NG
Ah. In the US most are motion sensored based or with door sensors. I believe they’re also triggered by the front desk - so that when you check in the lights and airconditioning are on when you enter.
I always assumed that the telly, lights etc were just left on from when they last made up the room, but that makes sense.
Not sure how motion door sensors would do the same as a card slot though, and they would have the issue of not charging your phone or laptop too.
I stayed in a hotel in Malta last year, it had the key card thing, but also (and it took me a while to figure out WTF was going on) once you'd switched off all the lights in the room, then the power sockets would also be cut ! It made charging my phone overnight a bit of a challenge. The only item (with a socket) that remained powered was the mini bar, so I angrily pulled that out, and stuffed my phone charger in there. Some of these things really haven't been thought through
That's not at all uncommon. Often the in-room safe will have a permanently powered mains outlet.
However it's why I always ask for two key cards when checking in - so I can leave one in the power-slot when I'm out and need mains power to be supplied. (Alternatively you can use a cheap plastic loyalty card or library card usually - though some with embossed numbers are problematic)
The other reason to have two key cards is to ensure you don't lock your only one in the room and have to do the walk of shame to reception after Breakfast...
noggin
Founding member
Ah. In the US most are motion sensored based or with door sensors. I believe they’re also triggered by the front desk - so that when you check in the lights and airconditioning are on when you enter.
I always assumed that the telly, lights etc were just left on from when they last made up the room, but that makes sense.
Not sure how motion door sensors would do the same as a card slot though, and they would have the issue of not charging your phone or laptop too.
I stayed in a hotel in Malta last year, it had the key card thing, but also (and it took me a while to figure out WTF was going on) once you'd switched off all the lights in the room, then the power sockets would also be cut ! It made charging my phone overnight a bit of a challenge. The only item (with a socket) that remained powered was the mini bar, so I angrily pulled that out, and stuffed my phone charger in there. Some of these things really haven't been thought through
That's not at all uncommon. Often the in-room safe will have a permanently powered mains outlet.
However it's why I always ask for two key cards when checking in - so I can leave one in the power-slot when I'm out and need mains power to be supplied. (Alternatively you can use a cheap plastic loyalty card or library card usually - though some with embossed numbers are problematic)
The other reason to have two key cards is to ensure you don't lock your only one in the room and have to do the walk of shame to reception after Breakfast...
