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Being Embarrassed
"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries."
Aldous Huxley
It is quintessentially an English failing, to be apologetic for expecting value for money and certain standards of comfort and hygiene.
When it comes to hotels, hostels and campsites once in the reception and told there are indeed vacancies if you aren't sure about the rooms do ask if you can see them first.
In the beginning I was too polite to do this and ended up in some dire accommodation. I learnt pretty quickly to ask to see the room first before I parted with money because returning to reception, having seen the mould ridden, bug infested bedroom and asking for your money back was considerably more embarrassing and seldom satisfactory as most weren't happy to give a full refund, despite having only been in the room for a few minutes!
After a few bad experiences when I had doubts about the standard of accommodation I learnt to ask politely if I could see the room, explaining that, as there were three of us I needed to ensure that one room would be enough and that usually worked fine, particularly if they were torn between hoping for the rental of another room if the first was too small!
So don't be shy. You worked damn hard for the money to pay for your trip, you deserve some where clean and safe and hygienic to stay!
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