Help! I’m stuck in a hotel room and I can’t get out!
Just call me Eloise. Once again, I find myself living in a hotel. You see, if an employee wants to move up in the hotel industry, it often means moving around. A lot. And my husband moves up in his jobs. A lot. So every couple of years, we find ourselves moving to a new town and a new property.
In some ways, it’s really cool. We’ve gotten to live lots of exciting places. But moving a household is extremely stressful. It was tough when it was just him and me, but it’s extra-tough now that we have kids. However, working in this industry has one fabulous perk. When you get to a certain level of management, you’re usually allowed to live in the hotel until you find a new home. This relieves much of the move-related stress.
So here I am, at a beautiful property in downtown Little Rock, Ark. I mean beautiful. The food served here is amazing Southern fare, so it’s right up my alley. We’re in a suite that’s larger than my old house, I’m sure. The staff is very friendly, and they make me feel right at home. So what have I got to complain about?
Well, as I’m sure you road warriors can attest, too many nights away from home can really take its toll on a traveler. Once you spend more than a week or so in a hotel room, you start to get antsy. So I want to pass along some extended-stay survival tips that have helped me over the years, just in case you find yourself stuck in a generically-decorated box for any length of time.
Space matters. Go big or go home. Get the largest room — preferably suite — that you can afford. Little known fact: Hotels rooms shrink by 10 square feet each night you stay in them. Even agoraphobes can become claustrophobic after too much time in a small hotel room. So treat yourself to as much space as possible.
Ask for lots of extras. A refrigerator is handy. A DVD player can help break the monotony. An extra lamp may make you feel cozy. Your room may not come standard with certain amenities, but it doesn’t hurt to ask for them. Just speak to a manager about any special requests. There may be a small charge for some of these items, but it will most likely be worth it. Having your own coffee maker and small refrigerator for your cream is so much better than having to call room service for your cup of joe every single morning.
Keep it clean. You may be a slob at your house, but you should be neat as a pin in your hotel room. Again, it’s all about space. If you have dirty clothes draped over every surface, the room will feel small and chaotic. A messy room will make you highly irritable without your even knowing it.
About that dirty laundry… Many hotels offer laundry and dry cleaning service, but it’s often not great. If the hotel does laundry in-house, employees may not have the time or the expertise to treat your garments as directed on the care labels. And if it’s sent out, it may be done by the low-bidder laundry service, which often means low-quality. Ask a sharply dressed employee for the scoop. He should honestly tell you if the hotel service is up to par, or if there’s a nearby dry cleaner that does a better job. And maybe this is just a personal problem, but I can’t stand for other people to wash my underwear. If you’re like me, don’t forget to pack a pair of skivvies for every day you’ll be gone, plus extras!
Keep some privacy. When you’re living in a hotel, you’ll feel more comfortable if you don’t have strangers traipsing in and out of your “house” every day. Chris Elliott has suggested simply leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door, and I agree. You really don’t need your room fully serviced every day — bed linens changed, tub scrubbed, floors mopped and more. Chances are, you only need what I call a “trash and tidy” — wastebaskets emptied and towels refreshed — every couple of days. Just leave the DND on the door and flag down or call a housekeeper when you want the T’NT. Wait until you know you’ll be out for a few hours to get the full works. You’ll probably only need a full cleaning once a week or less.
You’re not on permanent vacation, so watch what you eat. I love hotel food, but I also love being healthy. I find these two passions are not compatible. Wanting to eat lots of room service while wanting to maintain your current weight is like wanting Obama and McCain on the same ticket. You must do one of two things: Eat less or exercise more. Take the time to go to a local market and get some fruits and veggies, low-fat string cheese, healthy cereal and unsalted nuts (this is where that refrigerator comes in handy). Use the hotel’s gym, or get a guest pass to one nearby. Order those exercise programs from the in-room movie menu. You’ve got to stay healthy, or else you’ll end up feeling rotten. (I can feel my hips spreading as I sit here and write this, since I just inhaled a delicious shrimp Caesar salad, but at least I went to a local yoga class tonight!)
Get out! When your room is large, and the staff is nice, and the food is great, it can be tempting to hole up in your room. Don’t. Get out of the building as much as you can. Try a new bar or restaurant. Visit an eclectic museum. Grab a map and go for an aimless drive. Take the kids to a park. Whatever interests you, get out and do it!
So all you road warriors or fellow long-term visitors, what do you do to make yourself more comfortable when you’re away from home for long periods of time? Do you bring a special pillow or photos? Do you have any special requests? Share your tips in the Comments section below or in our Talking Travelers forums.
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3 Responses to “Help! I’m stuck in a hotel room and I can’t get out!”
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And maybe this is just a personal problem, but I can’t stand for other people to wash my underwear. If you’re like me, don’t forget to pack a pair of skivvies for every day you’ll be gone, plus extras!
How about instead you suggest that people wash their own undies. If you ar ein the same hotel for a long period of time, what’s wrong with using the sink to wash them & rinse thme out with either the towels in the room or with the small towels that can are constantly being hawked by travel sites. I myself have several sizes & take them with me on trips & manage to do my own laundry during trips that last up to 14 days.
Those are some great tips. I love to travel myself ? I remember staying in this one hotel that smelled like being downwind of a row of porta-potties, mixed with cigar smoke…it was disgusting! How do you cope when your in an unbearable room , OMG please share!
Check out this funny video, called “Ballad of a Traveler”, it is hilarious. He totally sums up the travelers experience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2tgnUsj8NE>
YouTube - Ballad of a Traveler
I work with Hampton Inn, and I’d love to hear your horror stories! What’s the worst experience you’ve ever had at a hotel? (I always get a kick outta this!)
For a while, my idea of heaven was a hotel. Now I’m all for renting an apartment if I’m going to be in a place for a week or more. Ideally, it should have maid service and more amenities than home.
Not having to eat every meal out is a blessing in terms of cost and calories. There are times I prefer eating dinner in the room and not feel as if the bed has been converted into a table. If I’m traveling with a companion, having a separate space can save a relationship.
I look for apartments with the following:
- an exercise room
- high speed or WiFi connect
- a decent kitchen
- plus a washer / dryer - so I can do my own laundry. I’ve been presented with laundry bills that are high enough to make me faint.
Being able to relax in a robe and have a drink in the apartment is my idea of the way to travel.