• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Hotels  >  I Don’t Even Want To Think About How Filthy Hotel Rooms Are…
Hotels

I Don’t Even Want To Think About How Filthy Hotel Rooms Are…

Matthew Klint Posted onJune 30, 2020 19 Comments

Inside Edition reprised its role of hotel investigator and exposed three New York City hotels for failing to fully clean guest rooms between guest stays. The revelation is horrifying, disgusting, but frankly something I don’t want to even think about.

Filthy Hotel Rooms: Three Hotels Fail Clean Test

Perhaps one of my character flaws is that that I somewhat subscribe to the notion of what you don’t know won’t hurt you. That’s simply foolishness in an objective sense, but especially being married to a woman who loves microbiology, your stomach would turn inside out if you looked under a microscope at all the microbes invading our living spaces.

So my antidote is out of sight, out of mind. I don’t want to know what is lurking in my sheets or pillow. Heck, I don’t even want to open threatening mail. Sometimes I’ll wait a day or two…

Inside Edition reported on the hygiene practices of three New York hotels (H/T: One Mile at a Time). Using infrared paint only visible under UV light, they sprayed pillows, sheets, and towels. They also marked remote controls, counters, and thermostats. Somehow, they were able to check out and then return a few hours later and check back in to the same room.

Bed linens were not replaced at the Hyatt Place Times Square and the TV remote had not been cleaned. Same story at the Hampton Inn Times Square. At the Trump International Hotel, only one of the pillows still had the Inside Edition logo. The desk and TV remote also had not been cleaned.

In what can only be described as a Trump-esque response, the hotel flatly denied the report:

“Following an internal review, we have concluded that the claims made by Inside Edition are categorically false. Trump International Hotel & Tower New York is one of the premier luxury hotels anywhere in the world and has received countless accolades, including the Forbes Five-Star award for the past 13 years, for its consistently impeccable service.”

Meanwhile, Hyatt and Hilton expressed shock and vowed to investigate.

Can We Just Change The Subject?

This sort of thing has gone on for years. If anything, it may be better now than before, but still is disgusting. Expose after expose has demonstrated sheets are not always changed, cups and glasses not cleaned, and hotel rooms are likely cesspools of germs.

And so what do I do when I check into a hotel? I just put these fears out of sight, out of mind. Hotels are an unavoidable part of my job, and I don’t just mean this blog. I’ve never been a germaphobe, but I fear that I would become one if I dwell upon news like this or pull out a microscope. So I just hop into bed and even wear hotel robes.

Maybe it took Inside Edition 20 hotels stays to find these three featured in its report. Maybe the paint bleeds through the pillowcase to the pillow itself. Somehow I doubt it. And it doesn’t make these three offenders any less offending.

CONCLUSION

So yes, I’m disgusted too by all of this. But I just assume hotels are filthy and block it from my mind. I don’t want to even think about all the nasty things that may be lurking in my hotel room. How about you?

Previous Article United Airlines Wins IFE Accessibility Award
Next Article How United Airlines Staved Off Employee Revolt

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Marriott Elites Soft Landing, Hyatt Globalists Back To 2019 Levels

    January 8, 2023
  • My Top 10 Hotel Stays In 2022

    December 31, 2022
  • canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadero suite bed

    Review: Canopy By Hilton Paris Trocadero

    December 18, 2022

19 Comments

  1. JR Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 11:16 am

    I, too, choose not to think about it very much. I know the rooms are filthy. I suspect they frequently don’t change sheets between guests. Pre-Covid, I would occasionally sanitize my remote control or put it in a plastic bag before use. I’ve stayed in a few hotels during this epidemic. I would say their cleanliness level is visibly worse than normal to the point where even I’m getting grossed out. I expect they can’t afford to pay many housekeepers. These days, I wipe down absolutely everything I can with sanitizing wipes before settling into the room, but there’s not much I can do about the moldy shower/curtain, filthy carpet and dirty bedding.

  2. Stuart Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 11:20 am

    I have been sanitizing rooms myself. It’s quite surprising what the cloth looks like when I am done.

    Want to know the dirtiest surface in a hotel room that has consistently made my cleaning cloth nearly black after wiping down? The desk chair. I assure you they are NEVER cleaned. Anywhere. And it’s an area we sit on and touch often. Trust me, clean the desk chair completely.

  3. Ryan Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 11:41 am

    I see it the same way. If you dwell too much on what a hotel room actually is, you’ll never want to stay there. Fifteen years of traveling professionally and I’m yet to sick from a hotel room. That said, going forward, I intend to bring disinfecting wipes with me as part of my travel kit and will wipe down surfaces.

    I only had two incidents of a hotel room not appearing clean when I checked-in. The first was, at all places, the Park Hyatt Sydney. The room looked fine, but it was clear someone had laid on the bed. They were horrified and moved us to a really nice room with a view of the Opera House. Excellent service recovery.

    The second was a Residence Inn in Indiana. The room looked old and worn, which, for me, is a huge turnoff. What did it for me was a pizza left in the fridge. I was supposed to live there for two months as I was moving. I promptly checked-out and moved into a Courtyard instead. Less space, but a new property and much cleaner.

  4. Santastico Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 12:08 pm

    I am surprised people are surprised by these findings. Same goes for airplanes. Nobody cleans anything. To be fair, I only really care for bed linens and towels in a hotel since I always assume the rest of the room was never cleaned. Way before Covid I never touched a remote control in a hotel room before spraying hand sanitizer on it. No, for towels and bed linens it is a bit easier to notice if they were changed or not. In any decent hotel those are pressed so if a towel was used you can see it. A bit more difficult on bed linens but usually you can see if there are wrinkles and they smell bleach if they were washed.

    Now, my assumption is always that hotel rooms and planes are filthy so I touch very little of anything. You can go crazy like a friend of mine that brings her own pillow and towel every time she goes to a hotel but if I have to do that I will probably just stay home..

  5. TWA John Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 12:35 pm

    Humans have strong immune systems. 35 years of half my life in hotels I am still alive. The stay, no stay, is clean linens and no sticky or wet rugs. Since Covid, hotels are doing much less normal housekeeping as staff is laid off. I have seen it all including bed bug incidents. My biggest fear is taking a bed bug infestation into my home.
    The pesticides these hotels use are extremely toxic to humans. In the Caribbean many guests have died from exposure to toxic levels of pesticides. If your room has any odor of bug spray say no. The flea bag motel may actually have a better cleaning staff than Trump Resorts.

  6. cariverga Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    I am definitely double-checking the sheets, pillows and towels. In about 50% it’s visibly dirty, regardless of hotel category, be it an IC or a Holiday Inn. I always complain, demand the room to be fully cleaned plus ask for a hefty compensation. This simply has no excuses.
    And in my experience, IHG is the worst, in terms of cleanliness/dirtiness.

  7. anonymous Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 1:16 pm

    That’s odd… … Are the hotel cleaning staff not finding all those spare tens and twenties we leave for them… …???

  8. Mike Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 1:17 pm

    If you knew what I do in hotel rooms, you wouldn’t want to think about it either. 🙂

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 30, 2020 at 2:12 pm

      Yes, that too. Who wants to really think about all the bodily fluids regularly discharged in such a small space?

  9. Joe Smith Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 1:17 pm

    “Trump-esque reply?”

    The left (Dems) lie with the ease at which you and I breathe. They lie in everything and in every way. If you want to use politics in this article, at the very least use the lying leftist ideology/religion as your example.

    They destroy everything they touch. Remember, Russian Collusion? Spying on the Trump campaign? The list goes on and on. It was treasonous. But yeah, Trump lies. Unreal.

    • anonymous Reply
      June 30, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      AND aliens are visiting the earth, Bigfoot exists, Covid-19 is all a hoax, man-made carbon emissions don’t have any effect on the atmosphere, racism didn’t exist before Obama, and we never went to the moon.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 30, 2020 at 5:58 pm

      Joe, you took it as an insult against Trump, which I did not necessarily intend it to be. Don’t you think the retort from the hotel sounds like something the POTUS would say, whether true or false? I was much more amused than disgusted by the Trump Hotel’s response.

    • 747always Reply
      July 2, 2020 at 3:01 am

      Yeah. Trump doesn’t lie. He only sucks up to Putin and Xi.
      Hell, he doesn’t mind that Russia is paying a bounty to the Taliban to kill Ud soldiers.
      You’re another one of Putin’s Pussy Cats. Ready to support Mother Russia through your Dear Leader, Herr Trump

  10. derek Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 2:16 pm

    Inside Story didn’t explain their methodology. If the beds were slept in or not slept in. If they just open the blankets on one corner but leave the foot tucked in, housekeepers would be tempted not to change the sheets. I’ve heard of business travelers trying to avoid that to the next person by stripping the sheets at least partially to discourage reuse.

    One reason I like lower tier hotels like Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, and Holiday Inn Express is that they use paper cups wrapped in plastic. Those are unlikely to be reused compared to glasses with a round paper cover.

  11. JoEllen Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    I worked at an airport and a nearby hotel was assigned to employees during a snowstorm because we were needed the next day and driving any distances were impossible. When I checked the bathroom there was a ladies negligee still handing on the hook behind the door. Bed sheets did not look fresh so I called down to the desk and asked to be put in another room. They claimed they did not have another room, so I stripped the bed, took all the towels out of the bathroom and piled everything on a chair. Next, I called Housekeeping and told them my room was assigned to me but obviously had not been cleaned or made up. When they came in to look, they were “forced” to redo the room with fresh linen and towels (as I watched). Just call housekeeping or offer to refresh the room yourself if it’s in the middle of the night. They can always unlock a closet with supplies and bring it to you. Trust me, I have done this more than once – at a Marriott and a Hilton.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 30, 2020 at 5:59 pm

      Great tip, though sad you have to stand over them to ensure it is done properly…

  12. James Reply
    June 30, 2020 at 7:15 pm

    Surfaces aren’t really a major issue for transmission of this virus — it’s about being in close proximity to an infected person in a closed environment for an extended period of time. So, I don’t really care about surfaces that much. I’d be more concerned about riding the elevator than whether or not my remote control was clean.

  13. carletonm Reply
    July 1, 2020 at 12:03 am

    It is not surprising that the Trump International Hotel was not only filthy but the management had attitude about it.

    Hilton and Hyatt reacted appropriately.

  14. W Ho Reply
    July 4, 2020 at 9:51 am

    C’mon Shirley, this info. Isn’t new(s).

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Spirit brawl
    Brawl: Spirit Airlines Employees Drawn Into Gate Fight February 5, 2023
  • runway incursion
    Close Call: Two Airliners Narrowly Avoid Runway Catastrophe February 5, 2023
  • belarus journalist arrested on ryanair flight
    Couple Abandon Child At Airport Over €25 Fee February 5, 2023
  • United Airlines Steakhouse Cheeseburger
    Steakhouse Cheeseburger On United Airlines February 4, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023
  • United Airlines Polaris Meal Service: The Sad State Of Affairs January 27, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.