hotel shopping
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I have made a "vacation" route out of hotels...2 locations in the city I was visiting and a third half way home for a nice 4 day/3 night vacay.
I have never done hotels before, and can't really accept them just yet (don't have the ability to do much traveling right now) but was it a lot of work? Were you able to have "vacation time" at all?
www.Facebook.com/oatsandgrins
Before anyone goes for a shop I urge them to go to www.bedbugregistry.com. A lot of 4 and 5 star hotels have had them including all the big chains and Four Seasons. They're nasty and expensive little suckers to get rid of.
It all depends on the MSC and the type/level of difficulty. I could do some back-to-back hotel shops standing on my head. But in February I did three very high end Regal hotels in a row (four total nights in a row) with so many interactions and added activities and added detail required for every activity and interaction, that two of the three reports were over due. That was when I was told, "Even our very best hotel shoppers have trouble doing hotels of that level of difficulty back-to-back!" Wow! Wish they had mentioned that up front! Fortunately, they are still willing to assign me hotel shops.
Be very careful what you pray for. I certainly did not have a minute that I could have called a vacation during those stays and for two days afterwards. However, I would do many other hotels back-to-back with a little negotiated wiggle room for report deadlines, without a qualm.
Be very careful what you pray for. I certainly did not have a minute that I could have called a vacation during those stays and for two days afterwards. However, I would do many other hotels back-to-back with a little negotiated wiggle room for report deadlines, without a qualm.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I usually do LOCAL high-end hotel shops because they are a lot of work and you don't have much free time at all. Then I use my reward points for my vacay hotels so I can thoroughly enjoy myself without the stress of names, timings and writing a report.
@bestofbothworlds wrote:
Before anyone goes for a shop I urge them to go to www.bedbugregistry.com. A lot of 4 and 5 star hotels have had them including all the big chains and Four Seasons. They're nasty and expensive little suckers to get rid of.
I don't dispute this is possible, but I've probably done a 100 hotel shops now, and I've never gotten bed bugs. I mean there are infinite things to worry about in life, I honestly wouldn't spend much time thinking about this.
I don't dispute this is possible, but I've probably done a 100 hotel shops now, and I've never gotten bed bugs. I mean there are infinite things to worry about in life, I honestly wouldn't spend much time thinking about this
You should, Vinny, especially if you're shopping a hotel near a convention center. It takes 2 seconds to go to the website, hit the red Find and Report button on the toolbar running across the top of the page. It's worth a read.
You should, Vinny, especially if you're shopping a hotel near a convention center. It takes 2 seconds to go to the website, hit the red Find and Report button on the toolbar running across the top of the page. It's worth a read.
I have never had a problem with bed bugs. I do not do too many hotel shops but when I pay for a hotel it is usally a low star one. But I did read somewhere a few years ago that there are a lot more bed bugs on the east side of the country.
As for the difficulty of the jobs, I have not done fancy hotels so the reports have not been difficult. Walesmaven gave some good advice.
I have been able to get most of it done by spending a little time on the computer after check in, finishing most of the report the next morning and downloading pics from my camera and then I do the check out portion when I arrive at the next night hotel. If they are for the same msc you can try and ask to have the deadline at the end of the several night stay. The thing to stay away from if you are thinking of making it more like a vacation is a hotel with spas, masseuses, restaurants, room service, parking valets and pay lots. Then you are assured not to have to report on all those things. But of course you have to be like me and not care about those amenities to have a vacation. A nice old fashioned motel with a big free parking lot outside, decent rooms and restaurants next door is more my speed. Throw in a free breakfast in the lobby, a fridge and microwave and I am happy.
As for the difficulty of the jobs, I have not done fancy hotels so the reports have not been difficult. Walesmaven gave some good advice.
I have been able to get most of it done by spending a little time on the computer after check in, finishing most of the report the next morning and downloading pics from my camera and then I do the check out portion when I arrive at the next night hotel. If they are for the same msc you can try and ask to have the deadline at the end of the several night stay. The thing to stay away from if you are thinking of making it more like a vacation is a hotel with spas, masseuses, restaurants, room service, parking valets and pay lots. Then you are assured not to have to report on all those things. But of course you have to be like me and not care about those amenities to have a vacation. A nice old fashioned motel with a big free parking lot outside, decent rooms and restaurants next door is more my speed. Throw in a free breakfast in the lobby, a fridge and microwave and I am happy.
After you get your room card, have your guest wait outside in the hall, ***with your luggage***, while you go in alone and pull the sheets back on two or more corners of the bed, all the way down to the mattress. Bed bugs and tell-tale small brown spots of dried blood can be seen with the naked eye if they are there. If so, get the hell out of there. Don't bring your luggage in the room and don't sit down on any of the furniture until you've done this. I always check the bathroom and any cupboards etc. for critters too before giving the all clear.
"The future ain't what it used to be." --Yogi Berra
I've spent the night in upwards of 50 hotels this year. No bed bugs yet. Perhaps I taste bad.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Just go to the website, bgriffin. Most hotels take care of the problem and are appalled, but some deny, deny, deny ...
@bgriffin wrote:
I've spent the night in upwards of 50 hotels this year. No bed bugs yet. Perhaps I taste bad.
Mosquitoes love me. Never had an issue with bed bugs. I taste sweet. Ask the mosquitoes.
I have travelled extensively all around the world and for the past 10 years have probably averaged well over 100 night a year in hotels, including hotels in India (generally Marriott brands, Intercontinental brands, etc.) and China (same brands) and other placed in Europe, Asia, Mexico, and the US and have never had an issue with bedbugs. I don't discount the possibility, but bed bugs make great media hype and the sites that list bed bug reports are not audited or verified, they are just reports. Of course, what we do are just reports also, but we are "trained" to make the observations we make when mystery shopping. Most bed bug sightings are not by trained personnel. I am not a trained bed bug investigator, but I can report a total absence of bites, welts, allergic reactions, etc.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
If you pack laundry dryer sheets in your luggage, you will be less likely to find a hitchhiker bug. Also, keep your luggage off the floor.
Oddly enough, I was trained to find bed bugs when I did a long route where I inspected, but did not stay in, a whole chain of long-stay "hotels." (Not the ones that that term brings to mind, btw.) I found evidence of bed bugs in about one third of them, although I did not find any live bugs.
I check out Tripadvisor before booking any hotel for any reason. Chicago hotels are particularly problematic.
I check out Tripadvisor before booking any hotel for any reason. Chicago hotels are particularly problematic.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I look for evidence of bedbugs regularly when I travel and have absolutely never run across anything in a 5-star hotel yet. You have to keep in mind that those reports are customer generated and no proof is required to submit a report. I have specifically stayed in hotels that were being bombarded by complaints from the registry and scoured the room for evidence, but come up empty.
I'm not saying they don't exist. It's just rare at high-end properties. Once you get out of the US and into Asia, they have much more relaxed legislation on use of pesticides as well, so I'm more concerned about sleeping on a bed of DDT than coming back with bedbugs....
I'm not saying they don't exist. It's just rare at high-end properties. Once you get out of the US and into Asia, they have much more relaxed legislation on use of pesticides as well, so I'm more concerned about sleeping on a bed of DDT than coming back with bedbugs....
Yes I used to do Mystery Hotel shops for one company at two hotels that are in my city (Houston) twice a month at each hotel and then one time I did a third hotel in my city. Then, my husband and I went out west on vacation and I picked up a hotel shop from this company in Salt Lake City. Very nice hotel and the stay was FREE after reimbursement. I never done a route and I don't have time to do these anymore anyway. After one evening and night at te hotel I would spend a good six hours inputtin the report each time. Fun when I had the time and quite an experience.
Is the room charge always reimbursed? Is the final fee worth the work you put into? Do you ask for additional bonus? I would love to do some hotel shops, but having a cash flow issue right now. Haven't seem too many postings in my area.
Can someone give me some best practices on submitting a 3 day hotel shop within 24hours? I seem to write a lot and sometimes rant in effort to be overly detailed. However, when the report is sent back the editor has erased almost half of what I wrote and sums it up in a few sentences. Is it better to just write something short and sweet to send within the 48 hour guideline so that bonuses aren't compromised? Or should you give it your all and sacrifice the late fee?
I complete each section as I go along, do not wait until you check out. Or if I am interested in relaxing during the day, or sightseeing, I do 3 hours in the evening.
Do not over write!
Most hotel stays pay from $40 to $90. Some pay nothing but you get the perks and the "frequent sleeper" points. All either reimburse the folio or reimburse it in full. Many require you to pay cash for all f&B purchases, massages, gift shop buys, etc. as cash integrity tests, so you may be waiting for reimbursement of those for 45-60 days.
Most hotel stays pay from $40 to $90. Some pay nothing but you get the perks and the "frequent sleeper" points. All either reimburse the folio or reimburse it in full. Many require you to pay cash for all f&B purchases, massages, gift shop buys, etc. as cash integrity tests, so you may be waiting for reimbursement of those for 45-60 days.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
@bestofbothworlds wrote:
Before anyone goes for a shop I urge them to go to www.bedbugregistry.com. A lot of 4 and 5 star hotels have had them including all the big chains and Four Seasons. They're nasty and expensive little suckers to get rid of.
OMG. Thank you for the info.
@sandyf wrote:
I have never had a problem with bed bugs. I do not do too many hotel shops but when I pay for a hotel it is usally a low star one. But I did read somewhere a few years ago that there are a lot more bed bugs on the east side of the country.
As for the difficulty of the jobs, I have not done fancy hotels so the reports have not been difficult. Walesmaven gave some good advice.
I have been able to get most of it done by spending a little time on the computer after check in, finishing most of the report the next morning and downloading pics from my camera and then I do the check out portion when I arrive at the next night hotel. If they are for the same msc you can try and ask to have the deadline at the end of the several night stay. The thing to stay away from if you are thinking of making it more like a vacation is a hotel with spas, masseuses, restaurants, room service, parking valets and pay lots. Then you are assured not to have to report on all those things. But of course you have to be like me and not care about those amenities to have a vacation. A nice old fashioned motel with a big free parking lot outside, decent rooms and restaurants next door is more my speed. Throw in a free breakfast in the lobby, a fridge and microwave and I am happy.
Sandy,
That is a good working plan. What MSC offer hotel jobs? I want to go to Vegas.
What company does Hotel Shops? I've never seen any available.
@mysterytrina wrote:
@sandyf wrote:
I have never had a problem with bed bugs. I do not do too many hotel shops but when I pay for a hotel it is usally a low star one. But I did read somewhere a few years ago that there are a lot more bed bugs on the east side of the country.
As for the difficulty of the jobs, I have not done fancy hotels so the reports have not been difficult. Walesmaven gave some good advice.
I have been able to get most of it done by spending a little time on the computer after check in, finishing most of the report the next morning and downloading pics from my camera and then I do the check out portion when I arrive at the next night hotel. If they are for the same msc you can try and ask to have the deadline at the end of the several night stay. The thing to stay away from if you are thinking of making it more like a vacation is a hotel with spas, masseuses, restaurants, room service, parking valets and pay lots. Then you are assured not to have to report on all those things. But of course you have to be like me and not care about those amenities to have a vacation. A nice old fashioned motel with a big free parking lot outside, decent rooms and restaurants next door is more my speed. Throw in a free breakfast in the lobby, a fridge and microwave and I am happy.
Sandy,
That is a good working plan. What MSC offer hotel jobs? I want to go to Vegas.
WHY? Are you registered with the PI Board in NV and with a shopping company in NV? Hotel rooms are cheap in Vegas. Besides, they save all of the premium jobs for their regular shoppers or out of town shoppers that they know. Most people don't pull into town and check into the Bellagio on a shop. The big jobs require a lot of experience and an outlaw of $1000's up front.
I do up-scale hotels and resorts all the time, but only one a month. Why? Because: 1) It takes a ridiculous amount of time to fill in the reports. 2) A lot of things can go wrong making you lose the fee or even the reimbursement. 3)Most include integrity shops, and I will not do integrity shops. 4) You must spend quite a bit of time when they send the report back to you with many questions and requests for additional information.
I am excellent at doing these shops, but the better the hotel/resort the more the MSC wants from you. I get burned out fast doing them.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2015 08:52PM by vee.
I am excellent at doing these shops, but the better the hotel/resort the more the MSC wants from you. I get burned out fast doing them.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2015 08:52PM by vee.
I also take very detailed notes and write up the reports once I have checked out. The reason is, I would like to enjoy my four star vacation, and sitting in a fancy room for hours, writing a report is not my idea of a good time
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2015 08:53PM by vee.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2015 08:53PM by vee.
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