OK, I thought of just posting to this thread, but I think this question should stand on its own.
What is the deal with ice at hotels (at least, in the US–as noted in the title)? I mean, I think that every single US hotel I have stayed in has had an ice machine available to guests; usually one machine per floor (I have had the occasion where the ice machine on the floor my room was on was out of order and there was a sign referring guests to the next floor for ice).
I never thought much about it until I traveled overseas. I’ve stayed in hotels in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, England, and China. Honestly, I don’t recall whether the hotels in Canada had ice machines (doesn’t seem there would be much need, does there), but in all the other countries, there was no ice machine for guest use. As most of my overseas travel was on business, they were usually at least 4 star hotels, so a call to the desk could probably get ice delivered, but no ice machine for general guest use.
In the US, even the seedy, flea-bag hotels have ice machines. I have stayed in Bed & Breakfast places that I don’t think had available ice machines, but usually the kitchen would be accessible to the guests.
Is there some Federal US law that requires hotels to make ice available to guests? Or, is this just because of a legal precedent that was handed down years ago that forces severe liability on the hotel if there is not ice available?
I always thought it came about because folks on long road trips would have a cooler of food in the car. Every stop they would replace the (melted) ice in the cooler with fresh ice from the motel.
If that is accurate, it really is tied to the American car culture, and wouldn’t be as common elsewhere.
In my experience it’s become much more common relatively recently for hotel rooms to have mini-fridges. Before those were available, what would you do if you wanted a cold drink in your room? Go down the hall and get some ice from the ice machine, of course!
Why in the US and not other countries?
leahcim’s answer (the U.S. car culture, and travelers carrying ice chests and/or things that need to be chilled with them)
OldGuy’s answer (do other countries have places that are equivalent to something like a Motel 6?)
People in other countries are weirdos who like to drink their drinks at room temperature.
It is also more common to put ice in drinks in the U.S. than in most countries. It is more common to drink tap water in the U.S. than in most countries. Ice is made from tap water. In some countries tap water is not considered safe to drink. Not only is it more common to travel by car with coolers, but it’s more common to have large refrigerators with more space for ice cube trays.
No idea of the actual history but I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Free Ice’ was an advertising feature in the early days of motor hotels - motels - which offered only rooms for travelers and no other services.
All ice machines have a very distinctive sound.
Even if the door is locked, its never a high security door or lock. I’ve seen a folding closet door some places… and no matter what the door is, it never has a lock that can’t be opened with a pen knife.
This is because when thieves come to hotels, its usually not to … Steal Ice.
Take what ice you need, don’t break the lock, put it back in functional order with tight bolts/screws afterward, and close the door when you are done.
Its the mark of a courteous guest.
I dunno, I was just at a hotel that required your door key to activate the ice machine.
Of course, you could probably walk in and serve yourself a full (continental) breakfast without the staff realizing you weren’t a guest, but ice, you’re not getting that without a key, buddy!
I am confused, as well.
Why on Earth would you think that I thought that ice machines in hotels are under the purview of the federal government? :dubious: I asked a question because I did not know the answer, not because I thought I knew the answer. I really don’t see how or why the federal government would have authority over ice machines in hotels, but in every single state in which I have stayed in a hotel, said hotel has had an ice machine. Universally. If the hotels were not compelled to provide ice machines, wouldn’t you find some hotelier try to save a little money by not providing ice? I mean, they will save money by not laundering the sheets between guests, but they universally decide to make sure the guests have access to ice?
But, is it universal? To be honest, the last time I was in a hotel in Mexico was decades ago. It was not a resort town, but the hotel was a 4 star hotel. It was the first time I stayed in a hotel that was not in the US and, honestly, I was a bit disoriented by the foreign nature of everything. It is possible they had an ice machine available and I just did not find it. I am sure that the hotels I stayed in Brazil, Europe, and Asia did not have ice machines.
I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a U.S. hotel/motel that didn’t have a TV in the room, but it never occurred to me to suspect that they were legally required to be there.
My suspicion is that, if a hotelier tried to save money by not providing ice, they’d get at least the occasional guest who called the front desk and asked,
“Hey, where’s your ice machine?”
“Sorry, we don’t have one.”
“Well then, I need you to send some ice to room 215?” or “WTF kind of hotel doesn’t have an ice machine? I’m never staying here again!”
All the non-necessities that hotels/motels provide—ice machines, TVs, air conditioning, pools, in-room coffee makers and hair dryers, free continental breakfasts, WiFi, luggage carts, etc. etc.—are either extras to try to entice people to stay there instead of elsewhere, or have become common enough that people have grown to expect them and are dissatisfied when they’re not available.
Julavits mentions that Holiday Inn was the first hotel chain to offer free self-service ice machines; I found confirmation (without sources cited, sadly) here. So hotel ice machines may just be an accident of business history as other companies followed suit.
The other side of this is that ice machines are very low-maintenance. Hotels are trying to get rid of minibars, more successfully, because minibars have higher maintenance costs and it is worth the occasional annoyed customer to defray those.
If that’s the case, I’ve been worrying needlessly. I always thought that filling up my (larger than an ice bucket) camping cooler was flaunting my privileges and not intended to be used that way, so I always tried not to get caught.
Of course, in my younger days, when I couldn’t afford a bag of ice, sometimes I wasn’t a guest at the motel, so maybe that was a little improper.
The hotel I stayed at on Mackinac Island (Michigan) did not have a TV in it. I presumed it was to go with the atmosphere of not having cars on the roads.
Thanks for the link to the article. Here’s another, from the Slate Explainer. It also credits Holiday Inn with starting the custom. And it links to this New Yorker article about the businesses that supply bagged ice to supermarkets.
I’ve never stayed in a hotel or motel in Canada that didn’t have an ice machine, and I’ve stayed in plenty, in all provinces. Ice machines in every one.
