I used to travel an average of 210 nights on the road per year. In all my travels, I've had some doozies. Funny thing is, some of my worst cleanliness issues have come at some 4 & 5 star places. One of best experiences wss at a $20 a night self serve hotel in rural western SD.
In Bangor, ME I stayed at the Holiday Inn near the airport. When I went to go to my room I opened the door and found a flight attendant taking a shower. Her uniform with skirt was on the bed. I quickly closed the door and got a new room.
In Princeton, WV a colleague of my lost his room because the hotel was oversold. When he pressed the rather surly male attendant about it and pulled out his confirmation the attendant told him the he didn't care about his confirmation number and if he said one more thing he was going to come out from behind the desk and kick his *****. I went back and grabbed my coworker and we shared a room for the night. In the morning the manager comped our room for the night and my colleague got a voucher for two more free nights.
In Dry Ridge, KY I woke up to find the texture on my bathroom ceiling on the floor and the ceiling was soaked. Evidently the person a floor above slipped and hit their head and was unconscious and the tub overflowed. There were ambulances at the hotel moments after my call to the front desk.
Twice I have had my hand on my loaded hunting revolver while someone was trying to come into my room. Once it was at 2AM in Bennettsville, SC and I don't know the person's intent but I asked "Can I help you" and the person walked away.
The other time was in PA. I went to dinner at the hotel bar. I had a conversation with some regular looking dude. After dinner I didn't hang out. I just cashed out and headed for my room. I was on the 2nd floor so I hopped in the elevator. When the elevator got to my floor I jumped off and went to my room. I stuck in the key card and looked up. The dude from the bar was standing right there at a very uncomfortable distance well inside my comfort zone. I asked the guy "what's up?" The guy started saying how his buddy had this business and he would like some info on the chemicals I sold. I didn't respond, charged thought the door and slammed it behind me. I threw every lock on the door, grabbed my revolver and called the front desk. The attendant got the guy's license plate number and then the manager looked at the surveillance video. She said the guy left the bar shortly after I did, ran up the stairs, and was right behind me in the hallway. I don't know what the dude had in mind but I was very angry with myself. I wasn't aware of my surroundings. Now I am continually looking over my shoulder and around corners when I head to the hotel. I always throw every lock regardless of how long I am in the room and I always turn on every light.
The years I was traveling heavy I was more sick than I had ever been. I don't miss it very often.
