Nine Dirty Little Secrets of the Travel Industry

It’s not all glossy brochures and white-sand beaches out there. Here are nine dirty little secrets that airlines, rental-car companies, cruise lines, and others don’t want you to know. Hint: “Don’t drink the water” is good advice in a lot more places than you might think. I’d be surprised if any of these come as a shock for the BoardingArea frequent traveler community. Once again, thanks to Janice from Yahoo! Travel for sharing each of this week’s “top list posts” with PMttP readers! Back to regular content next week.

Dirty Hotel Beds – It’s bad enough that most hotels don’t change the bedspreads between guests (only the sheets), but did you know that the mattresses themselves are probably pretty filthy as well? Many hotels don’t use waterproof mattress covers to protect the mattresses from the millions of skin cells, bodily secretions, bacteria, dust mites, and other allergens that guests leave behind. And as for those not-so-fresh bedspreads, Reneta McCarthy, a lecturer at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, tells CNN, “Is it possible that a bedspread might only be changed four times a year? Yeah, it is.” Sweet dreams!

Dirty Airplane Water – Tests conducted by the EPA a few years ago found that 14 percent of tank water in planes tested did not meet federal safety standards and contained bacteria like E. coli. Some airlines use tank water for more than just the airplane bathrooms—they use it to make coffee and tea, to fill the large bottles of water on the beverage trolley, and to make ice. Thankfully, not all airlines follow these practices. But do you really want to chance it?

Furniture Polished Glasses – Jacob Tomsky, author of the tell-all book Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality, worked as everything from a valet to a front-desk employee for more than a decade—so he’s seen some things. One of those things? Housekeepers cleaning hotel-room drinking glasses with Pledge. Apparently it keeps glassware looking spotless and streak-free—so we suggest you just admire the sparkle and drink from disposable cups instead. Related see – Scary & Disgusting Hotel Housekeeping Video

Check out the final six “secrets” here.

Related –

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• Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant: #2 – More Nudity & Sleeping Pills
• Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant: #3 – The 15 Most Ridiculous Things People Say on a Plane
• Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant #4 –11 Strangest Things People Ask for on a Plane
• Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant #5 – What Happens in the Bathroom Doesn’t Stay in the Bathroom!
• Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant #6 – 15 Flying Tips That’ll Keep You Sane this Summer
• Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant #7 – Fecal Matter & Maxi Pads
• Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant #8 –  Wheelchair Gaming the System
• Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant #9 – Peeing in Cups & Breastfeeding Cats
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• Confessions of a Fed-Up Flight Attendant #11 – Tales From the Mile High Club
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