A former stewardess has revealed her secret hotel tips – including the grim reason why you should always check the kettle before using it.
Barbara Bacilieri, 31, known as ‘Barbie Bac’ on social media, also shared how you can check your hotel bed for bugs.
The Argentine flight attendant has amassed more than 4.5 million followers and about 100 million likes on her TikTok accounts, @barbiebac.ok and @barbiebac.viajes, posting tips and tricks for less experienced travelers.
In addition to his insider tips, he shares stories about the realities of flying, including the most unpleasant things passengers do on the plane.
Here, FEMAIL discusses her top three tips videowhich has over 1.2 million views and 40,000 likes, about how to make the most of your vacation, including what you can and can’t take out of your hotel room…
Barbara Bacilieri, pictured, revealed her top three tips for less experienced travelers when visiting hotels.
check the bed
After a long trip, it’s tempting to just jump into bed immediately once you arrive at your accommodation.
But Barbara warns that you might want to wait.
“Before you go to bed, lift the covers,” she explained.
‘Check for bugs or socks that other guests have left behind!’
Being cautious and making sure your space is clean can save you from an unpleasant surprise in the future.
Rust-colored spots on or under the mattress could indicate that there are bugs around, as this is the color of blood-stained sheets if a bug has been crushed there.
The flight attendant, known as ‘Barbie Bac’ on TikTok, recommended guests check the kettle, sheets and safe in their hotel room.
The Argentine flight attendant, 31, recently announced that she had resigned from her flight duties to work on her social media, which means even more important advice for her millions of viewers.
Bedding in hotels should be checked for insects, he said. Bed bugs leave a rusty brown stain when crushed on white sheets.
Barbara also said that previous guests’ clothes might have been mixed in with the bedding, which you won’t want to sleep in and may want to return to check-in.
A previous occupant may have also left valuables in the safe, so the frequent traveler recommended checking the safe for cash or other surprises.
check the safe
Even if you don’t plan to use the safe, the former flight attendant emphasized always checking it.
“If there’s a safe, open it,” he revealed. “Maybe you’re lucky and the previous guest forgot his millions.”
Or be a good Samaritan and report any leftover items to hotel staff.
It’s also important to check that it works properly with your own belongings before putting anything away.
Barbara has worked in cabin crew for over a decade, most recently at Vueling based in Barcelona.
According to the hotel regular, some guests use kettles to wash underwear, cook food or even clean their menstrual cup.
Look inside the teapot
Northing is better than a cup of tea after a long day of planes, trains and cars.
However, just like the bed and the safe, you should also check the kettle.
Barbara said: ‘Always look inside the coffee maker. Before boiling water to make tea or coffee, think carefully.
‘Some guests are said to use the boiling vessel for strange things, such as washing underwear, cooking sausages or even cleaning the menstrual cup.
‘You weren’t expecting this, were you? Imagine how many other things guests do that we don’t know about.
What you can and cannot take with you
The former flight attendant also revealed the dos and don’ts of hotel rooms, with some shocking revelations about what some travelers try to get away with.
Some guests even try to run away with pillows, light bulbs or batteries from household appliances, all of which are prohibited.
Barbara has also heard of guests taking things from hotel rooms, which has shocked her.
She said: ‘Some people think that everything in the room is free, or that because they paid so dearly they have the right to take it. [sic]
‘The batteries in the remote control or worse, the light bulbs.
‘Yes, they unscrew them and take them home.
‘The coffee or tea bags are free, but the cups are not!
‘Stationery and pencils are also free, but pillows are not.
‘You wouldn’t believe how many guests take their hotel pillows home.
‘And how many people have hotel towels at home? A lot.’