Taking a vacation and spending time in a hotel should be a luxurious experience. But if you’re not careful, you could find yourself sleeping and spending time in a room that’s been poorly maintained or cleaned. And if this happens, it could make for an inconvenient or even unhealthy stay.
To help ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, here are three places you should always check out before settling into your hotel room.
Check The Bed For Bed Bugs
The first and arguably most important part to check in your room is the bed. Unfortunately, many hotels have had at least one issue with bed bugs in the past. And while having bed bugs isn’t necessarily a sign that a hotel isn’t being properly cleaned, it can make your experience at that hotel very off-putting.
To see if your hotel room bed has bed bugs, or even has had them in the past, Kaitlyn Wylde, a contributor to Bustle.com, suggests that you pull back the sheets and check around the edges and seams of the mattress for little black specks or actual bed bugs crawling around. You can also check on the couch, pillows, and the bed frame as well, since bed bugs can occupy these areas, too.
If you do find something, make sure you ask for a new room that’s nowhere near the room you found the evidence of bed bugs and suggest that they call a professional in pest control to take care of the problem. Then in your new room, check the bed again.
Check That The Room Has Been Cleaned
For those who are worried about how thoroughly cleaned the room is that you’re staying in after the last guest was there, there are a few specific places you can look at that will give you a good idea.
According to Christopher Elliott, a contributor to USA Today, the bathroom is a great place to start your search for cleanliness. Look at the toilet and the grout or caulking around the shower and bathtub. If you see any filth, grime, or mold there, ask for a new room that’s been better cleaned. You can also look for dust on areas that should have been dusted or just give the room a good smell to see if you can tell someone with a cleaner has been in there recently.
Check The All The Amenities Work
Before you start settling in for the night, Marissa Laliberte, a contributor to Reader’s Digest, recommends that you check that all the amenities that you’ll want to use are actually working. If you plan to set the alarm clock for the morning, make sure it’s working properly. And if you want to make coffee in the morning or call out for room service, be sure your coffee maker and room phone are working, too.
To help you have a safe and enjoyable stay in your next hotel room, consider checking the areas mentioned above before you start unpacking.
