Atreyee Poddar
You've done this a hundred times — badge into the room, toss your bag on the bed, flop down and reach for the remote. But that first-five-minutes routine might be costing you money, comfort, or worse. Read on.
Before you unpack, pull back the sheets and check the mattress seams and headboard. If anything looks off, ask for a new room immediately.
Hotel room doors get knocked on for all kinds of reasons — real staff, wrong-room guests, and occasionally something you don't want to open the door for blind. Use the peephole, and don't rely on the swing-bar lock alone; engage the full deadbolt when you're in for the night.
Resort fees, parking, ‘amenity’ charges — they add up, and they're often not itemised until checkout. A 10-second question at the front desk can save you an unpleasant surprise on your bill.
Extra pillows, a different comforter, a rollaway bed — most of this is available on request and complimentary. Don't suffer through a bad night's sleep out of politeness.
Nobody wants to think about this on vacation, but hotel fires and evacuations do happen. Spend 15 seconds locating the nearest stairwell exit when you arrive.
The most commonly left-behind items in hotel rooms? Phone chargers, by a wide margin — followed by items left in the safe. Before you walk out, check three places specifically: behind the nightstand, the bathroom cabinet, and the safe.