Hotel workers share gross secrets and why you should always check in late
Admit it... how many times have you checked into a hotel and filled up the bathtub ready for a relaxing soak only to lie there wondering just how 'well' room service cleaned the tub after the last visitor?
Well, one hotel worker has hit the internet with some rather gross secrets about what really happens behind the scenes of some of the fanciest hotels around the world. And the bathtub should be the least of our worries!
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How clean is your hotel room actually? Image: iStock
A thread was created on Reddit after a user asked a simple question intended for people who work in the hospitality industry.
“People who work at 5-Star Hotels: what type of s*** goes on that management doesn’t want people to know?” they asked.
And boy did those workers come flooding in! Over 13K responses were submitted, all exposing some rather gross truths about housekeeping.
First up, there was the issue of bed bugs. I know, I know... but you need to hear it!
There were several confessions about how common bed bugs are in some of the most luxurious hotel beds.
“Every hotel has bed bugs at some point. It’s not the hotel's fault, we noticed international travellers tend to bring them," one person shared.
"Tip about bedbugs: when you arrive NEVER put your luggage on the bed," another added their tip. To which, another user agreed: "When you arrive, keep lights off, put luggage in bathroom, and then at the head of the mattress peel back the sheets and mattress pad. Bedbugs tend to congregate there, but scatter when there is light. If you find bedbugs, you can request another room."
When we're heading off on a holiday or even a weekend getaway we're always eager to check in to the hotel as soon as we can. Sometime we even head in early to try our luck at an even earlier check in.
"HAHA Amateurs!" mock the hotel concierge staff.
According to some workers, by checking in too early, you're potentially missing out on any great freebies that could be on offer.
“Checking in late at night sometimes means free upgrades or discounted upgrade rates," the user shared.
"We would try to sell every last suite at night for almost 80 percent off. We just wanted something, so they don’t go unoccupied. Sometimes if we were oversold on rooms, the late arrivals (midnight) would get a free suite upgrade because we had no choice," another shared.
The system works much like the airlines - arrive too early and there's no way of staff knowing if there is any room at better seats on the plane. But arrive a little later, and they have a clearer idea of vacant spots and more likely to upgrade you.
Workers claim every hotel has an issue with bed bugs at some point. Image: iStock
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According to one housekeeper, when staff are running short on time, they clean glasses in the kitchenette with the same rag that they clean the bathroom with.
"Never trust glass in rooms. [Cleaning staff] are so stretched thin on time that they will clean the glasses with the same rags they clean the bathroom, after all their goal is to make the room look clean," the cleaner shared.
"It doesn’t matter if the room is $1000 a night. They still wash the tea cups in the bathroom sink or the bath tub," another added.
