# American hotels have bibles. What quirks do other nations' hotels have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852 "2011-04-18T16:25:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/41 "2011-04-19T14:10:16Z")
n/m ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_of_Lucan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/42 "2011-04-19T14:45:18Z")
> [@Noel\_Prosequi](#): > > Is this common elsewhere? Same in Ireland and in Denmark. Like most environmentally friendly solutions, everyone gains. The hotel spends less on needless washing, and the environment suffers less from needless washing. If you think it needs to be washed, then you can make that choice. Same as the two button flush, which is common in Irish hotels too. It saves money for the hotel - but also saves water waste. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/43 "2011-04-19T14:45:30Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > It’s pretty common in the United States, but what exactly is your suspicion? Yes, it’s a way of saving the cost of a wash, but it’s perfectly true that reducing washing is good for the environment. Do you wash your towels daily at home? At least they’re offering a choice rather than mandating a charge for each wash. My personal experience in several different hotels/motels in the US and Caribbean has been that regardless of what you do with the towels, they are still replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/44 "2011-04-19T15:42:05Z")
> [@Noel\_Prosequi](#): > > One thing I have noticed to have become almost universal in Australian hotel/motel accommodation in recent years is a sign that essentially says (on the pretext of environmental awareness and water saving) that you should hang up towels after use if you don’t think they need washing. If you want them washed (and therefore get fresh towels), toss the used ones in the bathtub. > > I can’t help but think this is a marketroids way of selling less washing to the punters. > > Is this common elsewhere? It’s common here in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/45 "2011-04-19T15:53:22Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > It’s common here in Canada. I’ve seen this more and more in the US over the past few years as well. It makes sense to me; If I’m there for a multi-day stay, why waste the energy washing them? I don’t wash my towels at home every day. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/46 "2011-04-19T16:23:48Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I’ve heard hotels in Islamic countries usually have some kind of arrow or design in the floor pointing toward Mecca. They do _not_ just keep copies of the Koran in the nightstand where a non-Muslim could potentialy defile it. My room in Dubai had a green arrow on a corner of the ceiling. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/47 "2011-04-19T16:42:22Z")
When I stayed in a small hotel in France in 1994, it was customary to leave the key to the room at the front desk when you went out. Then when you came back in, you requested your key from the front desk again. I’m not certain what happened if you stayed out late. Presumably the front desk was manned at all times, but I really don’t know. I was on a high school trip, so we were chaperoned and supervised. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/48 "2011-04-19T16:45:55Z")
I was in France recently and they still require you to hand in your key whenever you leave the building. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/49 "2011-04-19T16:49:57Z")
Must depend on the hotel, I was in one in Paris and it was more of a modern hotel so it was card key entry and those didn’t need to be turned in. (That hotel also had a parking lot that was a pain to get into if the front desk person wasn’t paying attention as the gate was manually operated there). ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/50 "2011-04-19T16:52:59Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > My personal experience in several different hotels/motels in the US and Caribbean has been that regardless of what you do with the towels, they are still replaced. Mine too. Unless the housekeeping staff has some magic towel drier and fluffer. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/51 "2011-04-19T17:01:27Z")
In Bali, it’s customary for beautiful women (yes, they’re all beautiful, even the ugly ones) to place a small tray with an altar holding water, flowers, food (usually rice or rice cakes) and incense in front of the front door each morning. They do this at their homes, their businesses, and each hotel room. It’s so lovely and civilized. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/52 "2011-04-19T17:07:09Z")
Most Israeli hotels have at least one elevator programmed as a “Sabbath elevator,” that stops at every floor during the sabbath. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/53 "2011-04-19T17:09:09Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > It’s common here in Canada. I recently stayed in a hotel in the GTA that only washed the linen every three days, unless you specifically stated otherwise. (Or, of course, with each new guest!) I figured it’s still a hell of a lot more often than it gets done at home! ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/54 "2011-04-19T17:14:58Z")
I don’t understand the key-card system. What happens if you leave the room and forget to take the card out? Or do they lock you in the room so you \*have \* to take the card out?..:eek: Or if you do leave the room without the card are you locked out? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/55 "2011-04-19T17:20:20Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > I don’t understand the key-card system. What happens if you leave the room and forget to take the card out? > Or do they lock you in the room so you \*have \* to take the card out?..:eek: > Or if you do leave the room without the card are you locked out? Just like an old fashioned metal key, if you leave your room, the door locks behind you and you’re locked out. You go to the front desk, apologize profusely and shamefacedly admit you locked yourself out of your room 'cause you’re a moron. They smile, tell you it’s no problem at all, happens all the time and hand you another keycard programmed to your room number. A GOOD hotel will ask for your ID, or send someone with you to the room to show him your ID there if you locked it in. A bad one will just hand you the key, which seems really sweet until you wake up in a cold sweat at 3 AM realizing that \*any \*axe murderer with a nice smile could go up to the desk, tell them he locked himself out of your room and be given a keycard that will open your door. Was that a footstep in the hall? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/56 "2011-04-19T17:30:17Z")
Thanks, Why. Your response makes me feel a lot better…I think ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_of_Lucan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/57 "2011-04-19T19:42:07Z")
Getting a key card depends on the IT working. A few years ago I stayed in a hotel in in Copenhagen, near Nyhavn I think. They gave me a card for my room. I went up to it, and opened the door with the card. I found they had left me a nice dressing gown hanging on the hook inside the door. Then I noticed they had also left me some nice bags belonging to someone else, and his wallet. I left quickly, without the wallet or any of his other stuff. They apologised, and told me that their IT was malfunctioning. I guess it is harder to hand out the wrong keys than a blank card which has been wrongly programmed. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/58 "2011-04-19T20:37:15Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Just like an old fashioned metal key, if you leave your room, the door locks behind you and you’re locked out. You go to the front desk, apologize profusely and shamefacedly admit you locked yourself out of your room 'cause you’re a moron. They smile, tell you it’s no problem at all, happens all the time and hand you another keycard programmed to your room number… Hopefully you’re at least partially clothed when that happens. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/59 "2011-04-19T21:10:47Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > A few years ago I stayed in a hotel in in Copenhagen, near Nyhavn I think. They gave me a card for my room. I went up to it, and opened the door with the card. I found they had left me a nice dressing gown hanging on the hook inside the door. Then I noticed they had also left me some nice bags belonging to someone else, and his wallet. That happened to me in a hotel in Toronto. Except I was the one in the room when somebody else came in! Thankfully, I was dressed at the time. Everything was straightened out by the hotel (which apologized profusely), and it turned out to be due to an IT snafu. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852/60 "2011-04-20T01:48:22Z")
In Kashmir, whenever you return to your room, a few minutes later a knock at the door brings a tray with a thermos of Kashmiri tea with condiments. Tres civilized. A similar thing happens with breakfast in Bali, just appear on your bungalow porch, and a few minutes later, breakfast, included in the room price, magically appears. Delicious and delivered by a beautiful woman, awesome! In fancy hotels, in Singapore, there are lovely polished brass signs politely directing patrons not to spit or bring Durian’s into the hotel! Awesome! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-hotels-have-bibles-what-quirks-do-other-nations-hotels-have/578852.md?page=4)