I travel a lot and stay in all kinds of hotels because it is difficult for me to book in advance. I find a lot lacking in hotels that are busy or well occupied in terms of cleanliness. I want to share this with you because you may be in the same situation some time.
1. Check Under the sheets - a lot of hotels just change the sheets but do not dust under it. I found a condom cover under one!
2. Pillows are known to be used as back-rests. I get them to change the pillow if I find it broken up or twisted. Some pillows are also stained with hair oil and when convered with a clean case it is not visible until you sleep on it and get up the next day to find a oily patch.
3. Hotels generally take care of the toilets and bathrooms but I found that if you are in a hurry, the’Sanitized’ label is just that. The toilet is not cleaned, just the lable put on it. I ask for toilet tissue - Indian hotels do not provide this if they are not star rated and will provide it to you if you ask. I use the toilet tissue as a seat cover.
4. NEVER use the tiny towels in a hotel. I found out the hard way when I watched some of the cleaning people using this cloth to wipe the washbasin and toilets. In fact, apparently this towel is provided in star hotels just for wiping the washbasin clean. I do the same now that I found out.
5. If you needed a room in a hurry and had to wait for it to be cleaned, tip the guy and tell him that you are not in such a hurry that he does a shoddy job. Wait for the cleaing to be done right. Check and get them to clean, swab and wipe.
6. Most hotels I stayed had one major dirty spot - the windows. The windows are never cleaned and if you open one for the fresh air, you will regret the cloud of dust that comes in. If you choose an AC room, get them to open the window and clean it.
7. The dirtiest part of any hotel room is . The telephone.
9. Keep a mosquito repellant handy - I find it very hard to wait for the staff to respond quickly when the hotel is running full.
10. Keep calm and all your complaints full of humor. Joke a lot and make your point. You will find the staff helpful and probably give you a room upgrade.