My new coworker is not a well traveled person. I think she's only stayed in 0* "guest houses" or that sort of thing. The first time I traveled with her (on business) she told me that she brought her own towels and sheets from home. She wore flipflops in the shower and lined the toilet seat *with the hotel towels* before sitting... This wasn't at a fleabag hote, but at a luxury hotel in Washington, DC.

I take basic precautions, but I don't think about it too much. In many years of traveling, I've never once been sick (knock on wood!).

I must admit that I don't like hotel bedspreads and always remove them immediately. And I make sure the sheets fold over the top of the blanket so the blanket doesn't really touch me. There's something about actually SLEEPING with bed linens that numerous others have used that really grosses me out. I certainly wouldn't want to use the dirty towels from the previous guests!

And OliveOyl, I'm just wondering - being that you live in a hotel where your husband is the GM, don't you think maybe your room is getting a bit more attention than the average guest?

OliveOyl:
No, it hasn't changed. (re: communion). Everyone take a deep breath. Wash your hands. That's my advice.

gplimptom, I'm still laughing in tears,
think I'll have a vodka

Coming in late on this conversation, I know, but I've never given the bedspreads a second thought. I mean, you can take a look at them and see instantly if it's clean or not.

It's the matress pad I worry about.

Actually, dln, that's kind of the point of the discussion. It's what you can't see that's the disgusting part.
Here's what started it all.

The Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, blue dress thing got someone started asking questions. Eventually ABC's "Primetime Live" did an expose on the crud found on hotel bedspreads <which LOOKED clean>. Some of these hotels were up to $700 per night. Not your typical no-tell motel.

What did they find? Urine and fecal material on dressers and remote controls, semen on 'clean' bedspreads and chairs, etc.
They discovered it was common practice for housekeeping to use the same rags they clean the bathroom with to clean the rest of the room...including the coffee maker.

I've also found stains on bedspreads and blankets and sheets, even in some of the nicest and most expensive hotels.

Some people are slobs and will wipe their noses and private parts and whatever else on the hotel bedspreads and blankets and duvets and think nothing of it. Some get drunk and puke. Some spill food.

There are apparently a few people in this forum who find this behavior acceptable and don't mind sitting or lying on someone else's bodily fluids or urp. I can't imagine what their homes look like !

See my sheet thread. I take my own sheets with me and I use them more often than not.

How funny this came up! On many of our travels, and we just got back from very posh hotels in Italy, I have gingerly folded up the spread 9noting the stains on fine silk,etc) and left a note (in dictionalry Italian) that this spread needs to be cleaned before it is used again. (Consult your traveler's dictionary for appropriate language!!!)
Usually a spread is never seen again.
Any soiled looking blaknets need to be removed and replaced with clean and a sheet on top (although, in finer hotels this is the rule anyway) and I ALWAYS bring my own pillow (mostly for comfort reasons) with a fresh case. Nobody reading this has the time today to read my reasons why!!!!

Deloris ! Kindred spirit ! :-)

On car trips, I take my own pillow. I haven't yet done that for a trip via plane, but I'm thinking about it.

I take pillowcases AND sheets. I don't do it for health reasons, though I might have a health justification ... I read on the internet about a woman who was plagued by scabies (mites) she acquired from hotel room sheets. I can't say that I know the account is really true, but it does seem possible ! Do a Google search on "hotel sheets scabies".

If you think of the millions of dustmites crawling all over you as a free massage you cant feel.....is it so bad? =)

When travelling by car I take a can of Lysol, spray everything in the room I always carry my own coffee pot. Plastic electric coffee pots to heat H2O, can make oatmeal, ramen noodle etc this way and save $$ too. When I fly, no Lysol allowed, so I ask the housekeepers for it, if not I deal with it. I am one to eat pizza in my underwear in the middle of the bed. I try to get a 2 bed room when I travel, one to sleep in one for laying out clothes, eating etc. You know the shower curtains are usually cloth and they don't get washed either!!!! Claire...motels near military bases are really nasty!!

lmao I LOVE THIS POST LOLL.....
I NEVER SIT ON BEDSPREADS EITHER,,NASTY..ONCE there was a snot on it. Very nasty!

Hmmm, plastic electric coffee pot. Why didn't I think of that. :-)

And another thing .. I'm taking some small baggies to use as remote control covers, dang it.

The Crowne Plaza I stayed in a few weekends ago had plastic bag liners for the ice bucket. I liked that.

This is the most hilarious - and at the same time gross - thread ! Thanks for the laughs, people.

Every day I can't wait to see what new responses there will be to my simple question. What great fun I have had reading all of your answers. I am on my way to buy as set of sheets, extra pillowcases, a special bag to sleep in, Lysol, plastic bags for the remote controls, slippers. Your guys are hilarious, not to mention helpful. Thanks for making me laugh. I am looking forward to my trip on Sunday. Now I can rest easy, covered from head to toe, but easy :)

DON'T FORGET A COFFEE POT!!!!
Sorry for screaming but I thought you're on your way already.

I find such a pot useful for budget traveling - good for making tea, coffee, soups or noodles. It's lightweight and it doesn't take up space if you fill it with noodles or teabags.

I Attempt to gestamate the amount of coffe I will need, amt of creamer and # of sweetNlow pkts. I take a coffee cup that will fit in the plastic electric pot, store the baggies of instant Folgers, cremer and sweetner in the pot around and in the cup keeps it from breaking and rattling, i even carry a spoon designated for mixing coffee. As you can tell I have done this many many times. My coffee pot has been to 38 states and is still going strong!!!