10 major Hotel problems listed by different prices levels from Backpacker economy to Five Star luxury, this is a comprehensive list of Hotel problems.
Goal: To recognize the types of problems that are normal at different price levels.
I have lived in approximately 800 Hotel rooms in my life, and have traveled perpetually for 14 years and visited 90 countries, I am a professional traveler. - Andy Graham of HoboTraveler.com
Types of Rooms Bed & Breakfast Backpacker Hostel Boutique Hotel Guest House Hotel Lodge Private Home Resort Self-Catering
Types of Room that infers Better Quality and Higher Price Luxury - Expensive Business Motels Economy Hostels Private Home - Cheapest
Problems by Hotel Budget 0-10 US Dollars per Day - Backpacker 1-6 Month Trips 10-25 US Dollars per Day - Experienced Travelers - Less than 30 Days 25-100 -US Dollars per Day - Volunteers - Missionaries - Flashpackers - NGO - Less than 30 Days 100-150 US Dollars per Day - Tourist - Package Tours - NGO - 5-21 Days 150-200 US Dollars per Day - Business Travelers - Government Workers - United Nations - 0-14 Days 200-300 US Dollars per Day - Resort - Maybe not good at buying value Tourist - 0 - 14 Days 300-500 US Dollars per Day - Resort - Short Trips Over 500 US Dollars per Day - Luxury 14 Days
0-10 US Dollars per Day Hotels Occupied by Backpacker and people for trips of 1-6 Month Trips This is the list of problems that you should expect to encounter in a hotel at this price range. And, if you encounter at higher prices ranges you may be paying too much for your room. The essential problem to expect is noise, when paying more than 10 USD per day, the Hotel should be quiet.
Problems at this price:
10 Worst Problems in Hotels
Cat smells
Permanent sag or dent in mattress
Car, truck taxi, motorcyle noise, and traffic
Receptionist playing music or do annoying behavior
Unhelpful staff
Animals, Dog, Cats and Chickens
Construction work being done at hotel or close.
Churches, Mosques Make Noise
No Electricity or Brown Outs, without generator backup.
Floor Fan is Missing Plug
Floor Fan is Broken
Noise coming from plumbing or sanitary pipes as water comes down from upper floors.
Fan in Center of Ceiling too Slow
Fan in Center of Ceiling does not Work
Fan in Center of Ceiling only has one speed
Fan in Center of Ceiling Squeaks
Light Bulbs Burned Out
Transom Above Door is Screen and Noise is Loud
Rock and Roll Bands
Staff steals when cleaning the room
Overcharged
Ants
Mosquitoes
No Mosquito Net
Spiders
Mice or Rats
Cockroaches
No labels on hot or cold water, there is no way to know on or off.
Furniture is in wrong location.
Never offer to clean the room or change the sheets.
Construction for hotel started during high season.
Construction project in streets in front of hotel.
You can hear construction projects from neighbors.
The problems above, should disappear at higher price levels, or maybe you are paying too much.
25-100 -US Dollars per Day Occupied by volunteers, missionaries, flashpackers, NGO's, and normal tourists that are traveling for less 30 Days. The pivotal benefit you must expect at this level is screens on windows, and hot water, if these two benefits are missing, you should pay less than 25 Dollars per night.
Problems at this price:
Screens on Windows to Stop Mosquitoes
Tour Buses with Large Groups Making Noise
Unhelpful staff
No fresh air because of air conditioning and you have sinus or breathing problems.
No way to wash clothes and none provided
Courtyard windows facing so you can hear TV, People in other rooms
Maintenance Never Done
Air Conditioners Blows directly at Bed or Eyes of person sleeping
Air Conditioner is Noisy
Plumbing Traps missing on Sink or Shower Drains
Tourist Traps that are too close
Group Rents the complete Hotel and makes noise or you have to move.
Ceiling is too High and Air Conditioner does not Cool Room
Remote Control on Televisions does not work
No security box big enough for computer or camera.
No booking on arrival or Overbooked
WIFI or Internet Access only in Common Areas
There is No Sign to Hang on Door Requesting Room to be Cleaned
The problems above, should disappear at higher price levels, or maybe you are paying too much.
100-150 US Dollars per Day Occupied by normal tourists, package tours, and NGO'S staying from 5-21 Days. The pivotal benefit at this level is you will have extreme quiet, peace, and all the travelers nest needs should be serviced. You should have air conditioning, balcony, and 24 hour guard with weapons.
Problems at this price:
No security box big enough for computer or camera.
Staff steals when cleaning the room
Tour sales people hanging, or waiting for you to leave in front of Hotel
Housecleaning ignores signs, and clean room when sign posted to not clean.
Tourist Traps that are too close
Staff is indifferent and non-caring
Too far from infrastructure of city
No fresh air because of type of air conditioning, and you have sinus or breathing problems.
No way to wash clothes and none provided.
Bums - Beggars Waiting or Hanging out in front of Hotel
WIFI or Internet Access only in Common Areas, or you need to pay.
The problems above, should disappear at higher price levels, or maybe you are paying too much.
150-200 US Dollars per Day Occupied by business travelers, government workers, United Nations worker and living from 0-14 Days. The pivotal benefit to find is a Business Center and a wonderful view of something, this is the level where luxuries are prevalent, swimming pools and massage.
Problems at this price:
No security box big enough for computer or camera.
Taxis are Overpriced just outside door to Hotel and no way to get proper priced Tax
Staff is Indifferent and Non-Caring
No fresh air because of air conditioning and you have sinus or breathing problems.
No Scales to Weigh Luggage
WIFI or Internet Access only in Common Areas
Overcharged
The problems above, should disappear at higher price levels, or maybe you are paying too much.
200-300 US Dollars per Day Occupied by resort tourist, they are often not good at understanding or buying value, and stay from 0-14 Days. This is the level where there is no reason to leave the Hotel or Resort, all your needs should be met including laundry, food and communication, if you have to leave for any reason, you are paying too much. This includes to buy tours, plane tickets and money exchange.
Taxis are Overpriced just outside door to Hotel and no way to get proper priced Taxi
Remote Control on Televisions does not work
Mini bar scam
Hotel Occupied by One Culture or Country and Dominate
Staff Does Not Arrange Taxis
Sub Standard restaurant
Inaccurate star rating
No Scales to Weigh Luggage
No Health Center or Not Open at Sufficient Hours
No security box big enough for computer or camera.
No Prices on Services
Overcharged
No Business Center
300-500 US Dollars per Day - Resort - Short Trips
Remote Control on Televisions does not work
Taxis are Overpriced just outside door to Hotel and no way to get proper priced Taxi
You assumed more money was better.
The Internet is extra charge and the cost is extremely expensive.
Hotel Occupied by One Culture or Country and Dominate
Overcharged
Mini bar scam
Sub Standard restaurant
Women are told they cannot be Topless
Inaccurate star rating
People are too Old to be Fun
Business Center People are not Educated Sufficiently
No Health Center or Not Open at Sufficient Hours
There is no way to meet real locals, the staff constantly channels you away from common people, and lie telling you not associate with locals.
Over 500 US Dollars per Day - Luxury 14 Days - This is the level where debauchery is allowed, can what you do is your moral responsibility. This is where Kings and Queens can relax and have an affair and all will be kept private. "What happens in this Hotel, stays in this Hotel." The moral standards of the country are not enforced inside the Hotel.
Too far from infrastructure of city
People are too Old to be Fun
Business Center People are not Educated Sufficiently
There is no way to meet real locals, the staff constantly channels you away from common people and lie.
Getting Special Assistants and Language assistants are sub-standard.
The customer is always right is not understood by the local culture.
No Place to Park the Sailboat or Yacht
Concierge Refuses to Arrange for Men or Women Lovers to come to Room
Hostels Have Special Problem
Lockers are Not Secure, and Staff Has Access
Forced to Leave During Day
Drunks Coming in and Out of Dorm
Staff is Indifferent and Non-Caring
Hotel Occupied by One Culture or Country and Dominate
People in the Dorm Having Sex
Staff Robs all the Lockers
Staff Robs Backpack While forcing you to Leave for Day
People in Dormitory Rob You
Hours Open is not 24 Hours
List of Worst to Least Problem- This includes all type of Travel Rooms
Carpet Smells of Cat
Car of Truck Traffic
Receptionist Play Music or do annoying behavior.
Unhelpful staff
Animals, Dog, Cats and Chickens
Construction working being done at hotel or close.
Churches, Mosques Make Noise
No Electricity or Brown Outs
Floor Fan is Missing Plug
Floor Fan is Broken
Fan in Center of Ceiling too Slow
Fan in Center of Ceiling does not Work
Fan in Center of Ceiling only has one speed
Fan in Center of Ceiling Squeaks
Light Bulbs Burned Out
Transom Above Door is Screen and Noise is Loud
Rock and Roll Bands
Staff steals when cleaning the room
Overcharged
Ants
Mosquitoes
No Mosquito Net
Spiders
Mice or Rats
Cockroaches
Screens on Windows to Stop Mosquitoes
Party by Residents in Hotel
Bar in the Hotel Noisy
Plumbing Traps missing on Sink or Shower Drains
Too far from infrastructure of city
Corrugated Tin roofs
Running Vehicles Parked outside of room
There is No Sign to Hang on Door Requesting Room to be Cleaned
No security box big enough for computer or camera.
Courtyard windows facing so you can hear TV, People in other rooms
Tour Buses with Large Groups Making Noise
People Arriving or Leaving Hotel
People coming home after night out
Common Area to close to rooms.
Air Conditioners Blows directly at Bed or Eyes of person sleeping
Air Conditioner is Noisy
Electrical Generator Noise
Hotel Occupied by One Culture or Country and Dominate
Maintenance Never Done
Remote Control on Televisions does not work
No fresh air because of air conditioning and you have sinus or breathing problems.
Group Rents the complete Hotel and makes noise or you have to move.
Ceiling is too High and Air Conditioner does not Cool Room
WIFI or Internet Access only in Common Areas
Toilet Leaking Noise
No Electrical Generator
No booking on arrival or Overbooked
No Prices on Services
Overpriced Phone charges
Mini bar scam
No Business Center
Sex in Next Room
No Health Center or Not Open at Sufficient Hours
No Long Term Storage
No way to wash clothes and none provided
No way to adjust air conditioning
Taxis are Overpriced just outside door to Hotel and no way to get proper priced Taxi
Rooms are not breathing, they are so seal, no fresh air enters, and the new wall air conditioners do not allow.
No Scales to Weigh Luggage
No Closets
No Hangers in Closet
No Shelves
Dirty Hotel
Bums - Beggars Waiting or Hanging out in front of Hotel
Staff Does Not Arrange Taxis
Women are told they cannot be Topless
Tour Sales People Hanging out in front of Hotel
Housecleaning ignores sign and clean room when sign posted to not clean
Common Area Television is Occupied by Soccer of Football Viewers
Failure to Speak English the Language of Business
You assumed more money was better.
Bed Bugs
No Location in the Hotel to Read outside the Room
Poor Room Service
No Common Computer in the Lobby to Check Plane Tickets
Sub Standard restaurant
There is no way to meet real locals, the staff constantly channels you away from common people and lie.
Cancellation costs
Inaccurate Star Rating - (I see this as ludicrous, there is no true standard of Stars for Rooms on the planet, Stars are just an agreed upon Marketing Scheme.)
Business Center People are not Educated Sufficiently
People in Hotel are too young to be Fun
People are too Old to be Fun
No Place to Park the Sailboat or Yacht
Concierge Refuses to Arrange for Men or Women Lovers to come to Room.
Addendum: of Problems
Note: Internet Access is best at the very bottom and very top, in between is a problem. Generally, a Mom and Pop hotel will provide Internet for their children, and keep it working good.
Note: Dirty Hotel is subjective, hard to evaluate, a person has to live 150 days a year in a Hotel before I could say this is an opinion worth listening too in the price range of the person.
Note: I go into Luxury Hotel and use the Swimming Pool, however seldom go in the room, and need help in this area.
Thank you, Andy Graham
Electrical - Electrical sockets turn off with light switch -
Air Conditioner - Controlled by Owner of Hotel
Room - No Clock in Room
BORG THIS: No list of channels, HBO BBC CNN - There is no sunlight, a person does not know when it is day or night. - Add Love Hotel - Horns in Street - Puta Hotel