On an overnight stay at a Fairfield Inn a few years ago, I encountered a dilemma I’ve faced many times before—there was no apparent way to charge my phone conveniently.
Many hotels have addressed this issue by installing lights with plugs or USB outlets on their base. Unfortunately, this hotel had neither. When I looked behind the nightstand, there was only one outlet, already occupied by the lamp and clock. Sure, I could have unplugged the clock, but I still have flashbacks to a childhood incident where unplugging a hotel room TV to move it led to staff knocking on our door to make sure we weren’t stealing it! (In retrospect, it probably wasn’t that great of a hotel, but we booked it for 1/2 price with the Entertainment Book). (Note from Sharon: OMG, they came to your room? We’ve been married for 22 years—why have you never told me this story before???)
Looking around, I noticed the Timex clock on the nightstand had two USB ports on the front. I’ve encountered similar clocks in hotel rooms, and they have never successfully charged my phone. They’re almost as useless as the iHome speakers in some hotels with docks that only fit an iPhone 4.
Much to my surprise, when I plugged in my phone, I heard the charging tone. Sure, connecting to an unknown USB outlet comes with risks—your personal information could be compromised—but I doubted that hackers or government agents were targeting the Timex clock in my first-floor room at the Fairfield Inn in Savannah.
To be fair, I’ve had USB ports in hotel rooms work before. For example, the fancy clock radio in a suite at the Renaissance St. Pancras in London had a USB port hidden on the back (along with an old-school extendable antenna). It was both high-tech and retro at the same time.
So, what’s your experience with hotel USB ports? Have they worked reliably for you? Would you unplug the clock to charge your phone, or do you bring your own multi-outlet adapter? And, seriously, how many people even use the hotel alarm clock anymore?
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