Nine Tourists Reveal the Most Repulsive Items Encountered in Hotel Rooms
In 2017, nearly one-fifth of surveyed hotel guests reported that their hotel experience was so dismal it marred their vacation, according to a study conducted by management company Qualtrics. The company interviewed 1,000 recent hotel guests to compile a list of the most common horror stories experienced by travelers.
The survey found that bodily fluids on sheets, paranormal activities, and dirty rooms were among the top complaints from hotel guests. Twelve percent of respondents reported finding bodily fluids on their hotel sheets, while nine percent believed their room was haunted. Moreover, for 66 percent of respondents, a dirty room was the primary reason for a subpar hotel stay.
To delve deeper into the disturbing world of hotel horror stories, we spoke with five travelers who shared their most disgusting finds during their hotel stays.
- Nail clippings: Harriet Jones, a cleaning and maintenance expert for Go Cleaners London, recounts discovering a pile of nail clippings scattered throughout a hotel room during a cleaning session. The clippings were found in various places, including desks and drawers, and even stuck in the carpet.
- A half-eaten sandwich and a beer can: Nicoleta Ionescu from Shutterstock shared an encounter at the nicest hotel in Augusta, GA, where she discovered an empty beer can and half a sandwich in the hotel's mini-fridge.
- A dead cat: Lauren Haynes, cleaning supervisor at Star Domestic Cleaners, shared a harrowing tale from her early days as a hotel maid. A guest had left a dead cat in the bathroom, covered in blood, as Haynes walked into the room for cleaning.
- A bird of prey: This unsettling experience happened to an unnamed hotel guest at a resort in Park City. The guest woke up to find a bird sitting on their headboard after a night of drinking.
- Stains: Aly Walansky, a lifestyle writer, shared her experience at the Four Seasons in LA, where a lovely upholstered chair had red stains on the cushion. Flipping the cushion over revealed food stains on the other side.
Brief AnalysisHotel stays can be a source of pleasure, but guests sometimes find themselves in less-than-ideal situations. The Qualtrics survey revealed that dirty rooms, paranormal activities, and bodily fluids were common complaints among hotel guests. Five travelers shared their encounters with nail clippings, half-eaten food, a dead cat, a bird of prey, and stains—all unsettling finds during their hotel stays. Guests may encounter these disturbing elements, potentially spoiling their vacations.
- To avoid unpleasant surprises, it seems family members might want to discuss the importance of maintaining wellness practices, like regularly cleaning personal belongings, before a vacation to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay at hotels.
- Ironically, while vacation is meant for relaxation and recreation, travelers may find themselves entangled in fashion-and-beauty nightmares such as discovering foreign hair or a pile of nail clippings in their hotel rooms, as recounted by Harriet Jones.
- Home-and-garden enthusiasts might find the idea of a dead cat left in a bathroom during their hotel stay quite disturbing, much like the cleaning supervisor, Lauren Haynes, did in her early days as a hotel maid. Such incidents can truly mar one's love for travel and the beauty it offers.
- The story of a guest waking up to a bird of prey perched on their headboard might seem like an unlikely travel tale, but it serves as a reminder that unexpected encounters can happen during a vacation, making travel an exciting, yet unpredictable, journey.
- Aly Walansky's experience at the prestigious Four Seasons in LA demonstrates that even luxury hotels can sometimes fail to deliver the lifestyle standards travelers expect, highlighting the need for hotels to focus on maintaining cleanliness and guest satisfaction to ensure a positive guest experience.
