellation period will be extended, and then you have to call again and cancel. Hopefully, you get a different clerk when you call, but they will just help you out with this hack most of the time.
The "Free" Breakfast Isn't Actually Free
Who doesn't love a free continental breakfast while you stay at your hotel? They have become so popular that hotels are really stepping up their options, but have you ever wondered if breakfast is actually free? Most of the time, the price of the meal is actually bundled into the room price.
In some instances, it might be cheaper to take the family to the local IHOP because hotels like to hide the "complimentary" coffee and pastry costs. If they were actually free, there would be fewer waitress jobs and more trash from disposable plates, so they put in more effort, and you pay for it.
The Housekeepers Have Taken Revenge On Guests
We can all admit that we have had trouble controlling our vengeful desires when people really piss us off, and the cleaning staff is just like us. In the past, hotel maids have reported colleagues for misconduct against rude guests, but can you blame them.
An anonymous maid confessed that one of her co-workers used a towel to mop the bathroom then hung it back up. It's better to be polite to people, especially when they have challenging jobs like hotel maids.
Bargain Hunters Get A Bargain Experience
While it might be easier to find a better rate for a hotel room on a third-party site, you should be careful how you book your room. Making reservations through sites like Expedia could mean a less luxurious stay because some hotels give those websites the least desirable rooms.
If the hotel assumes you are a price-driven customer who won't be loyal to their brand, they don't have a lot of incentive to go the extra mile for you. Instead, try calling the hotel to ask if they will match the rate you found online because they might give you a discount.
You Probably Shouldn't Drink Out Of Hotel Water Glasses
When you check into a hotel, the room always has those signature glasses in the bathroom. They might look sparkling and clean at first glance, but there is more than meets the eye. According to hotel insiders, housekeeping sometimes rinses and dries them with the same towel they use to clean the rest of the bathroom.
In some hotels, the cleaning staff will use furniture polish on the drinking glasses because they feel pressured to make the glasses look spotless. If that doesn't make your stomach turn, then prepare for what else goes on in your hotel room.
Restaurant Recommendations Aren't Unbiased
The hotel concierge can be a valuable resource if you are not familiar with the area. However, if you are looking for an unbiased opinion for a restaurant, the concierge might not give you an honest answer because they have something to gain.
Concierges might get a kickback for every person they send to a certain restaurant. Therefore, you might not get an unbiased opinion. Although this typically only happens at mid-level hotels rather than top-tier places. A good concierge won't send you to a bad place regardless.
You Might Be Able To Get Some Of The Fees Waived
Hotels love to add in fees whenever they can, and it is the bane of a travelers existence. These fees bump up the cost of the room considerably, and you might not even realize that they were slipped into your bill. Sometimes the "extras" are actually basic amenities too.
Luckily, you might be able to get rid of some fees by asking politely. If you don't use all the amenities or the services are out of order, the hotel might be willing to scratch them off your bill. Being a member of the hotel's loyalty program also helps you negotiate the charges.
All Rooms Aren't Created Equally
Although the front desk staff swore that every king room is the same, they are lying. Some rooms are simply better than others, and if you ask them nicely, you might be able to snag one of the better rooms (if they aren't full already).
There is always a corner room, a room with a bigger TV, and a room with a larger bathroom, but the staff will still charge you the same amount for the worse room because it is technically at the same level. If you hand them a $20 bill, you might get an upgrade.
The Hotel Staff Knows What You Watched On Pay-Per-View
While you may think that what you do in your hotel room is a secret, the hotel staff knows much more than they let on. Although the days of relying on pay-per-view are over because of free WiFi, people still choose to order movies on the TV, and the hotel staff can tell exactly what you watched.
Most people don't realize how detailed pay-per-view systems are because employees can see what you watched and how long you watched it. In other words, don't try to say you "accidentally" selected that suspicious adult movie.
The Staff Can Spot A Cheater From A Mile Away
Hotels are a hot spot for people who are having affairs and don't think that the staff doesn't have a clue. If someone and their "wife" check in on a Tuesday in the middle of the day, any attempt of being discreet might as well go out the window.
While the staff doesn't care what you do in your personal life, it's pointless to make up some lame story about why you are paying cash multiple times a week in the town where you live. Just remember, the staff is probably talking about it in the break room.
The Bed Might Be Dirty
If you are a germaphobe, you might want to keep scrolling because the hotel might not be washing all the bedding between each guest. Although sheets are supposed to be washed regularly, the bedspreads, blankets, and pillow shams rarely get laundered.
Some maids have said they blot out stains on the sheets until it is less visible. If there are no visible stains, the bedspread might only get washed once a month. Also, if the sheets aren't wrinkled and have no stains, they rarely get changed. The maid smooths them out and lint rolls them for a "fresh" look.
Touching The Mini Bar Is Going To Cost You
Even if you don't stay at hotels often, most people know that taking anything from the minibar will cost you a pretty penny. However, you might not know that even moving something could lead to an extra charge on your bill.
Many hotels have sensors in the minibars that can detect when you move a bottle. Some unsuspecting guests who fiddle with the items might get charged even if they didn't consume anything. Hotels will reverse the charges if you didn't actually eat or drink anything, but remember to check your bill to avoid surprise costs.
The Hotel Checks On You Before You Check-In
One of the biggest secrets for high-end hotels is that they snoop on your social media before you arrive. To ensure their guests have a stellar experience, they look you up and build a profile on your before you check in. It's kind of creepy, but you might get some unexpected perks.
For example, if you book a five-star hotel for your honeymoon, you might not mention the reason for your trip, but the staff member will see your wedding Instagram post and greet you accordingly. There might even be a bottle of champagne waiting in your room. They all want you to have a good stay.
Hotels Make Sure Bad Behavior Is Noted In Their System
Hotels aren't just keeping track of your likes and dislikes; they're also noting your bad behavior. If you are rude to a front desk person or trash your room, it goes on your permanent hotel record kept by all hotel chains.
Hotel staff add comments to your profile, and every time you make a reservation, someone from the front desk will see how you acted the last time you stayed there. Anyone who can access the rooms program can see your entire history with that resort or hotel.
Hotel Deaths Aren't Infrequent
While finding a dead body under your bed is rare, deaths in hotel rooms aren't as uncommon. Sadly, suicides, murders, assaults, and natural deaths occur in both high and low-end properties, and the hotel tries to keep it as discreet as possible.
The hotel will do its best to clean up afterward, but it doesn't stop people from renting those rooms. If the death is well-known, the hotel might go as far as renumbering the rooms to discourage fans who want to see where a famous person spent their final moments.
The Bathroom Isn't Just For You
After the housekeepers nap in your bed, they use the bathroom to freshen up. One maid confessed to a travel site that the cleaning staff would occasionally use the guests' toilets if they don't have time between rooms to go to the staff bathrooms.
This is more acceptable than the staff sleeping in your bed while you are out of the room. As long as they clean up after, no one would ever notice a difference. It is something they aren't supposed to do, but when you have to go, you have to go.
You Should Steer Clear Of The Hotel Kettle
It might be another urban legend, but we aren't willing to take the risk. Most hotel rooms come with an electric kettle, and there is a sickening rumor about what other guests use these for, which might make you sick to your stomach.
Some people have claimed that guests use the kettles to wash their dirty underwear, and these things are rarely replaced or cleaned. We will not be making tea with someone's dirty underwear germs again. We hope this is just a rumor.
Someone Might Have Snacked On Your Room Service
Have you ever ordered room service and thought, "That's a small portion of fries for $20." While the kitchen might have given you a decent portion, whoever brought you the meal probably had a snack on the way up from the kitchen.
According to an article featuring hotel worker confessions, one staff member wrote that they wouldn't bring or buy lunch because they eat off the plates before getting to you. How much are they eating to be able to skip lunch?
The Maid's Equipment Is Not So Sanitary
If you thought that your room was being thoroughly cleaned, you might want to think again. Most of the time, when the staff comes to clean your room, they use the same cloth to clean surfaces as they did for toilets and floors.
It's a pretty unsanitary practice, and we are starting to realize how dirty hotel rooms really are. Like the dirty glasses, we would advise avoiding any of the dishes in the room, and bring your own wipes to sanitize things.
The Coffee Makers Are Filthy
While it is cheaper to make a cup of free coffee in your room instead of finding a cafe or going to the hotel restaurant, you might want to spend the extra few dollars. The University of Valencia tested numerous hotel room coffee makers, and the results were shocking.
The researchers found that most of the coffee makers in hotels are filled with bacteria because they are rarely cleaned. It really makes you wonder what maids are doing when they are supposed to be cleaning the rooms.
The Staff Manhandles Your Luggage
Have you ever arrived at a hotel early and left your luggage with them while you explored the city before it was time to check in? You have to trust that the staff will be careful with your things, but it's not always easy to keep your mind at ease.
According to one hotel staff member, when you leave your luggage at the bell desk, they keep it in a small room not visible to guests. Your luggage is usually manhandled in the worst way possible. If it's big enough, they sit on it, and if it's small, they toss it around like a toy.
Bed Bugs Are More Common Than You Think
As we have already learned, hotels are full of germs, which means they aren't safe from bug infestations. A 2018 survey found that the number of bed bug infestations is on the rise in the US, and it is significantly higher than 15 years ago...gross.
Hotels and motels are among the top three places to find bed bugs, and then they come home with you. It's always good to be cautious, so check the corners of the mattress when you check in and hope for the best.
The Toiletries Are Yours To Keep
Although it might not seem obvious, hotels actually want you to steal the toiletries in the bathroom. While they don't want you to start taking the towels, hairdryers, and kettles, they don't have any use for a half-empty bottle of shampoo.
These tiny bottles help make the stay more memorable, and it makes you feel like you get your bang for the buck. Just be careful because some hotels put electronic tags on some items to catch guests trying to steal extra items.
Hotel Alcohol Is Not What You Think It Is
If you have ever ordered a drink at a hotel, you know how overpriced they can be, but did you know it's not the same quality as you would get at a restaurant. Hotel employees know how to trick people to make more money, and it's pretty sneaky.
The employees will sometimes recork wine bottles, and when they see a drunk guest, they will give them cheaper alcohol for the price of the most expensive kind. When there are unlimited drinks, they are almost always watered down.
If You Leave Something Behind, You Won't Be Getting A Phone Call
When you are checking out of a hotel room, be sure to do a double-check of the entire room to ensure you have everything you came with. If you leave something behind and don't bother the hotel about it, they won't call you to collect it.
This is not because they have an evil plan to keep your belongings, but because they never know when you will be able to come collect them. If you leave your chargers behind, they usually keep them and lend them out to other guests or staff.
Hotel Safes Aren't Foolproof
When you go to a hotel, there is usually a safe in the closet to keep essential belongings that you don't want to carry around. However, have you ever wondered how protected your belongings actually are? Even if you carefully lock everything up, you aren't the only person who has access to that safe.
Unfortunately for you, staff can come and open it without your combination code. To keep your valuables safe, keep them locked in a suitcase in a cupboard or under the bed. At least they don't have those combinations, and you won't have to worry about your belongings.
There's Plenty Of Politics Behind The Scenes
Although we can only assume things as hotel guests, we truly never knew what went on behind the scenes until now. Sometimes there are arguments between the different departments, which can actually affect your stay without you realizing it.
Sometimes, when you are waiting for your room to be ready, it is not because it isn't clean yet. It can actually be because there is a vendetta from the housekeeping department against the front office, and they are refusing to release a room.
There's A Reason Why Check-In Takes So Long
Speaking of waiting for your room to be ready, there is actually a reason it takes so long to check into a hotel. When you go to the front desk to get your room, there are about 26 steps to go through before they hand you a room key.
Most of the steps involve logging information about you, including identity verification, checking you qualify for the rate you've been given, and selecting a room based on your request. This process might take longer if the cleaning department doesn't release the room.
Sometimes Hotels Get Lazy About Guest Dietary Restrictions
If you have strict dietary restrictions, you might want to look away now. In some hotels, there can be a lazy attitude about sticking to people's requests. For example, some of the food labeled vegetarian isn't actually vegetarian.
The food labeled vegetarian can be prepared with chicken or veal stock, and they use the same utensils for everything. They might not realize if a piece of meat went into your dish while it was being prepared. We guess you have to be very specific with your dietary guidelines.
If You're Messy, It Can Affect The Maid's Salary
Have you ever left your room trashed and thought, "the housekeepers will take care of this." We hope that isn't the case, but leaving a huge mess actually affects the maids in more ways than having to do extra work; it also affects their salary.
Many housekeepers are paid per room they clean, so if you keep all your things tidy, they will have more time to clean more rooms. The messier the room, the longer the housekeeper has to spend cleaning it, and then they get paid less for not cleaning more rooms.
"Do Not Disturb" Signs Are Ignored
We have all used those "do not disturb" signs that come with the hotel room for various reasons. However, we should all beware because most hotel maids ignore the doorknob sign so they won't have to come back later to clean or switch the towels.
Sometimes people leave the sign on the door even when they have left the hotel, which takes away valuable time from the maids trying to do their jobs. If you don't really need the sign on the door, remember to take it off.
If You Need Something Request It Before 5:30
This is not a huge secret, but it will make your life easier when you stay at a hotel. Almost all hotel maids clock out at 5:30 PM, so if you want to request something from housekeeping, do it before they leave. It will get to you much quicker than after hours.
If you need an extra towel, or you are missing some toiletries, they will be in better condition the earlier you request them. If you ask for something after the maids leave, it will probably take longer to get to you, or it won't be available.
Maids Can Lose Their VIP Rooms For Breaking Rules
Have you ever wondered what it was like to clean a celebrity's hotel room? If a VIP is staying at the hotel, some maids might not be allowed to clean their room because they were taken off the VIP room roster for breaking the rules.
If a maid gets busted trying on your clothes or giving an annoying guest attitude, they'll lose their VIP roster of rooms. They can also have their hours docked and have to clean the cheaper or less desirable rooms.
The Tubs Are Never Scrubbed
If you have ever thought about taking a relaxing bath in your hotel room, stop and think again. The housekeepers don't have much time to get through all their rooms, which means things won't be as spotless as you would prefer.
When they finally get to the bathroom, instead of scrubbing the tub, they just run the faucet to rinse it out. Therefore, the next time you check into your hotel room, make sure the tub smells like bleach or cleaner before using it.
You Can Get A Discount If You Complain
If you have ever complained at a hotel, you might be on to something. Hotel employees have admitted that complaining is usually the best way to go if you want a discount on your room rate. Also, the older you are, the less they question the claims.
If you complain about your rate, you can probably get a 10 percent discount because they want to sell the rooms instead of leaving them empty. You just need to know how to haggle, and you can probably have your rate reduced.
A Five-Star Hotel Doesn't Mean You Will Get A Clean Room
When you pay for a five-star hotel, you probably expect the most luxurious hotel stay you could ever imagine. It is almost expected that these hotels would have a higher standard for hygiene, but that is not always the case.
A study by a travel site found that 3-star hotels were much cleaner than four and five-star hotels. For the price you pay for these "luxury" hotels, you would think that it would be the best experience with the cleanest conditions, right?
The Maids Might Go Through Your Things
In case you had some suspicions, the hotel maids do occasionally enjoy snooping around your room when they are supposed to be cleaning. With long and somewhat boring days, they find it entertaining to see what you have been up to in your room.
They also think it's interesting to look at your possessions to figure out what kind of person you are. To be fair, if we were maids, we would probably have the same curiosities while cleaning up a messy room. There has to be something to pass the time.
Hotel Employees Might Get Lazy And Lie To You
Have you ever called a hotel to book a reservation, and they told you they were all full or couldn't accommodate you? Well, you might have been lied to because the front desk employee was too lazy to look on the computer and help you.
Some reception workers can't be bothered to go the extra mile. One confessed that people call their hotel to ask if they have an open reservation, and they say no because they are too lazy to go through the reservation process.
Maybe Don't Use The Towels
Like other things, the towels aren't quite as clean as you think. It turns out the staff frequently clean with them. Although they do get washed, would you dry your face or body with what's essentially a rag used to clean the toilet? If that doesn't seem to bother you, all the power to you. But if you can't get past it, your best bet is to bring your own towels!
We know those soft, fluffy towels are tempting, but they're just not what they seem.
The Best Way To Prevent Bed Bugs
At this point, you know not to use the tub, anyway. So what you should use it for is storing your luggage! If there are bed bugs in the room, which isn't unlikely, you don't want your luggage to fall victim to them via the carpet or the bed. As soon as you get into your room, toss those bags in the tub and begin your search for the pests.
Once you're sure the room is bug-free, you can put your luggage somewhere it really belongs.