How to Check the Health Quality of Your Hotel Room

When you leave home to stay in a hotel, it should meet all of your health expectations and then some. It is important to check into the health quality of your hotel room by doing some research online or calling the hotel. Here are some tips on what to look for and what you should ask.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Look into the air quality and air control of the hotel. Consider if it is smoke free and if you can control the temperature and air flow of your room. Some hotels also offer allergy-free rooms that are more clean than normal rooms.
2. Check to see how old the facility is, this will affect both the appearance and the staff expectations. Consider if the hotel has been renovated lately or if they are currently doing any construction (which can be noisy and dirty). New facilities will likely be cleaner and have more modern amenities, but beware of places that are so new that they could smell like chemicals or fresh paint.
3. Be aware of the cleanliness of the hotel and your room. Look at the bedsheets, check for bed bugs (which have lately become an epidemic in mattresses), inspect the bathroom and re-clean any glassware (staff sometimes clean with glass cleaner). Be aware of germy surfaces like phones or remote controls that multiple guests use--you can clean most all surfaces with Lysol or other disinfectant and wear sandals in the shower if it seems really bad.
4. Look into the fitness availability. Some hotels offer in-room yoga mats, treadmills, aerobic steps, strength bands or bicycles at your request. You can also walk or run outside if the hotel is in a safe and convenient location. Your opportunity and likelihood of exercising while staying at your hotel plays a big role in its health quality.
5. Look into the food that will be available to you. Although you don't need to necessarily follow a diet while away from home, you don't want to be forced into eating the hotel's continental breakfast plus fast food for lunch and dinner. Check to make sure there is nearby dining available with healthy, low-fat options. The concierge at your hotel should be able to help you with food suggestions and choices.
6. Check if your hotel is eco-friendly. Many hotels, resorts and overnight destinations are working to become more green with energy-efficient electronics, water-saving changes in laundry services and showers, and increased use of organic products. Being environmentally healthy often means the hotel will be more healthy for you as well.
7. Check into the hotel's ratings and guest satisfaction reviews. This will give you more insight from people who have already experienced the hotel. They can warn you about noisy rooms (thin walls, nearby highway), mediocre accommodations or an unprofessional staff.