Fishing Frenzy

Hotels and resorts do a great job of trying to make us forget that hundreds, maybe thousands, of people have slept in the same bed you are planning to sleep in. Their housekeepers are trained to remove all traces of past occupants and make the place seem sterile, yet homey. We all know appearances can be deceiving, so let's take a look at ways to ensure the hotel room will actually be clean instead of just look clean.

Before booking, read the reviews. In fact, scour the reviews anywhere and everywhere the hotel name is mentioned. This is one area where people are more than willing to put their fingers to keys when something isn't quite right. Don't rely on chain hotels and resorts to be the most clean, they may be big but that doesn't mean they have good housekeeping policies. As yet there is no international commission setting cleanliness standards for accommodation providers, so client reviews are the next best thing.

Wash your hands. Everyone should be washing for 30 seconds with soap and water after using the washroom anyway, but while traveling it is important to increase the frequency. No one knows the level of cleanliness the past occupants of the room kept, and you certainly will not know if they were ill. Make sure everyone in your party washes before and after eating or drinking, when arriving back at the room after being out and of course when using the washroom.

Get rid of the bedspread. Hotels do not wash the bedspreads every day or in fact every time there is a change in guests. So it would be in your best interest to remove and set it aside. Requesting additional blankets is fine, or even ask for the bedspread to be newly laundered when you check-in.

Check for bedbugs. It's yucky, yes, but checking for bed bugs will help prevent a potentially disastrous situation. Simply lift up the mattresses and if everything is nice and white, then go ahead and take a nap. If there are brown or red splotches, run like the wind! Brown or red marks are the blood from dead insects the bed bugs had eaten. Do not set any luggage down and immediately notify the front desk. Seriously consider a different hotel.

Finally, don't use the glassware. Or at least sanitize it before using it. Most hotels and resorts don't go as far as using the industrial dishwasher down in the kitchen for the glassware provided in rooms, so no one can say if they are sanitized. If you are desperate for that first cup of coffee in the room, wash them in the bathroom using your hand soap.