check

From finding pants on the floor to a blood-stained sheet on the bed, there’s a lot that can go wrong when staying in a hotel – but there’s one thing I always check before using

The hospitality sector is known for its gruelling demands, with long hours and erratic shift patterns, making anyone in the industry a true unsung hero in my book. It’s a tough gig, with intense time constraints, so it’s hardly surprising that occasionally things can get overlooked when it comes to preparing hundreds of rooms before the 3pm check-in on a busy Friday night.

I’ve discovered everything from discarded underwear on the floor, a half-drunk bottle of water in the fridge, a dirty dressing gown and a blood-stained sheet after checking into my supposedly clean hotel room at various hotels. While these areas are easy to spot at a glance, there’s one thing I always meticulously inspect and clean whenever I enter a hotel room – the glassware.

Most of us have checked into a hotel room to find a complimentary tea and coffee setup waiting for us. However, during my time working in the hospitality industry, I’ve discovered that not all hotels thoroughly clean their mugs before the next guest arrives, which is rather revolting.

On several occasions, I’ve seen housekeepers simply rinse the mugs in the bathroom sink, give them a quick wipe with a cloth, and then place them back on the table ready for the next guest. While this might remove any leftover coffee or tea residue, it doesn’t quite suffice for properly cleaning a mug that’s used repeatedly by guests.

This applies to the water glasses perched on the sink or bedside table, too – a quick rinse and Bob’s your uncle! Now, I’m not suggesting that every hotel is guilty of this, but based on my own experiences, I tend to be a bit sceptical.

So, with every hotel check-in, I now make it a point to inspect the glassware and give it a good rinse with boiling water from the kettle as a precautionary measure, and a dab of hand soap doesn’t hurt either. After all, I don’t want to be that guest who insists on a fresh mug and glass just in case they haven’t been properly cleaned; a simple DIY sterilisation is enough to set my mind at ease.

But I do empathise with the housekeepers. They have a lengthy checklist of cleaning tasks ranging from changing the bed linen, deep cleaning the bathrooms, hoovering the floor, replacing robes and slippers, wiping down glass and windows, restocking the mini fridge, to meticulously folding countless towels.

Sometimes they barely have a moment to catch their breath, let alone dash down to the kitchen, load the dishwasher and replenish a tray of glasses for each room. They typically have a 3pm deadline for every room, and staff shortages only add to the pressure.

In the past, ABC News conducted an undercover investigation that revealed that housekeeping at 11 out of 15 hotels didn’t replace the glassware when tidying the rooms. Instead, they were simply rinsed in the sink and wiped down with a cleaning cloth or sponge.

To circumvent this hygiene issue, some hotels opt for plastic-wrapped cups, while others insist on their rigorous glassware cleaning practices. However, even if the glass or mug seems spotless and clean, it’s not always easy to be sure.

The next time you settle into a hotel room, consider giving your mug a quick rinse with boiled water as a precautionary measure. If you’re particularly concerned, bring along your own reusable water bottle and request a fresh mug from the hotel bar, because let’s face it, no one fancies pondering over someone else’s lips whilst enjoying their morning brew.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Folks, who was supposed to be watching grandpa last night? Because he got out, got on TV and … It. Was. Not. Good.

For 18 long minutes Wednesday evening, we were subjected to a rant by President Trump that predictably careened from immigrants (bad) to jobs (good), rarely slowing down for reality. But jumbled between the vitriol and venom was a vision of American healthcare that would have horror villainess M3GAN shaking in her Mary Janes — a vision that we all should be afraid of because it would take us back to a dark era when insurance couldn’t be counted on.

Trump’s remarks offered only a sketchy outline, per usual, in which the costs of health insurance premiums may be lower — but it will be because the coverage is terrible. Yes, you’ll save money. But so what? A cheap car without wheels is not a deal.

“The money should go to the people,” Trump said of his sort-of plan.

The money he vaguely was alluding to is the government subsidies that make insurance under the Affordable Care Act affordable. After antics and a mini-rebellion by four Republicans also on Wednesday, Congress basically failed to do anything meaningful on healthcare — pretty much ensuring those subsidies will disappear with the New Year.

Starting in January, premiums for too many people are going to leap skyward without the subsidies, jumping by an average of $1,016 according to the health policy research group KFF.

That’s bad enough. But Trump would like to make it worse.

The Affordable Care Act is about much more than those subsidies. Before it took effect in 2014, insurance companies in many states could deny coverage for preexisting conditions. This didn’t have to be big-ticket stuff like cancer. A kid with asthma? A mom with colitis? Those were the kind of routine but chronic problems that prevented millions from obtaining insurance — and therefore care.

Obamacare required that policies sold on its exchange did not discriminate. In addition, the ACA required plans to limit out-of-pocket costs and end lifetime dollar caps, and provide a baseline of coverage that included essentials such as maternity care. Those standards put pressure on all plans to include more, even those offered through large employers.

Trump would like to undo much of that. He instead wants to fall back on the stunt he loves the most — send a check!

What he is suggesting by sending subsidy money directly to consumers also most likely would open the market to plans without the regulation of the ACA. So yes, small businesses or even groups of individuals might be able to band together to buy insurance, but there likely would be fewer rules about what — or whom — it has to cover.

Most people aren’t savvy or careful enough to understand the limitations of their insurance before it matters. So it has a $2-million lifetime cap? That sounds like a lot until your kid needs a treatment that eats through that in a couple of months. Then what?

Trump suggested people pay for it themselves, out of health savings accounts funded by that subsidy check sent directly to taxpayers. Because that definitely will work, and people won’t spend the money on groceries or rent, and what they do save certainly will cover any medical expenses.

“You’ll get much better healthcare at a much lower price,” Trump claimed Wednesday. “The only losers will be insurance companies that have gotten rich, and the Democrat Party, which is totally controlled by those same insurance companies. They will not be happy, but that’s OK with me because you, the people, are finally going to be getting great healthcare at a lower cost.”

He then bizarrely tried to blame the expiring subsidies on Democrats.

Democrats “are demanding those increases and it’s their fault,” he said. “It is not the Republicans’ fault. It’s the Democrats’ fault. It’s the Unaffordable Care Act, and everybody knew it.”

It seems like Trump just wants to lower costs at the expense of quality. Here’s where I take issue with the Democrats. I am not here to defend insurance companies or our healthcare system. Both clearly need reform.

But why are the Democrats failing to explain what “The money should go to the people” will mean?

I get that affordability is the message, and as someone who bought both a steak and a carton of milk this week, I understand just how powerful that issue is.

Still, everyone, Democrat or Republican, wants decent healthcare they can afford, and the peace of mind of knowing if something terrible happens, they will have access to help. There is no American who gladly would pay for insurance each month, no matter how low the premium, that is going to leave them without care when they or their loved ones need it most.

Grandpa Trump doesn’t have this worry, since he has the best healthcare our tax dollars can buy.

But when he promises to send a check instead of providing governance and regulation of one of the most critical purchases in our lives, the message is sickening: My victory in exchange for your well-being.

The UK banking group has shared advice for people who connect to wi-fi during hotel stays

NatWest has urged customers staying in hotels to always check the guest book before connecting to wi-fi. With the festive season in full swing, many Brits will be on the move, whether they’re travelling home to visit family, attending Christmas parties, or travelling abroad for a seasonal holiday. For those staying in hotels or similar accommodation, it’s essential to be vigilant, as criminals may target hotel guests when plotting scams.

According to advice shared on NatWest’s website: “Scammers sometimes set up fake hotel networks with names that are very similar to the genuine one.” As such, it’s important to ‘make sure the network name is the one printed in official hotel guest books’, says the bank.

NatWest also advises customers against entering any personal information when connected to open Wi-Fi networks. “When using open Wi-Fi networks, stick to messaging and browsing, and avoid entering any personal information.”

“These networks are usually open, which means anyone can log on or that many people have the password. This makes it easier for fraudsters to see any details you enter on the same network,” the bank explains.

Cybersecurity company Norton has similarly highlighted the risks associated with hotel wi-fi. Advice on the brand’s website states: “Malicious hotspots, or rogue access points, are deceptive networks that trick users into connecting by mimicking legitimate Wi-Fi names.

“For instance, if you were staying at the Goodnight Inn and wanted to connect to the hotel’s Wi-Fi, you might mistakenly select ‘GoodNight Inn’ (with a capital N) instead of the correct network. By doing so, you risk connecting to an ‘evil twin’ network set up by cybercriminals to access your internet traffic.”

According to Norton, public Wi-Fi hotspots could also pose a risk, especially if criminals target unencrypted networks to gain access to sensitive banking information. “Many public Wi-Fi hotspots are unencrypted networks that transmit data in plain text, making it vulnerable to cybercriminals with the right tools. Hackers on the same network can intercept your online activities, including banking information, login credentials, and personal messages.”

While criminals might try to take advantage of people using their wi-fi, it’s just one of several tactics that scammers might employ. For holidaymakers spending their Christmas in another country, NatWest also offers advice on staying safe while exchanging money and dining out at restaurants.

The banking group advises customers to always pay in local currency where possible and to be mindful of potential restaurant scams, which could result in people being overcharged for food or charged for food that seemed complimentary.

NatWest suggests checking reviews ahead of time before choosing a restaurant, checking prices when placing an order, only eating and drinking what was ordered, and requesting an itemised receipt. The bank also recommended looking out for any additional charges, such as water charges or cover charges.