I told you before that business travel isn’t exciting. I meant what I said.
Y’all, I had stayed for one night at this “inn” a few days ago. I’m back for most of this week, but I’m not here by choice. It’s what my patron arranges for me. I don’t have to pay for it, and I just accept what I get, because I figure that the hotel has given them a price break. I don’t want to make trouble for my patrons.
I’ve stayed here in previous years when I have visited in Beaumont, and I knew not to expect much. The place is in dire need of some maintenance and updating. It’s looking pretty ragged. I won’t name the “inn”, but I’ll tell you that it is not as “comfort”able as its name implies. While I don’t expect much, I do consider that I deserve a modicum of cleanliness.
On my last visit, I walked in with my bags and checked into my room. After putting the first load in my room, I went back for the second load of luggage. Then, for the third. Finally, with everything in my room, I stopped long enough to go to the restroom.
OH! THE HORROR!
There is no polite way to tell you this. Someone had experienced an explosive bowel movement in the toilet, and housekeeping had not cleaned that mess up! I recoiled in shock and then started looking around the room. I noticed that the bed looked somewhat rumpled.
Well, I tell you what!
I marched right back to the front desk and demanded a different room. The next one appeared cleaner, but I didn’t trust that it really was clean. I slept on a sliver of the bed, wore house shoes instead of going barefoot, and checked out as quickly as I could the next morning.
It was with a little bit of trepidation that I returned for my three night stay this week. I determined that I wasn’t moving anything into the room until I had inspected it. At the front desk was the same young woman who had dealt with me less than ten days ago. She definitely remembered me. I relaxed knowing that she would make darn sure I had a clean room this time.
A cursory glance over the room revealed that it didn’t seem horrible. The pillowcases were wrinkled, but it looked like someone had just left them in the dryer too long. I brought in my baggage, and then stepped next door to Carraba’s for a nice meal. I got busy trying to get an internet connection (very iffy). Then, I started putting my clothing away.
ICK!
There was filth in the bottom of the drawers. Evidently, housekeeping never cleans out the drawers.
ICK!
I took a second look at the bathroom! The floor had little spots of dried urine sprinkled here and there. There was mold under the silicone caulk in the bathtub. There were pubic hairs on the floor!
ICK!
I looked at the bedspreads! OMG! There were “stains” on the bedspreads on both beds. I don’t have to tell you what it looked like someone had been doing on top of that bed, because you have seen the same television shows I have. I couldn’t tell if the stains were set in to the fabric or fresh.
Back to the front desk I marched. I was quiet about it, because there were people in the lobby, but I said, “Honey, there is a problem with housekeeping.”
We came back to my room and I showed her the filth. We found a room that was clean and she helped me move. She asked if I was going to be around this morning so that I, personally, could tell the housekeepers and staff what a guest expects of the hotel. She thought it would have more impact coming from a disgruntled customer.
Unfortunately, I have to go to work early, so I’ll miss out on that pleasure. I’d really love to rant at the people who “clean” this hotel. I mean, I know it’s not a high paying job. That doesn’t matter. No matter what job you do, you should take pride in your work.
Those folks ought to be ashamed of themselves. Maybe it should be required that they stay in one of these rooms for a night or two. Yeah, that’s it. Have them stay in a room that one of their fellow employees cleaned. They can grade each other. I bet they wouldn’t stand for it if they found a mess in the toilet, or a “stain” on the bedspread, or a pubic hair on the floor!
Technorati Tags: business travel, hotel, Beaumont
One word….EEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW! You’re right, it doesn’t sound very glamourous at all…
Maybe you should be more of a diva demanding first class hotel rooms. People will think because you’re a diva, you’re in hot demand and book you like crazy! It’s a win-win!!!
Either that or I’m going to buy you a can of luminol and one of those blue lights for Christmas
Jessica
I probably should be more of a diva, but I really don’t enjoy fussing at people. I would have loved that can of luminol yesterday, because I wanted to know what the heck those stains were! I was so mistrustful, that I took my toothbrush with me today, lest housekeeping use it to scrub the toilets!!
Yuck, Yuck and Yuck. I’m sure I wouldn’t have gotten any sleep worrying about the unseen things. I’m quite a germ-a-phobe.
Awful that you have to submit yourself to that kind of treatment. Did you tell the people that hired you? I’m sure they wouldn’t like if you showed up all disheveled from lack of sleep.
I haven’t told the people who hired me…yet. I intended to tell them today…until I found out I got a woman fired over this. Geez! Now, I feel like a jerk. And, yes, I’m not touching much around here.
Eww eww ewwwwwww!!!! I think you’d be well within your rights to ask your employer to change hotels next time. They won’t know if no one speaks up, right?
I’ve got my own share of nightmare business trip hotels, but thankfully most don’t involve basic cleanliness.
When I first started traveling to Ankara (Turkey) they kept putting me up in this little Turkish hotel that while clean positively REEKED of cigarette smoke. Even clothes I hadn’t worn came home smelling like they’d been barbecued! And, despite it being colder than the inside of a deep freezer this place only had the heat on from 6-8pm every evening. The absolutely only way I could get warm enough to survive was to spend the evening in the lobby drinking hot tea, then before I wanted to go to bed I had to take a long scalding hot bath. If I stayed in long enough to literally parboil myself I’d stay warm enough to actually get in bed and fall asleep!
Yup, business travel sure is glamorous alright…
I can’t even begin to think about any horrors that might happen with overseas travel. Your Turkish experience sounds miserable. I’ve had worse experiences than this one, but since it’s what I’m experiencing at the moment it seems awfully yukky. Maybe one day I won’t have to travel for business…I’ll keep hoping
Yeah I’m really not a big fan of traveling for work. For even less appealing fun, look at this post that I recently read: http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/26/disgusting-drinking-glasses-and-other-hotel-secrets/
It’ll be sure to make you feel even happier to stay at places!
OMG! Derek, was I not grossed out enough for you already??? It’s a good thing that I can’t play that whole video (this computer requires a download I won’t do on the road, and I keep forgetting). That was disgusting! Ick! I’m so glad there aren’t any “glass” glasses in this room! I repeat, Ick!
While I realize the pay scale for maids, etc., is very low, still and all, if you have a job, are receiving a wage - decent or not - and are doing a lousy job at it, you should be looking for employment elsewhere. Sounds to me like that place needs to have a training program for their employees - plus inspection of the work as well. There are such things ya know - I was a counselor/trainer for a rehab program that focused on training our clients to be janitors.
Yep, I actually considered a new business to start last night after about an hour’s chat with the front desk attendant. I seriously think this whole place needs a makeover. It may even start with the owners! They are on premises, but don’t seem to give a hoot!
You know when you tell your kids to clean their room and you get maybe one thing picked up? It’s the perception of clean and sounds like management hasn’t shown their staff what clean looks like. It’s that whole visual versus auditory learning.
Gross, gross and gross your experiences. My hubby is in Arkansas for one of his many weeks this year and I am kind of bummed that he won’t be getting the Marriott Suites thing going…the one he lived in outside of Denver was always clean.
Look at the bright side, b/c you know there is one…just think of how spotless your house must seem when you get home.
Perhaps they need more training. I think that in order to be able to “clean” a hotel, you need to like housecleaning in the first place. These folks are just working the job, I think. Probably it should be mandatory that their own homes be inspected before they get hired. “Clean comes from clean,” as the desk clerk here lamented. After this, the bathroom at the convenience store looks good
I’m a snob…I know it and I’m not ashamed of it!! I can not stand a dirty hotel room, I will not stay in one and have been known to make quite a fuss at even a four star hotel for minor things!! If I am paying for luxury, you bet your buttons I better be getting it!
Hope you get the chance to see the housekeeping staff while you are there, give them a piece of your mind!
BTW: I have a package for you…you want me to send it now or wait?
If I am the one whose name is on the bill, I am much more assertive. Since it’s not me but my client’s credit card involved, I hate to get too snotty. I don’t fuss over tiny things, but these infractions aren’t minor!!
As for the package, you can send it on. I’d love to find time to meet with you, but somehow I’m betting that right now holidays will get in the way! ♥
ISH! I’ve been given rooms that hadn’t been cleaned before, but your experience goes beyond that.
I travel every week, and never walk on the hotel floor in bare feet. One of my coworkers stops at CVS every week to buy water bottles and refuses to drink from the hotel glasses. And I know a couple people who refuse to touch the bedspreads.
I will say Hilton’s done a good job of addressing that last bit (bedspreads) by using sheets wrapped around a comforter. I’m pretty comfortable they’re washing the sheet — might not touch the comforter though.
I like Hilton…This ain’t no Hilton!! I’m paranoid about having the top cover anywhere near my face after watching a few of those television shows. I’ve demanded that they give me fresh sheets and comforter since I’ve been here. Maybe I should just pack my own
Icky Icky Icky
Whether or not you like to be a Diva or not, these stories are Corporate Headquarters level to report. I doubt that they would want to see too many tales like this running around the web. It would certainly make them un-Comfort-able. Who knows you might get comped or upgraded to one of their other holdings.
Unfortunately, since the patron is the one footing the bill, it wouldn’t do me much good. I’m not sure that the local owners really give a rip, anyway. There isn’t a heck of a lot of competition in Beaumont! I DID at least tell the patron, and she is going to try to get the room comped.
You had better forget about ranting to housekeeping or the front desk person. Writing a letter to Corporate is crucial. If not for yourself, think of the next guest. What a dreadful experience. Oh, and I would stay at another hotel that meets your standards and pay the difference of whatever the patron pays for at the dump!
Sorry but I have to LOL That is so gross I can’t imagine having to stay there. I have seen those t.v. shows too and that is a major Ewwwwww!!! Maybe you should start packing a sleeping bag and a pillow for your trips…(-:
That’s just gross - and it’s why I always bring my own towels and yes, blankets along with the most necessary pillow with my own pillow case. Staying at hotels and motels is just gross!
Good post though
Shelly,
I would not speak to the help about it..they would just shrug their shoulders…i would speak to the boss…and let him know in plain english to train his staff well or they wouldn’t have the pleasure of your company again.
Can’t blame the tools..blame the carpenter..meaning sometimes the help have to be encouraged and shown what is acceptable and what isn’t. could be they just don’t know any better…and doesn’t someone check their work??
Seems like they just want to blame the employee’s and some people will shirk their duties if their work is not checked.
But if you don’t complain..it will continue..and if somebody loses their job over it…its because they weren’t doing their job.
I say…even if you’re a garbage collector …be the best you can be. bet you couldn’t wait to get home.
oh. my. goodness. i can never stay at a hotel ever again!
I already disliked motels, our trip cross country multiplied that dislike exponentially… I’ve walked out of rooms so many times that Leon dreads going on the road with me… I told him after our trip. We either get an RV or I never travel again. Period.
My dermatologist here has the hotel completely strip the bed when she checks in, among other things.
Walk next time, girl. Your patrons don’t want you to put up with that.
[...] y’all think I got lost in that nasty hotel room in Beaumont? I’m back home now, and hard at work here at the house. That Share A Square [...]
[...] I had in the Uncomfortable Inn in Beaumont? If not, you can go read about why I don’t think business travel is exciting. That was one of the nastiest places I’ve ever [...]
Oh, poor you! Now, I’m glad adn really appreciate it knowing that my bosses are more considerate and generous when I have to travel for work. By the way, thanks for visiting my blog.
[...] y’all think I got lost in that nasty hotel room in Beaumont? I’m back home now, and hard at work here at the house. That Share A Square [...]