Navigating Hotel Stays with Mold Sensitivity

I'm new at traveling with mold sickness. Can you help me navigate? I chose a mid-range hotel and in hindsight, should not have. I checked in late last night and have one more night to stay here. I don't have extreme mold symptoms, mostly congestion and chronic skin problems, so it's hard to be taken seriously. The room is musty and there is visible pink and black mold in the shower. I woke up with congestion. Is there any possibility that a different room will be better or is the whole hotel likely moldy? How should I go about requesting a room change or refund for the second night? I just don't know what to say. Help me with the words! I am at Comfort suites in Bowling Green, KY.

New. Period. If windows open amazing! Avoid economy builds anything less than 3 star.

FYI, I’ve stayed in five star hotels before with mold and airbnbs. It really doesn’t matter unfortunately

N.B. what rooms are generally used less? Thanks

Ask for a different room. Some rooms might be better. As far as the midrange comment- I hear you but last summer I stayed in Chicago at a hotel that was $450 a night and it almost put me in the ER from mold. So it happens in all price ranges unfortunately.

I was directed to check the files yesterday. It's the very last entry. It's very helpful. It shows you hotels that people have tried in many locations. Generally I do better in a new build mid-range. Ask staff to clean without fragrance when you make reservation. Check out the room for a musty smell before you bring all your things in; tell the clerk when you check in that you need to go make sure the room is OK for you first. Once you've already spent the night there it's probably too late.

Let the front desk know that you have a reaction to the room and politely ask for a room that is preferably on the top floor and away from any water/ ice machines (lowering the risk for water intrusion). Ask if you can first view the other room available before making the switch because sometimes you can tell right away if you will have an issue. This way you can check for mold/ mildew. I can typically tell almost immediately if the room is a definite no. Let us know how it goes!

I usually don't go into too much detail of my symptoms. I tell them i need to go to another hotel due to my allergic reaction to mold which triggers my asthma or respiratory problems. However I would be willing to try another room if they have available. Im not picky about view etc. Sometimes the room has been better. If it doesnt seem better I leave and ive had no problem with hotel canceling my remaining days. Its a pain figuring out what other hotel to try. I sometimes ask the manager if they have a sister property that they can recommend that might be better or newer. The problem is im also very voc new furnishing sensitive like really bad so its a challenge! What hotel are you at?

I don’t think it’s about the low-high end aspect and rather the age. I’ve stayed in new lower priced hotels that have been perfect. I’ve also stayed in older higher end hotels that have been awful. I also use Google Maps and scour reviews. It has a search feature and I search on key words like mold, mildew, smell (and bedbugs!). Ive also had hotels where the room they gave me was immediately bad and I switched to another in the same hotel with no issues. Some places are good about letting you go poke your head into a room before they assign it to you. This works better if the hotel is not mostly booked and you ask at a quiet time when there isn’t a line of people waiting at the desk.

I've asked to swap rooms and see it first. I will tell them it's musty and that I can't take the smell. My husband and I both have mold reactions.

Built recently. At least three star. Sometimes windows that open can make a borderline place acceptable for a night or two.

I’d ask for a new room as high up as possible. The higher up it usually has less mold. Also, I would ask to see more than one room. Check under sinks and in bathroom really good for any damage and smells. Turn on ac unit and sniff around, and you’ll probably find something a lot better.

I pick new hotels and rooms that have been used less and if needed I swap rooms. Musty smell is a no for me. I don’t do higher end just newer mid-range. I tried higher range but cost too much and didn’t work better

Navigating Hotel Stays with Mold Sensitivity

12 comments