In the States, hotels and motels have some sort of standard for what should be in the room and how it should be arranged. Since we stay in a new place every day, trying not to repeat brands, we have already gathered about ten different ones. Travelodge, Days Inn, Luxor, The Grand Hotel, Motel 6, Motel 8, Rest Haven Motel, Hilton Garden Inn.
So, there are no chandeliers or overhead lights anywhere. All the light comes from floor lamps and table lamps. Sometimes it’s a brain teaser to figure out how they turn on (it can easily be in the opposite corner).
The table lamp always has built-in sockets. It’s convenient for charging devices. Unlike Europe, there are plenty of outlets. Right now, in my room, I have eleven free outlets and four are occupied.
There is an ice bucket. The water seems drinkable from the tap (but I don’t like the taste, so I don’t drink it). An ice machine for free ice is always nearby.
The heater/air conditioner is built into the wall under the window, delivering hot/cold/fresh air. Once, I encountered an additional gas heater. There was actually a flame.
The mattresses and beds are usually of good quality. They are comfortable to sleep on, and you don’t want to get up (except for the first few days when I had severe jet lag).
The plumbing: the shower nearly always features a single handle, is always fixed, and the bathtub is always below the knee.
The room always includes a microwave, often a coffee machine, often a pod-coffee machine. There is never a kettle and never any tea. Sugar is hard to come by, usually just one or two packets, the rest are substitutes.
Hotels with a single door are common.
Hotels (not motels) often block funds in case of “something happening”. They return it if everything is okay. About 30 bucks or so.
Currently, at the hotel in the Grand Canyon, there’s also a balcony and fresh newspapers in the room in the morning. But this is the first time for that.
So far, from what I’ve observed, the cheapest way to book a room is off-season, a couple of hours before check-in.
Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 