What do you look for when you first settle in?

[Steve A]

delete

 

[clifffaith]

Light switches. There doesn’t always seem to be a relationship between the location of the lights and the placement of the switches.

Three years later, I still reach to the wrong side for the light switch when headed to the laundry closet in our hall.

 

[Superchief]

Since we usually check in later in the afternoon, I first look for a corkscrew/ wine opener. Then I can have a welcome glass of wine while checking everything else. The missing things we encounter most often are blenders, pots/pans, kitchen utensils, coffee filters, and we've had a few non-functioning coffee makers.

 

[normab]

I check and see if the icemaker is on. It takes a day to fill the bin!

 

[clifffaith]

I check and see if the icemaker is on. It takes a day to fill the bin!

I would much rather have someone’s “old ice” than no ice at all. But appreciate the sticker on the freezer door (Worldmark) saying it has been cleaned out and started up new. If no ice Cliff’s first job after schlepping bags in is to go in search of a hallway ice maker.

 

[b2bailey]

Used to fill out the inventory sheet, not lately, I check the bathroom toilets and faucets, make sure air conditioning or heat is working depended on where I am.

I'm glad that inventory sheets are mostly a thing of the past.

 

[jme]

Since we usually check in later in the afternoon, I first look for a corkscrew/ wine opener. Then I can have a welcome glass of wine while checking everything else. The missing things we encounter most often are blenders, pots/pans, kitchen utensils, coffee filters, and we've had a few non-functioning coffee makers.

We don't like the small hand corkscrew that is standard issue at hotels and timeshares.....they're cheap, difficult, and just aggravating,
And often they can't be found in the kitchen drawer anyway.
For years we've carried our own electric Cuisinart corkscrew, and it's so easy and nice, and it's always there ready to go to work.
Fits nicely in our wine carry bag, which holds up to 4-5 bottles of wine.

See: https://www.cuisinart.com/wine-open...MIy8aJ9PLJiAMVmTEIBR2OtBFIEAQYAyABEgLVqvD_BwE

 

[callwill]

Toilet paper. Without it you cant go on vacation! Without it, its camping.

 

[jmhpsu93]

We don't like the small hand corkscrew that is standard issue at hotels and timeshares.....they're cheap, difficult, and just aggravating,
And often they can't be found in the kitchen drawer anyway.
For years we've carried our own electric Cuisinart corkscrew, and it's so easy and nice, and it's always there ready to go to work.
Fits nicely in our wine carry bag, which holds up to 4-5 bottles of wine.

See: https://www.cuisinart.com/wine-opener/CWO-50.html?frt=15&nbt=nb:adwords:x:21470027214::&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=8527973&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=CWO-50&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy8aJ9PLJiAMVmTEIBR2OtBFIEAQYAyABEgLVqvD_BwE

Every single automatic or overbuilt wine opener I've bought has broken rather quickly...ditto with expensive coffee makers.

We carry our own hand corkscrew, but I've found the ones at MVCs work just fine.

 

[noreenkate]

First thing we do is bedbug check-
Nothing happens till we flip the mattresses

 

[jimf41]

I usually see if they have enough ice in my gin & tonic

 

[easyrider]

As we walk in we take a sniff. Usually everything smells right. Before we unpack, we check the bed. It's only been a couple of times that we found anything odd. Other than that, if we think they need it, we wash the dishes and coffee pot. We always throw a sheet over the couch.

Bill

 

[aka Julie]

It’s interesting reading this thread. Never thought of doings some of these things, but picked up a couple we’ll do in the future.

We always put away the coffee maker, toaster, tea kettle and blender if they’re on the counter. Never use them. Move the knife block and paper towel dispenser closer to the sink. Wash dishes and turn on ice maker. Put away the placemats (think they are nasty). Use sanitizer wipes on wall switches and TV remotes.

 

[NboroGirl]

I don't check anything either, except for turning on the ice maker in the freezer.

The first thing I do is find a bowl to contain the large bag of Skittles I bring. I've been doing this since the kids were small. Now it's mostly for me and my husband and any guests (adult children and their wives, siblings, friends, etc) we invite. It's not vacation until the bowl of Skittles is out on the counter. Then I unpack as quickly as I can so we can go out and get groceries... and then begin our vacation.