Top Dirty Hotel Secrets: What You Should Know and Watch Out for When Checking In

Every industry has its dark secrets, and the hospitality sector is no exception. While you may feel pampered by lavish facilities in a hotel, there are actually some dirty secrets about hotels that you should be wary of. Here are some of them:

Checking in involves digging up guests' data and history

Daily Mail reports that checking in in a hotel usually takes a lot of time because the property actually checks a lot of information about the guest during the process. The site claims that guests' driver's license are scanned to extract information, and credit cards are required not just for identification but also to "check if a guest qualifies for any rates they are given."

History checks are also reportedly performed. A source with experience in the hotel industry for five years claims that the whole process involves approximately 26 steps.

There are instances that peep holes may be damaged or tampered with

Independent UK reports that Forrest Jones, who runs the startup Beechmont Hotels Corporation, said that athough such incidents are not common, they can happen. He actually advises guests to stuff the peep hole with a strip of rolled up paper for security concerns.

"Death is a part of hotel life"

Daily Mail cited a former employee of top hotels in New York and New Orleans, who revealed that there is a protocol when people die in a hotel room. According to him, such incidents are not actually rare as one would think.

"It's not something a hotel wishes to publicise, naturally," he explained. "So, they are removed as discreetly as possible. This may involve flashing lights and paramedics, depending on the severity of the situation, but can also happen via employee elevators and back exits."

Staff goes through your personal items

The same insider, Tomsky, further revealed that hotel staff usually goes through guests' personal items. He actually shared that he once found a "pretty foul letter left in a room."