My hotel routine
 

I just posted a list of things I hate about travel, and this got me thinking about the odd quirks I've developed when I stay in a hotel.

1. Get rid of the crap. I take the menu's, internet access cards, hotel brochures and anything else they leave laying around and throw them all in a drawer so I can clearly see which of my stuff I've left out before I leave.

2. Turn down any mini bar key. This isn't fool proof, but I hate having to argue over a phantom charge after I've checked out for a $27 bottle of water.

3. Put all my stuff out in the bathroom.

4. Put down towels on whatever part of the bathroom floor that my uncovered skin will come in contact with.

5. Ditch the bedspread...gross.

6. Put a towel under the door and the door of any connecting room to muffle the sound or smell that might want to get in.

7. Take the stuff I want. Soap, shampoo, other stuff that I donate to homeless shelters.

8. Get two room keys. I'll likely lose one so this saves a trip to the front desk.

9. Check the time on the clock. Nothing worse than being late or early b/c the previoius guest mucked with the time.

10. Move the desk or TV if I can't work and see the TV at the same time...you rarely can for some reason.

I agree with all of the above and to add a couple of things I also check out the pool area and/or workout room and/or spa.

One more:
Power - figure out which of the lights I can unplug so I can charge my laptop, phone and blackberry. That usually seems to require freeing up an outlet or two.

I try to stay in the same hotels from city to city because then I know which rooms are better for my preferences...that is I prefer high up, darker and quieter. That means I don't want the room next to the ice machine, elevator or concierge lounge, or in Pittsburg on the side of the hotel that faces the train tracks.
I take charge when I check in and let them know which area of the hotel that I want.
I agree about the annoying cards, notices and other paraphanelia in a room. If you are a frequent traveller these are just in the way. There is nothing more aggravating then the ubiquitous service rating cards that hit you everywhere.
Finally, make sure that the alarm hasn't been left on by the previous guest...a constant issue. The other problem is the room that's too hot...I try to find places that I know have good ventilation

How does mdtravel get all those towels?

MD, your other two threads well, hell they are downright amusing, but this one just smacks of a bit of O.C.D. creeping in. Don't scare me now.

Whatever happened to walking in, unpacking and admiring the view? and what's with putting the towels on the floor? how many skanky foot infections have you picked up? What do you have against bedspreads that I should be aware of ? and do you have particularly pongy neighbours in the next room?

I was going to go on holidays on Tuesday to NYC from London but now you have me worried.......:-O

Hmmm. I'm about 50-50 on that list. I do put all that advertising crap in a drawer. My partner thinks I'm crazy, but he's used to it. Otherwise I feel like I'm living in a magazine with all the little advertising inserts.

But you left off a very important detail, mdtravel. When you check the clock, surely you check to make sure the alarm is turned OFF if you aren't resetting it? I've been awakened too many times by alarm clocks at 4 AM NOT to check that.

I don't cover the floor with towels though. I assume, and I hope not falsely, that in a good hotel it has been well mopped with a good disinfectant. Who wants towels slipping around under their feet on marble floors? Sounds dangerous to me.

If your palatial room has marble floors, maybe you don't have to worry about them not being mopped. Tile or linoleum, however, probably doesn't get mopped each guest; and carpet? forget about it--I always bring extra white ankle socks to wear in a room (and you should see them after one wearing--yuck). The bedspreads and blankets are the filthiest, most unhygenic thing around, even in good places--I love to see the blankets "double wrapped" in sheets. If I started thinking about the cleanliness of bed pillows, I'd never leave home again...maybe mdtravel is right (but still, where do all those extra towels come from!?)

The first thing I do is to turn on the TV and the weather channel to check the local weather.

Hang up and put away all my clothes and health and beauty aides.

Call housekeeping and cancel service for my stay.

I love this kind of post, but I got a hard time when I published one a few months ago.

I agree with most of what you list; however, I always wear slippers in hotel room so I don't have to "put down towels on whatever part of the bathroom floor that my uncovered skin will come in contact with."

I like the idea about "putting a towel under the door and the door of any connecting room to muffle the sound or smell that might want to get in."

Thanks for sharing your no-nonsense approach to hotel living.

wow. I really can't imagine spending that much time prepping the room like that! I usually walk in, put my stuff down, check the room out, and then either turn on the TV, plug in my laptop, sleep or go find a nearby lounge or restaurant. If I think too much about the 'germs' I'd probably never leave home!

It takes all kinds to make the world go around though. Whatever makes you more comfortable, Mdtravel!

Sounds about right to me. I always wear at least socks, so the only time my bare feet would touch the floor is getting out of the shower, and i do put a towel down if there's no mat -- as much for warmth/comfort as for the sake of not stepping on the bare floor.

And I don't completely ditch the bedspread, because thau means wrestling with it and finding someplace to stash it. But I do fold it back in half.

My routine also includes checking out the electrical outlets, adjusting the climate controls if necessary, and checking out the view and fire exit. Finally, when I'm checking the fire-exit map on the back of the door, I can never resist looking up the rack rate for my room.

Sorry, I'm already on my second drink poolside by the time you've done all that work.

always ask for extra towels!

I never worry about the tile. It seems that it would be the easiest thing to clean and/or see dirt. Its the nasty carpets that bother me. They never seem clean and of course they are usualy dark colors to hide stains or the dirt.

I don't care if we're staying at the Marriott or Ritz Carlton I, too, put towels down on the bathroom floor AND I line the drawers with tissue.

And, that's me sitting next to SAnParis! (I throw a very lightweight pair of flip flops in my carry on to avoid direct contact w/ the floors)

That is the very next thing on my list SAnParis!

I'm sitting poolside with SAnParis and Wow... have a few drinks and you don't care about the alleged kooties.

I do throw the advertisements into a drawer, to clear the dresser top.

And I *am* still trying to figure out how you get all those towels, since housekeeping hasn't been to your room since you checked in.

Suze, have a drink for me! If there's not enough to go around...towels or hangers that is...we call housekeeping. Cheers!

Line the drawers with tissue!?!?!?!

wow now that really is anal retentive.

I'm sitting by the pool too, wondering how people get through the day in public with all these neuroses about germs and dirt. Do you touch anything during the day? Do you eat out? Use transportation other than your bubble car?

I travel a lot and am really too busy (or too lazy) to get this worried about all these germs and stuff. Yet, oddly, I've never had an illness that's attributable to the bathroom floor or the blanket on the bed. Amazing.

There was a classic thread here on Fodor's about a woman who traveled with her own sheets to 5-star hotels. Maybe we could revive that one?

Didn't we do this thread already? I remember getting a hard time because I said checked for peepholes, since twice I had to stuff holes in walls with washcloths. Sometimes you end up in not-so-nice places.

Hi suze, I was thinking of that thread too, LOL.

I put all the "hotel info" in a drawer, hang up any clothes, freshen up, put bathroom toiletires in the bathroom, check where the emergency exits are (I always try at least to remember to do that) and that is it.
If I were so worried and nervous about germs etc. I would stay home.

BTW, what do people that worry so much about hotel rooms, hotel bedding etc. do when flying? I think airline seats, trays and bathrooms are gross compared to hotel rooms. But I don't worry about that either. And I am still alive and well.

P.S. Having a drink or two by the pool or whereever does kill all germs, right? ;;)

I always take a t shirt or two to use it as a pillow case can't imagen putting my face in a pillow case that I do not know where it's been ;)

Surely it must LoveItaly (drinking kills all germs)...

I always drink and I've never once been sick from a hotel room in my entire life!

colombiana- Why don't you just carry a pillow case of your own?

I usually remember once I get there, unless I am driving when I always make sure I take it ;)

I also check the fire routes.

Wow, very interesting to get into people's neuroses!! However, I'm with the poolside drinking crew—I've never even thought to do any of the list except the mini bar key turndown, get two key cards and set my stuff in the bathroom—pretty average and boring! And I have gotten woken by alarms set by previous guests but I guess not enough to learn cause I still don't check! ;-)

SAnParis....aren't you glad you headed straight for the poolside bar? We now have quite a nice little party going on here!

I now know why I like to travel. I have more than my share of neuroses at home, but when I travel for some reason I do not worry about germs, peepholes, fire, toxic bedding.

I dump the luggage, check out the view of the parking lot or air conditioning unit, make sure the coffee maker has coffee for the AM, and find something to do outside of room - dinner, an attraction, a drink.

You are all so funny, but what about the people who pee in the pool? huh? what do you do then???? huh huh?? and what pray tell do you do at home? do your special little tootsies touch your own floors? and do you have special wipes for the toilet to sanitize them or do you have one of those dispensers that you have to lay out a sheet before you sit on the seat?
Am I the only non paranoid one? or was, past tense I guess now, because I've now read this thread and things have changed.

Ah gail, check that there is plenty of coffee packets if the room has a coffee pot..yes that is something else I do for sure!!

Location, date and time of the pool party please? Wouldn't that be fun!!

From the title of this thread I realize I do have a "hotel routine" myself. But my preparations are quite different than mentioned by others. BTW this is for vacation not business travel and for staying a week or two.

1. Buy fresh flowers
2. Set up my own 'mini-bar' on the dresser with a bottle of wine, nuts, fruit, snacks
3. Pick up a local newspaper
4. Throw a couple sarongs over the chairs

I like to explore the room, bathroom, bed, closet, tv, etc. Then I put my stuff away and get my toiletries settled in the bathroom.

Then I like to go explore the hotel areas and/or grounds.

That's about it for my routine.

i pray tell worship my special tootsies that touch the floor

I know, Curt, I know--just be glad you're not married to me and say a prayer for the man who is ;-)

As I'm reading this, I'm thinking that it's probably best if the people with the check-in checklists not travel with the pool drinking crowd! And yes, I do believe the alcohol kills all unnecessary germs - even the pee in the pool. Maybe that's why I don't get sick when traveling either. I was also just reading somewhere that stress lowers your immune system too. (and again, alcohol to the rescue!) :)

Oh, and I'm in the marketing field and I love to read the ads, brochures, and guides on the dressers. Please tell me I'm not the only one!!