Hotel guests register wide variety of complaints

Dear Readers: We printed a Sound Off from a reader on complaints about hotel rooms, and we asked our readers for their input. Boy, did we get a response!
Here is small sample of the letters we received:
UJean of New York says: "Facial tissues, if provided, are the worst available. Garbage pickup is too early in the morning, and, worst of all, people who stay there are not considerate of others -- they slam doors or let them slam, talk outside of windows or in halls at times when others are trying to sleep, and beep horns at others in parking lots."
UDianne of New York says: "Having just spent a weekend at a hotel in a large city, I have a pet peeve to add to those mentioned in your newspaper column. Since two people often share a room, when the first person is done showering, the second person follows. The bathroom is then occupied (and steamy), and it is necessary to apply makeup and style hair with electric appliances in the bedroom area. Alas, there is no mirror there, and not only is the lighting poor, but the only electrical outlet is wedged between the desk and the TV cabinet, a hard-to-reach spot. Grrr!"
ULorraine of Arizona says: "Window coverings do not close tightly. Light comes in from the center of the drapery. Another complaint is the ice buckets that sweat and leave water whenever they are put down."
UWilliam of Colorado says: "Shower heads that are too low. You have to duck your head under to wet or rinse, and risk bumping your head when you straighten up."
ULisa, via e-mail, says: "I have one gripe about some hotel rooms that have doors inside so that you can walk from one room into another persons room, and you can lock the door on one side but not the other. That was one sleepless night we had on our anniversary."
UR. Thomas, via e-mail, says: "Bedsheets that are laundered in bleach and scented laundry soaps, then dried with scented fabric softener. I have severe allergies and have started bringing along my own bed linens."
USibylle of Kansas had this to say: "I am delighted to report that my hotel experience was completely different from that of your readers. I was offered a discount, there was plenty of free space in the room, all promotional material was in a cubbyhole, there was ample room in the bathroom and plenty of fresh towels."
Thanks to all the readers who took the time to drop us a line! Heloise
P.S. My complaint? The lighting in many bathrooms is so bad that I need a flashlight to put on makeup.
Fast facts
What to do with an old ashtray? Try one of the following ideas:
UPut on a dresser for loose change.
UUse in a sewing room for pins, needles, etc.
UAfter cleaning, use as a food dish for a pet bird.
UFill with potpourri and put on a table.
URest a candle in it to catch any drips.
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate