Old old thread but here’s another factor that people seem to have missed: some people like their ice to go. They’ll travel with a cooler and keep food inside it during the day. Each morning they can throw a new bag of ice inside.
It seems to me that, since the bag’s meant to go inside the bucket, it’s more of a diaphragm than a condom.
Excellent lead-off signal for a rookie. Welcome to Straight Dope.
One time I bought a gallon of milk and then later found out my hotel room had no refrigerator. Yes, it was that cheap. So I just filled the bucket with ice twice a day and it kept my milk nice and cool.
I’ve had the problem of no ice bucket in a hotel. I’ve had the problem of the ice machine not working. I’ve been in hotels that won’t provide ice at all unless you purchase a bottle of something from them. I have not had a problem with the bags, they fit well enough inside the bucket to carry it with the bag to the machine, like everyone else does, and then wrap the top of the bag around the machine’s spout if it won’t go over the rim of the bucket. If I didn’t have a bag, and I wanted to consume the ice, I might go wash the thing out first, but usually I just use the ice to keep something cold. That is not to say little things at hotels never bother me, I hate those drapes you can’t quite shut and a little ray of light comes through in the morning aimed right at my eyes. But ice bucket problems don’t get me all het up, I’ll just drink stuff warm if I have to.
Straight-jacket sheets OK then?
Sheets can be pulled out. I don’t want them tucked in anyway.
I can’t believe I’ve never made that connection. It’s a perfect hotel vomit receptacle. That’s a great tip.
Even better: call the people who sell or buy them.
Quick answer…(drum roll)…
CLEAR PLASTIC ICE BUCKET LINERS
Keep your ice buckets clean and sanitary while providing your guests with the assurance of safe use. Fits 1½ to 3 qt. buckets. 12x12" size. 1000/case.
National Hospitality
http://www.nathosp.com/product/cjr5003/ice_buckets_and_room_trays
Sure, but I use a gallon-size ziplock bag I bring with me. It’s less likely to spill all over the inside of your cooler.
Or skip that step and throw some ice inside. Works for me. Using a bag only reduces the contact with what you want to cool and it takes longer.
You forgot the step where as soon as you begin to fill the ice bucket, the bag slips down the side, the space between the bucket and the bag fills up instantly, and the ice is now diverted from the bucket directly onto your right shoe.
TriPolar the solution to the curtains that don’t fully close is binder clips! I always travel with binder clips, they can have at least 63 known uses.
Oh my god what a bunch of nervous nellies. 
Put the bag in the ice bucket, walk down the hall, fill up your ice, come back and use as needed. You have an immune system, use it! The few cubes of ice you put in your drink are not going to kill you. My husband does this too. “Don’t drink from the hose, you get flesh eating bacteria. Don’t drink from the tap.” You’re TOUGH! You can handle it! Those cases are few and far between, and coming from someone who has drank the water in India, I say SUCK IT UP, princess!
Were you watching me last night?
I often gradient brine taking a percentage of water mass surrounding the meat. I use a bag, not bin, to fit in the fridge easier, and weighing food-in-water-in-bag and then water-in-bag-without-food and then inserting-food-into-salted-water…:
(
This thread made realize why the need for an ice bucket. A huge one, with normal liners that crouch inside. (Also the concept of tare.)
Being that the ice machine is there, I’ve never had an image problem walking down the hall with the ice bucket and liner. It’s not like the hotel hallways are all that busy. And I do have my pants on.
And I call it a liner instead of a condom - that is unless I see King Kong outside my window, and notice that he has a need …
I use 'em as a wallet/money clip.
There is no reason for this bag. The ice never touch your drink, because you place a bottle of wine inside the box, I personally don’t see a reason for ice anyway, you can put it in the refrigerator.
Also the luggage rack is useless, just leave your bag on the floor.
The coffee machine, I never dare to use, because it’s probably not clean.
Shower heads are many time very low.
And why you can’t control the water stream level in the shower?
The default should be that maid is not cleaning the room unless you place a sign on the door.
Alarm clocks are useless, everybody has alarm in the phone, same goes to the phone in the room.
Blanket shouldn’t be tucked, nobody tucks blanket at home.
Wifi password is not needed, anyway people outside won’t receive a good signal.
And what’s the thing with double queen bed room, I don’t see a situation where 2 couples will sleep in the same room.