Couple’s Coordinates

Step into some hotel elevators and the buttons run 10, 11, 12, 14. The obvious question is: what happened to the 13th floor? Usually, nothing happened to it. The physical floor is still there; the hotel has simply skipped the number 13 and labeled the next level 14. The tradition comes from the longstanding Western...

Many hotels use cotton or cotton-blend sheets, usually in a crisp percale or smoother sateen weave. Thread counts vary widely, but plenty of hotel-style bedding falls somewhere around 200 to 400 threads per square inch. There is no single formula, though. A practical hotel sheet has to feel comfortable while also standing up to frequent...

Hotels can charge your card when you book, before you arrive, or when you check out. Prepaid and nonrefundable rates are commonly charged in advance, while flexible rates are often settled at the hotel. You may also see a pending authorization around check-in that temporarily reduces your available funds or credit without being an additional...

Yes, some hotels have sensors designed to detect smoking or vaping in guest rooms, but they are not standard in every hotel. Conventional smoke alarms can also sometimes react to e-cigarette aerosol. Most importantly, a hotel can prohibit vaping and charge a cleaning or smoking fee whether or not a dedicated vape detector is installed....

If you’re 18, 19, or 20, finding a hotel can be more complicated than simply choosing an available room. Plenty of hotels allow guests under 21 to check in, but there is no universal minimum age across the hotel industry. One property may welcome an 18-year-old while another hotel from the same brand requires guests...