Topic: Really OT: The dirt on Hotel rooms

[Francois]

I know this is so totally off topic it shouldn't even be here. But since many of us travel a lot and spend a lot of time in hotel rooms, I thought sending you this link (which I hope works worldwide) would be a big plus. Think of it as a public service announcement.

For the last two weeks, the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) has been showing the results of a nationwide study they did on hotel rooms. They took the big chains and visited rooms incognito. Now, I always knew some rooms were pretty filthy... but this totally blew my mind.

Well worth watching. It was on the show "Marketplace".
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2012/11/the-dirt-on-hotels-part-1.html

And this is the second part
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows/Marketplace/ID/2305885135/

[Late Developer]

I'll have to get some "dutch courage" up to watch this, Francois, as I have spent a LOT of time "living out of a suitcase" in connection with my job down the years. To be fair, my employers have always booked me into reputable places / chains but, as I suspect, these videos will show, even the big name establishments won't be "squealy clean" (pun intended).

[Nigel]

I also spend way too much time in hotels, I'd rather stay in ignorant bliss. 

[Francois]

In the second show, they give tips on what to look for before settling in... if that's any help

[calbisu]

Well, I already knew many of the hotels I was settling in were filthy, so not much that could be done. You relax, don´t think about it, and wait for a better place 

[Late Developer]

Hideous. I looked at these videos last night. Thankfully,I have a strong constitution and managed not to get too queasy.

The worst thing, for me at least, was the almost universally present problems relating to air conditioning / heating systems. This is something that hotel cleaning staff can't really deal with and the inherent risks of airborne bacteria and viruses - especially in more tropical countries - should be a serious cause for travelers.

Most of the other stuff - washing sheets more regularly, a bit hotter, stronger detergents (blah, blah, blah......) are fairly easy to resolve - if you employ enough / dilligent staff and give them / train them to use the right kit.

I suppose we should learn that if it doesn't smell right, change rooms - or change hotels....

[Francois]

For me, the worst parts was when the cleaning lady washed the counter with the toilet brush and when the other lady washed the glass with the bar of soap and her marigolds... yuck!