3 On Your Side: Hotel Dos And Don'ts
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Spring break is in full-swing. Do you have a trip planned? While hotels invite guests to make themselves at home, 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds there are still a few areas where you don't want to get too comfortable.
The editors of Smarter Travel recently compiled a list of hotel dos and don'ts, and the first habit to avoid starts as soon as you check in. Anne Banas, Executive Editor at Smarter Travel says, "Never reveal your room number. A lot of times when you're checking in, they'll say it out loud. Always ask them to write it down on paper first. That's going to give you a lot of protection. You never know who's listening."
Everyone has heard stories about the remote control being one of the dirtiest items in a hotel room. But resist the urge to flop down on the bedspread, too. According to Banas, "They don't launder those as much as they launder the sheets, so you don't want to take any risks. So just throw it on the floor and then, you know, go from there."
No one wants to think about washing dishes on vacation, but drinking from in-room glasses or mugs without a rinse can also be a big "don't." Banas says, "There have been reports with housekeeping staff actually cleaning those with Windex, and not just at low-end hotels, but at high-end hotels, so be sure to give those a quick rinse."
By the way, speaking of beverages, be careful with the minibar. Many now have sensors, and even picking up an item and setting it right back down could cost you at checkout. It's just something to think about.
