With camera phones now ubiquitous and online review sites a powerful force, it’s pretty tough for hotels to get away with substandard practices, especially when it comes to cleanliness. And there are few things that offend travellers more than a dirty hotel room.
There are still some egregious offenders, however, and TripAdvisor.com has just released a list of the dirtiest hotels in America, based on reviews and pictures from guests. While a ‘dirty dozen’ may have been more appropriate, the folks who compiled the list may have been so disgusted they had to stop at 10. Here they are, in all their soiled glory:
1. Heritage Marina Hotel, San Francisco, California
2. Days Inn Eureka/Six Flags, Eureka, Missouri
3. Tropicana Resort Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Super 8 Virginia Beach/At the Ocean, Virginia Beach, Virginia
5. Quality Inn, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
6. New York Inn, New York, New York
7. Parisian Hotel & Suites, Miami Beach, Florida
8. Capistrano Seaside Inn, Capistrano Beach, California
9. Desert Lodge, Palm Springs, California
10. Continental Oceanfront Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida
If the names aren’t enough to keep you away, you’ll find photos and comments here.
Even hotel rooms that look clean may not be. CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg recently offered advice on how to tell if your room is below an acceptable standard of cleanliness, and what to do about it. Following is some of his advice.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL: Studies show the TV remote control is the item in the bedroom with the highest levels of bacteria. Wipe it off thoroughly, then do the telephone handset.
BYE BYE BEDSPREAD: Many hotels still only clean bedspreads intermittently. Chuck it in a corner or a closet.
DO THE DISHES: Water glasses are sometimes not sufficiently cleaned, and it can be hard to tell. Before using, rinse them under hot water for a couple of minutes.
SLEEP TIGHT: Lift the mattress and check between the mattress and the box spring. If you see little brown streaks, that’s a sure sign of bed bugs. Get out of Dodge.
Greenberg says a credit card is your best defence against a disgusting hotel room, because you can dispute the charges. And if hotel management won’t give you any satisfaction, sharing your pain with others on a review site might at least make you feel a little better.
