lets go back to the hotel room for drinks....

[lane912]

Post by Lars Bøgvad Jeppesen.

ick-

[Don Plumley]

Ick (typing from a hotel room), no longer using the drinking glass. Ick.

[Christien]

I learned this years ago from a friend who worked as a manager in a hotel. Even worse, some places apparently use the same cloth to wipe the toilet and clean the glasses. I always wash glasses, with soap, before using them, no matter how high-end the hotel.

[stomachmonkey]

Don't touch the remote.

[Baz]

Anytime you drink/dine/sleep away from home....you are at risk.

Still don't understand why some think it's so great to go out.....

[matt f]

Do not EVER lay down, or sit for that matter, on the bed covering!
First thing I do in any hotel room is take that off and place in closet.
Second thing is to wash my hands after touching the giz covered nastiness.

[Mike80911]

My wife always takes disposable cups with us whenever we travel. After seeing this I will never make fun of her for it again!!

[Seahawk]

There is no expectation of cleanliness, regardless of the hotel:

What's Hiding in Your Hotel Room? - ABC News

A few interweb searches will reveal the tip of the, uh, iceberg.

But frankly, air travel, a rental car, a subway, the Acela, the handle on the gas station john are all germ vortexes.

Just don't lick the trash can.

[Joe Ricard]

Yep, I am traveling to race tracks all the time and now stay on site in my toy hauler. My sheets, cups, bathroom, shower. Plus the security of my race karts locked in the back. wake up walk the track with a cup of coffee. priceless.

[Laneco]

I travel extensively and always bring my stainless water bottle. It's large screw-off top lets me put in ice, water, etc. All mine and always clean. I will not touch the bedspread and don't even get me started on door knobs.

I'm really not squeamish about other things. I've mucked horse stalls, cleaned cattle barns, dog kennels, etc. I will stand knee deep in the stuff that animals make but I will NOT touch a hotel bedspread...

THIS - copied from Seahawk's link - seems like very good advice:

Tips to Stay Healthy in Hotels


"So now you're grossed out, but should you actually worry? Experts say the risk of getting sick from hotel germs is relatively low. Still, if you want to reduce you risk even further, here are some suggestions:

Remove the hotel bedspread. That's typically the most germ-laden thing in the whole room.

Travel with sanitizing wipes. Wipe things that people touch a lot, such as the phone and the remote.

Wash your hands. The main way you can get sick is by getting lots of germs on your hands, then putting your hands in your mouth. So remember what your mother told you, and wash your hands early and often.

Look for rust-colored stains on sheets and bedspreads. It can be a sign that bedbugs are present."


angela

[JavaBrewer]

Many of the mid-range chain hotels now use duvet covers which I would think are cleaner. Any decorative bed items go on the floor upon my arrival. The glassware - well lets just say my beverages make things pretty sterile This same stuff happens in restaurants too. I have seen a pantry chef kill a roach with a rag and then immediately use the same rag to wipe the desert plate before sending it out to the dining room...

I don't freak about the other things - going through life is messy.

[911_Dude]

What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

[Seahawk]

While I still travel quite a bit, I am no longer a "Ultra Platinum" member at any hotel chain.

I was in New York a month ago, took the train up early evening so I could stay in the city the night before the meetings.

I found what I thought was a mid to mid plus hotel near MSG...the meetings were on Park Ave and I wanted to get back to Penn Station to get home.

I get to said hotel, more sketchy than I thought. Get to the room, shop worn, dirty windows, 1950's bathroom.

But, room service is good, I park in front of my laptop and get busy. My choice is made, I'll make do.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch movement. I miss the first look, but catch the mouse on the second glance: Not a rat, but this mouse needs Jenny Craig.

I call the front desk: Mouse in room, what else you got, room wise?

The desk guy was great: This is an old hotel, it may not get better if you change rooms.

So, I ask, while the hotel is old, the mouse is not: what are my options?

Stay in the room, no charge.

The mouse suddenly got smaller and the bedspread cleaner

Originally Posted by Laneco

I travel extensively and always bring my stainless water bottle. It's large screw-off top lets me put in ice, water, etc. All mine and always clean. I will not touch the bedspread and don't even get me started on door knobs.

[911_Dude]

^^^ Thats funny

[dennis in se pa]

"Anytime you drink/dine/sleep away from home....you are at risk.

Still don't understand why some think it's so great to go out....."

Absolutely. I worked in hotels and restaurants for 20 years.

You have no idea.

You are at tremendous risk.

My traveling SOP:

Carry small bottle of hand sanitizer and small container of Chlorox wipes onto plane.

Wipe armrests, wobbly table and any other hard surface @ 21F.

At destination, rent car(demand a low mileage car) and wipe all surfaces with wipes.

Stop at store to get larger bottle of Chlorox wipes, lysol, paper towels and if hotel room has a fridge, bag of mixed raw veggies, pita chips, six pack of Aquafina and humus.

At hotel - ask for top floor at end of hall or far away from elevators and ice machines.

In room - place bags on bathroom counter, turn on hot water.

Pull sheets from corners of matresses and open drawers to search for bedbugs.

Throw bedspread in furthest corner.

Move bags to bed.

Wipe hard surfaces of entire room with wipes. Special attention to remote, doorknobs, mini fridge, sink, tub, fixtures and toilet bowl.

Put coffee pot and glassware in scading hot sink with a little liquid soap or shampoo. Wash, rinse and place on paper towels.

Spray Lysol on everything.

TV, Interweb, Email.

[flipper35]

We stay at the mid range hotels, Days Inn type stuff. They always have the plastic wrapped plastic cups for drinking. We do the same as ya'll with the spreads though.

[strupgolf]

Oh come on guys. I've been staying in all kinds of hotel/motels for the last 8 years while on the job. I've NEVER gotten sick, NEVER have seen anything out of ordinary. If you live your life based on videos such as this, you would never live a life. How often do you see this same thing on beef, poultry, fish, car washes, hookers, tree huggers, tire stores, Porsche repair shops, etc, etc, etc,.

[911_Dude]

There is some serious 'phobe going on here. I had no idea the lengths folks were going to avoid a couple billion germs

[Hugh R]

I travel a fair amount and don't worry too much about it. I avoid handrails on stairs and escalators, wash hands often. I usually take a shower when I get to my destination, and when I get home. The Duvet cover thing is relatively new, like the last few years, and is nice because they change it every day.