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Deaths - Although not very common, people have died in hotel rooms. However, employees will never tell you about them, as this information could make them lose customers. The bodies are removed silently and discretely and the room is thoroughly disinfected.

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Employees - Porters or waiters can get guests some freebies, such as bottled water, parking vouchers or event tickets. Of course it will depend on the hotel and its quality.

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Dirty objects - Some objects are dirtier than others. Light switches, blow dryers and other electronic devices are often 'lightly' cleaned. According to an investigation conducted by the University of Houston, these objects are sometimes covered in as much bacteria as a toilet.

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Coffee machine -

This piece of equipment also deserves our attention, since it's probably the object that's cleaned the least, which means it can accumulate residue and bacteria for several days. Be careful when using hotel coffee machines.

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Glasses - Some hotels just use water to clean glasses and put them back in the same place. Beware when using these as they may not have been washed with detergent or specific products.

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Recommendations - Any places recommended by hotel employees are intentional and they usually get a commission. So if you are advised to go to a certain place, know that this is also in the interest of the hotel.

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Tips - Porters, waiters, and some kitchen staff tend to work hard and be underpaid. They're grateful for any tips because these end up topping up their paycheck. Plus, they will probably reciprocate with a good service.

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Cleanliness - Hotel blankets and bedspreads are not cleaned frequently. If you want new ones, you should ask for them when you check in. This will ensure they are clean and bacteria-free.

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Prices - The price required for each room depends on how much it cost to build. Therefore, a room that costs $300 per night, may have cost the hotel about $300,000, taking into account all of the furniture and everything else inside it.

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Room choice - Typically, rooms located in the corners of floors are usually most spacious, since they have no other rooms next door. Rooms on higher floors are usually quieter and have fewer guests.

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Honeymoon - If you have chosen a hotel to celebrate a special occasion, such as a birthday or honeymoon, the hotel will make it a special night and offer you everything you are entitled to. But to benefit from all this, you have to book the hotel yourself, because if it's booked through a third party, the hotel won't know about the occasion.

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Online bookings -

Usually, customers who book hotels online get better discounts than those who book directly with the hotel.

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Fully booked - Hotels can lie about vacancies to ensure they always have rooms available for any emergency that may arise or important guests that may show up last minute.

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Privacy - Always check that the peephole is in good working condition, otherwise you should change rooms. A peephole can be manipulated to include a camera or to work inside out, allowing a person on the outside to see what's going on inside the room. Of course this is not very common, especially in big hotels.

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Discrete - Most hotels are very discreet and never reveal guest names. When it comes to famous people, for instance, they keep it to their own discretion and won't tell you which celebrities have stayed there.

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Insects - In some places (even 5 star hotels,) some insects may appear at night. To make sure this doesn't happen, you can always check the reviews on a hotel's website before booking it.

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Hotel maids - A hotel maid's job is to exclusively clean the room and to arrange objects such as the bed and towels. Tidying up scattered clothes and messy suitcases is not in their job description.

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Arranging the room - However, to clean the room, maids can always move some objects and belongings that are in the way, and if they are kind enough, they might even arrange things a little.

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Products - Taking soap, shampoo or other objects exclusive to the hotel with you, is actually beneficial for both the customer and the business. This is because these items are thrown in the trash and changed daily.

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Complaints - Receptionists are usually the ones who take the most flak. When making a complaint, always ask to whom it should be addressed to, so that your problem is solved more quickly.

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Mini-bar -

Mini bars' high prices are not beneficial for either the customer or the hotel, since these products are rarely used by guests. This means that hotels usually lose money with these products.

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Kindness -

If you're kind to hotel staff, they will provide you with more information and will help you feel good and comfortable. Of course, complaining may also be necessary in some occasions.

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Porters - Another thing most people don't know about is that, in addition to opening doors, porters can have other tasks. This kind of employee has access to the laundry room, to bottled water, and other information.

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Changing rooms - After being allocated a hotel room, you can tell the front desk that you didn't like it for some reason and change rooms. Unless the hotel is actually fully booked, they should be able to fulfill your request with ease.

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Dirtiness - Remote controls are some of the dirtiest objects you can find in a hotel. They're not cleaned often and can also be covered in bacteria.

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Call them directly - Making bookings through third parties such as travel agencies is not always the best option. If you call the hotel directly, you can get other suggestions and even more affordable prices.

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Towels - Always make sure that towels are clean and fresh. This is also a way to ensure they are hygienic and to check whether the maids actually do their job.

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Cancellation - It's normal for hotels not to refund money in case of a last minute cancellation. However, there's a trick to avoid this situation. Just call the hotel and delay the reservation for a few days, and the next day you can call back to cancel.

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Theft -

To make sure your valuables are safe, it's advisable to always use the hotel's safe box. There are cases of hotel employees stealing from guests and also customers stealing from other customers.

See also: Have an eccentric stay: the world's most unusual hotels

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