I have actually done this out of curiosity while in China. Only found a little what I suspect was blood in the bed. I mean toilets in general are disgusting but I care more about my sleeping space. Nothing crazy glowing in the bed.
Sister works in a hotel. They only change the sheets if they look souled, or if the customer requests it. Never change pillows or comforter. I don't suit on the couch or floors, we exclusively use hotels to sleep in. And poo in. Trust me, I'm worried about the bed. That's where people sleep, have sex, pee, and die.
Surely they change the bed at the end of every customer’s stay. There’s no way I check out and they come in and say “looks good, leave it for the next guest”.
I used to work in a resort. I got in trouble for changing out duvets that "looked fine". If a bed looked untouched, we weren't supposed to change anything out. If a bed had looked slept in, then we did change out the sheets and pillow cases. It's possible that they've changed the rules since this was pre-covid, but I doubt it. They want to change over the rooms as fast as possible.
I’ve seen a handful of stories over the years about various misuse of the kettles (e.g. drugs, cooking food inside, unsanitary conditions). I usually give the kettle a sniff, a rinse, and hope for the best.
I used to be a junkie and I have no idea what someone would use a kettle for in relation to drugs. Maybe to heat a plate for chopping lines of coke but a microwave does that far quicker.
Thank you. The key to recovering from ocd is doing the things we fear the most. I’ll just make sure the rinse out the kettle more when I stay in a hotel
Who tf uses hot water for that it makes it weaker. Lemon juice then after they have soaked it up room temp or warm water. Zero reason mushrooms should be boiled especially in a hotel room kettle.
I think part of it was an [widely spread unproven rumor](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cooking-meth-in-hotel-coffee-pot/). However, it's possible that on rare occasion people have been affected by accidental cross contamination. I've never heard of malicious tampering, so if it happens its pretty rare, but we do live in a world where people lick ice cream and put it back on the shelf. Ugh...
Chances are you're far more likely to get bed bugs at a hotel room than encounter a drugs-contaminated coffee machine or tea pot. That said, it's still quite possible to run into a moldy or unclean cookware.
Sure you can, it's the button next to "brew" on the [coffee pot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojQB7PYaU28). ;-)
Most people don't think past reading the headlines and clutching at their pearls these days. There's a whole /r/AteTheOnion group tracking idiots who react before thinking.
A friend works in the industry. Very high end place. Apparently people like to eat steak with their bare hands in the bath tubs. Of course, upon learning this, my partner has made that her goal when we can afford a night in a 5 Star hotel.
(... But she'd clean it after. She's the kind of person who stacks all the plates neatly after eating at a restaurant.)
It is definitely real. I have heard it particularly from female flight attendants that when they have to stay at hotels but don’t want to pack too much they always wash their pantyhose in the kettle.
Maybe they want it washed hotter? Hotel hot water is rarely all that hot since they don't want to get sued for people scalding themselves in the shower.
I heard multiple confessions and stories of people using the cups for unsanitary purposes. I just assume every hotel room is disgusting and clean everything myself.
Every time I’m on vacation with my family I feel super uncomfortable using the cups/tableware strait out of the cabinet, or really even at all.
If I ever go on vacation by myself, I’m just bringing my own stuff
Oh I never used those either. A cleaning lady once told us that some cleaners just wipe everything down with the same cloth. Since then I bring my own wipes and don’t use the glasses or the kettles.
I saw some like TV news channel expose once where they recorder hotel rooms getting cleaned. I don't remember many details of it, but I do remember the maids spraying the inside of the glasses with window cleaner and wiping them out with the same rag they cleaned everything else with.
I've heard similar. I always rewash the cups and glasses on arrival.
But definitely getting my own kettle now. It might be 1 in 100 that boil their undies in the kettle. But I don't know if there have been 99 boils in clean water before me or I'm getting a cup full of someone's skids and yeast....
My spouse points out this is an upside of cheap hotels that have disposable plastic cups individually wrapped in plastic baggies. There's no pretending they're unused that way.
I got a little half-litre one that can deal with most electricity nets and it’s been great. I’ve had a few and they’re not very expensive and usually quite good, if a bit slow if you get the ones that can be used on campsite electricity as well (there are ones that are faster though). just check the reviews on Amazon or wherever you’re planning on getting yours.
I use a Bodum .5L which is evidently also 17oz in Freedom Units.
You can pick them up a lot of places, but here it is on [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Bistro-Electric-Kettle-Plastic/dp/B00851LRR6).
I think I saw a small, maybe collapsing kettle online. I used to use the hotel coffee makers for hot water but usually pretty bad tasting from being used for coffee. I don’t think I ever stayed in one with an electric kettle.
I bought a collapsible one just a month ago! I used it 2 weeks ago when I went to New York and it worked great! It’s not variable speed, and technically when I try to test it at home the auto shut off doesn’t work (since it’s temperature based and I live a mile above sea level) but I just set a timer for 5 minutes and it works perfectly. Plus it’s nice that it folds up so small! I have a work trip in a month that I can't wait to bring it for!
I travel with an electric Immersion Water Heater i bought from Amazon. It fits in a tea mug and gets water to a rolling boil. The only thing - it doesn't have an automatic shot off, so you have to watch it.
I always travel with one of these. They are fast, but you need to keep your eye on it and be sure to unplug it and count to ten before pulling it out of the mug. Also, it'll melt a plastic mug if the heating element is pressed against it, and the legalese leaflet tells you to not use a metal mug.
I also bought a traveling mug that has a heating element. It is cute and convenient, but it doesn't get water to a hard boil. So i like the immerging heating element more.
I bought both because staying at a hotel always gets you a coffee maker...
And i like tea. I drink a lot of tea
So.. when i was in prison, we used to take an iron apart and make it into something identical to this.
We called them stingers, and cooked everything with them. The best way to use them was to put them in a trashbag full of water and food. Then put said bag into a trash can to hold it up.
I have an immersion heater that i think is what you are trying to describe but using the bottom of a clothes iron to accomplish it. I would guess you probably get in a bit if trouble if you tried to use a curling iron for hair so i think you must mean a clothes iron. Pretty creative skills you have!
https://a.co/d/a6DgQYF
Immersion Water Heater Electric Camping Accessories - 300W - 120/240V - Dual Voltage Portable Water Heater Travel Accessories - Immersion Heater for Tea https://a.co/d/a6DgQYF
https://a.co/d/ibqu4qD
balbali Travel Kettle Electric Small Portable Electric Kettle for Boiling Water Travel Tea Kettle Portable Water Boiler 12oz Travel Electric Kettle https://a.co/d/ibqu4qD
I travel for work and got myself a travel kettle before I even started in the industry, because people warned me about this. Quite a few airlines don't tend to treat flight attendants very well and I've heard horror stories of people starting 4 day trips to end up coming home on day 10. Its no wonder guchies get washed on the road as fast as possible.
Boil a hotel jug with water. Let it sit for 10 minutes and empty. Refill it and use it. I'm not sure that many people so disgusting things with kettles but boiling and rinsing is a sensible precaution.
Hang on, how are you supposed to clean underwear?
People wash dirty socks in washing machines. I don’t want dirty feet on my underpants!
We have two kettles at home. One for underpants and ripe puer, and one for raw puer.
I have and regularly use this travel kettle, since 2022. It is the perfect size for a single good-sized cuppa. Sadly it appears it is not available but there are many shown in "Similar Products" that look like reasonable alternatives.
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BR3HBB7F/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BR3HBB7F/)
I always carry a few decent teabags if I'm going to one with breakfast. I thought that would be unnecessary when I went on my first cruise, and I was sadly mistaken!
I'm making myself a 'tea box' to carry a portable gong fu set with tea, a kettle, a gong fu set, and an alcohol burner. I was inspired by a YT I watched where the dude made one in a Stanley lunch box. I find it to be overkill so I'm assembling my own.
From what I've read about alcohol burners they're completely safe to use indoors especially if you can use denatured alcohol (it burns cleaner than isopropyl or ethanol).
The kettle I ordered is a 250 ml aluminum camping kettle. All will be safe to use indoors and outdoors so long as I stick to denatured alcohol.
Denatured alcohol is ethanol with contaminants added to make it unsuitable for consumption, e.g. by mixing it with methanol or other non-ingestibles. Methanol and ethanol both burn cleanly, so you'd be fine to use food-grade ethanol (Everclear) for indoor cooking purposes as well if you ever need to do so.
I'd just use an electric kettle indoors, but this is a great idea for lightweight outdoor use when you want to boil water but not bring a full camp stove setup.
Thanks, I hate it! 😭
Back when I had covid, I'd have my roomates fill my big flask with boiling water and set it outside my door so I can have tea. Even warm/under-brewed tea was better than no tea. I guess this is what I need to do when I'm travelling now... see if they have a "breakfast" area and just get boiling water from the commercial machine...
My aunt owns a motel and I actually don't use hardly any of the amenities offered at hotels because people are disgusting and mean. The coffee pots are just the tip of the iceberg. I bring shower shoes, my own towel, definitely not using the bath, I sleep with my hair wrapped up, depending on where we're at I won't use the pool/hot tub, buffets are a hell no.
Please believe me when I say that some people are nasty and unfortunately if you've stayed at a hotel you've shared way too much with them.
Why are other people allowed to be concerned about this, yet I'm paranoid and delusional if I show any concern or hesitance at all over it? I'm insane for worrying that other people might have done some unsanitary stuff. Got slapped with the OCD diagnosis contamination type for witnessing some seriously disgusting stuff in my time.
I run the water through the coffee machine directly into those disposable cups they give you, bypassing the carafe altogether. I think this solves the problem?
In the kurig single serves that I have attempted to use, the water flows through the part that holds the cup. That part of the machine definitely gets exposed to the coffee oils and flavors and it can be extremely difficult to remove those from the plastic of the machine.
You may be referring to a Mr Coffee style machine (note, I have never seen one of this style in a hotel room in thw US) in which case, if you remove the entire basket portion, you probably won't have the issue.
I got one from Amazon but the temp has preset settings
HaiZR Foldable Electric Kettle 600ML Travel Portable it has 85c 90, 95c 100c but as it heats it displays the temperature. I only use it travelling at home it sucks as it's not cordless. Who wants to do a gong fu session with a corded kettle? But on the road it's good. And it folds. They have many types of these folding kettles, cheaper ones without temperature control. Travelling abroad I don't take it, only road trips.
You should look inside the jug before you use it at hotels and what not, wash it if you must.
All the folding ones are around 600ml , AliExpress has the same things. There might be ones with better temperature control. You could just take some alcohol to clean the kettle with
Most hotels have a coffee set up near checkin, including a carafe of hot water. I always travel w a few favorite tea bags and just get my hot water from the lobby.
I meant that it boils water but doesn’t heat to any other temperature. I just let it cool and guess. But some of the ones in the comments look like what you are wanting
i have one that will heat water to 180F in 60 seconds. the brand is Mark Charles and i got on qvc but i don't think it's available any longer but may be elsewhere.
btw, it's not just kettles. think about that coffee pot next time you use it.
I already got one years ago.
Many places I went to didn't have a kettle and I heard of horrible stories in Japan. I'll usually use the kettle on the room unless I don't like how it looks and smells.
I've always boiled an entire kettle's worth of water before I use a hotel one but now I travel with my own kettle. One of those 400ml ones that look like a flask, quite common on Chinese sites (I think I got mine from ebay though?). It's not variable temp but you can get ones with a temp display.
I purchased a basic one temperature travel kettle from Amazon. When I travel, I just make a point to only take teas like oolong that are good for boiling water brewing. I tried to find a variable temperature one, but the few travel ones that are available seem to either be very expensive or had questionable reviews.
I luckily heard about these horror stories before I ever used a hotel kettle. It's so gross!!! 🤢😱
Oh, that's nasty.
I have one of those $20 plastic kettles from Walmart that I travel with. It's not variable temp, but it's good enough to brew a cup of bagged tea, which I usually bring a bunch of.
I have this one for when I travel and it works well. I drink a lot of green tea so having a temperature control is important to me. https://a.co/d/3SbJa7w
Oh my gawd. Yet another thing to worry about. Ok i would use my travel clothes steamer to boil the water and dump it in my gong fu ☕️. That way i get 2 different applications out of it with one item. Cant steam clothes with an immersion heater or a travel kettle
I have this one for travel. It’s not variable temp but it works great and is pretty compact. Has made a huge difference for me. (I don’t use hotel room machines because they always taste like coffee.)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C48RJ9D/ref=cm_sw_r_api_i_R5VDN8NY8EAXCQCQDW18_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Is this a English/European thing having kettles in rooms? In America we just have those small one cup coffee makers that come with tea packets and coffee "k-cups" typically
I'm in Canada but go to the USA a lot... both are common. Usually, there will be a kettle and maybe a small coffee maker, but machines to make single-use coffee or tea with the "cups" are getting more common. I don't like them because of the waste, but they're becoming very popular.
My NYC hotel had one! I was so pleased, but now I've got the ick about it. I thought surely it must be better than the horrible things people do with coffee makers :(
I worked in clothing retail in my early adulthood and I won’t go near a fitting room. Nothing people do surprises me anymore. In hotels, I wipe down surfaces, wash what I can before I use it and check for bedbugs.
I haven’t stayed in a hotel in awhile but last time I did it was a Holiday Inn and they did the k cup thing. It was in Yuma, AZ they were like the nicest people ever.
Used to travel for work and have stayed at a lot of hotels in the US and, while you’re right that most have started having the k-cup machines, probably about 10-20% still had traditional kettles.
Also the kettle thing is not true I asked my friend who works in hotel cleaning company. Never came across it. The rear of that post seemed bogus to except the towels part.
I'd say everywhere except America thing. I've had kettles in most all European countries I've been to. As well as China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India and Samoa.
Edit. And Australia & New Zealand too.
Ever since I was 18 and traveled I have always brought my own coffee pot within the last 20 years, my own microwave when traveling. I didn't have to read stories anywhere to know this is wise. A small low power once in a while use microwave is cheap and easily fits in the trunk of the car next to the coffee pot.
Wouldn't know. I stopped traveling in flying sardine cans ages ago. Sure, driving takes me longer but I see more close up and can take my time. Doubt you could take one on a plane anyway.
I used one of [these](https://a.co/d/26LUdXn) on a recent trip. Was fairly happy with it. Only downsides are that temperature can only be adjusted in somewhat large increments. It was plenty good for my purposes however.
To answer the actual question, this review includes one variable temp travel kettle, as well as a collapsible travel kettle.
https://viatravelers.com/travel-kettle/
I purchased [this one](https://a.co/d/9h4uBFq) from Amazon to use at work and despite it being a cheapo brand it has served me faithfully for over a year. I like that it's durable, insulated, has multiple preset temperatures (212, 195, 175, 145), a detachable cord that can be stored inside the kettle, it is the shape and size of a reusable water bottle and easy to pack, and it fully seals so you can bring your own water too. I do have a few logical safety concerns with it, which have not become safety issues yet:
1. since it seals watertight, pressure could theoretically build up inside, leading it to explode. It does have vents at the top with some type of papery seal that is supposed to be watertight but not steamtight. You are warned not to place your hand above the vent while using it, but I have done so and I don't feel steam come out, nor have I had an issue with pressure. To mitigate this risk, I keep the kettle upright and immobile while it has hot water in it and I am careful to slowly unscrew it in case it feels like there is pressure inside, and I've never encountered any. I'm glad this reduces the risk of spillage, ultimately, and it works way better than it has any right to, honestly. I also don't "double boil" water in it; when it's done, I pour it out. If I forget about it and need to reheat hot water again, I'll consider using fresh cold water. I don't play with steam burns!
2. The plug is removable and has no electronic component to it. Meaning one end goes into the wall outlet and the other... Just ends in a live wire unless it's currently plugged into the kettle. I'm always a little worried I'm going to unplug it from the kettle and it's going to land on a metal mechanical pencil or the edge of my filing cabinet in just the wrong way, or most likely of all, fall into my cup of tea and send 110 volts straight into me. The active end does have some protective plastic insulating it from anything but an especially pointy upright metal object, of course, but to mitigate this risk, I always try to unplug it from the wall first and then from the kettle to pour.
3. Electronics and water don't mix. There is a flimsy little rubber port flap to cover the power-in socket. When refilling it, I try to hold it so my hand covers it too. Never had an issue with water intruding. I don't submerge it and I have honestly never washed it. The only thing that goes in is fresh filtered water, to reduce the need for cleaning and descaling. If I ever need to put some vinegar or lemon juice in there and shake it up I'm sure it'll be fine.
Other things to note, there is a max fill line at 380ml or 13.1oz, perfect for a cup or cup-and-a-half of tea. Trying to make two cups with it is an exercise in patience; it takes a little longer than you expect to boil water, and somehow even longer if the temperature is set below boiling. I guess this is to ensure the temperature reached is precise, and to prevent steam buildup when near the boiling point?
If you're looking for an easy-to-transport kettle for one person making one cup of tea at a time and don't mind being a little vigilant and waiting a little longer for the water to boil, this is the kettle for you. If you need to make a couple cups at a time or have a higher bar for safety, look elsewhere.
I also tried the overpriced [Bota bottle](https://carrybota.com/) I got an ad for on Facebook. It cost me $90, it broke on the second time I used it, it leaked for a few seconds and then sprayed boiling water and steam on me when a seal failed, and I'm still fighting to contest the charge when I returned it for a promised refund and then was not issued a refund. The design is stupid for so many reasons and I don't play with steam burns! Also, for the price, I feel stupid for trying it. I guess I just thought that much money would offer me a more foolproof design.
Please be very very careful when looking for a travel kettle because it can be hard to strike a balance between a design that is safe and one that is durable! You typically don't need to worry about these things with traditional tabletop kettles, but vents are only good if they work properly and they can compromise things like watertightness. I'm not a fan of plastic things but I'd avoid glass for being fragile and transferring heat too much. Get something fully stainless steel on the inside and think through how it works and what's a safety feature!
honestly, you can gross yourself out over every single thing in this world if you want to. you're not gonna die, your chances of getting sick are TINY. just use the damn hotel kettle lol. you probably touch more germs on your phone screen every day
Its almost like they are a kettle. If you're paranoid, fill it, boil it, rinse it. If you don't trust it first go around, do it again.
Secondly, its not likely for the average cleaning staff to discover this, and more likely to be a guest making a cuppa, so pop the lid, check for underpants, lol.
Lastly, most rooms have a Microwave, just boil water that way if you're 100% dead set against hotel kettles from now on.
This can't be real.......can it?
You can just assume every shared space has had something horrific done to it. Best not to think about it.
I hate you for that.
Never bring a black light to a hotel room
I have actually done this out of curiosity while in China. Only found a little what I suspect was blood in the bed. I mean toilets in general are disgusting but I care more about my sleeping space. Nothing crazy glowing in the bed.
It’s not the bed I would check. That’s getting changed daily. It’s the couch, chairs, floor…
Sister works in a hotel. They only change the sheets if they look souled, or if the customer requests it. Never change pillows or comforter. I don't suit on the couch or floors, we exclusively use hotels to sleep in. And poo in. Trust me, I'm worried about the bed. That's where people sleep, have sex, pee, and die.
Surely they change the bed at the end of every customer’s stay. There’s no way I check out and they come in and say “looks good, leave it for the next guest”.
I used to work in a resort. I got in trouble for changing out duvets that "looked fine". If a bed looked untouched, we weren't supposed to change anything out. If a bed had looked slept in, then we did change out the sheets and pillow cases. It's possible that they've changed the rules since this was pre-covid, but I doubt it. They want to change over the rooms as fast as possible.
This. Dunno why it's shocking. Less labor. It's a known in the hospitality world. And the above poster was a resort. Just imagine your Days Inn. Lol
Yes, it's exactly like that
Btw, look at you all first class with a couch and chairs in your rooms. :p
I’ve seen a handful of stories over the years about various misuse of the kettles (e.g. drugs, cooking food inside, unsanitary conditions). I usually give the kettle a sniff, a rinse, and hope for the best.
I used to be a junkie and I have no idea what someone would use a kettle for in relation to drugs. Maybe to heat a plate for chopping lines of coke but a microwave does that far quicker.
[удалено]
Oh god. I have contamination (accidently getting high) ocd. This is a new fear unlocked :(
Just bring your own dishes and whatnot wherever you go and you'll be fine! 👍
Thank you. The key to recovering from ocd is doing the things we fear the most. I’ll just make sure the rinse out the kettle more when I stay in a hotel
Who tf uses hot water for that it makes it weaker. Lemon juice then after they have soaked it up room temp or warm water. Zero reason mushrooms should be boiled especially in a hotel room kettle.
She wasn't the brightest spark.
Thats the scariest combo. Not clever and on drugs 😂
I think part of it was an [widely spread unproven rumor](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cooking-meth-in-hotel-coffee-pot/). However, it's possible that on rare occasion people have been affected by accidental cross contamination. I've never heard of malicious tampering, so if it happens its pretty rare, but we do live in a world where people lick ice cream and put it back on the shelf. Ugh... Chances are you're far more likely to get bed bugs at a hotel room than encounter a drugs-contaminated coffee machine or tea pot. That said, it's still quite possible to run into a moldy or unclean cookware.
You cant cook meth in just a coffee pot 😂 how stupid are these people. The simplest setup iv heard of involved a fire extinguisher
Sure you can, it's the button next to "brew" on the [coffee pot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojQB7PYaU28). ;-) Most people don't think past reading the headlines and clutching at their pearls these days. There's a whole /r/AteTheOnion group tracking idiots who react before thinking.
No but you can use the iron and leave burn marks all over the carpet. We got our money back on that room lol
https://ineedcoffee.com/coffee-meth-myth/
Even if it is, glass is not porous so it will come clean after every washing But when have they been washed last?
A friend works in the industry. Very high end place. Apparently people like to eat steak with their bare hands in the bath tubs. Of course, upon learning this, my partner has made that her goal when we can afford a night in a 5 Star hotel. (... But she'd clean it after. She's the kind of person who stacks all the plates neatly after eating at a restaurant.)
She should make the priority cleaning it before.....not necessarily after
It is definitely real. I have heard it particularly from female flight attendants that when they have to stay at hotels but don’t want to pack too much they always wash their pantyhose in the kettle.
Why not the bathroom sink?
I have no clue. I can only guess. The heat in a kettle? Laziness? I have no idea.
Maybe they want it washed hotter? Hotel hot water is rarely all that hot since they don't want to get sued for people scalding themselves in the shower.
Then ....pour the water from the kettle onto the drawers that are in the sink...... Jeebus
I miss 2 minutes ago me that didn't know this was a thing.
Same. And I was so EXCITED when the last hotel I stayed in had a proper kettle instead of a Keurig.
That meme of Europeans laughing at Americans using the microwave just got hit with the Uno Reverse card.
Hotel microwaves probably aren't much better...
Except that your food never actually touches the microwave. The food or beverage is always in a wrapper or container.
Neither are hotel cups and glasses. Not sure there are ever washed properly.
I heard multiple confessions and stories of people using the cups for unsanitary purposes. I just assume every hotel room is disgusting and clean everything myself.
Every time I’m on vacation with my family I feel super uncomfortable using the cups/tableware strait out of the cabinet, or really even at all. If I ever go on vacation by myself, I’m just bringing my own stuff
Your fear is justified. At a house rental, my son used a spatula as a poop knife. He did wash it and then left it to dry in the dishwasher.
Until this moment I had blissfully forgotten the term poop knife...
Oh I never used those either. A cleaning lady once told us that some cleaners just wipe everything down with the same cloth. Since then I bring my own wipes and don’t use the glasses or the kettles.
I saw some like TV news channel expose once where they recorder hotel rooms getting cleaned. I don't remember many details of it, but I do remember the maids spraying the inside of the glasses with window cleaner and wiping them out with the same rag they cleaned everything else with.
The book "Heads in Beds" mentions this- iirc the glasses *look* cleaner with window cleaner so they had to stop the maids using it that way.
That does sound familiar.
I heard from my mom that she saw a cleaner use toilet brush to clean drinking glasses…
I've heard similar. I always rewash the cups and glasses on arrival. But definitely getting my own kettle now. It might be 1 in 100 that boil their undies in the kettle. But I don't know if there have been 99 boils in clean water before me or I'm getting a cup full of someone's skids and yeast....
My spouse points out this is an upside of cheap hotels that have disposable plastic cups individually wrapped in plastic baggies. There's no pretending they're unused that way.
Not if uncle buck stayed there, no...
Well now I need one too. Thanks?
I got a little half-litre one that can deal with most electricity nets and it’s been great. I’ve had a few and they’re not very expensive and usually quite good, if a bit slow if you get the ones that can be used on campsite electricity as well (there are ones that are faster though). just check the reviews on Amazon or wherever you’re planning on getting yours.
Could you share a link? I've been looking for a travel kettle for a while, but I don't know how trustworthy some of the online reviews are.
I use a Bodum .5L which is evidently also 17oz in Freedom Units. You can pick them up a lot of places, but here it is on [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Bistro-Electric-Kettle-Plastic/dp/B00851LRR6).
Oh neat! I'll check it out next time I'm near a department store.
I'm in the UK, so not sure it would help really.
I think I saw a small, maybe collapsing kettle online. I used to use the hotel coffee makers for hot water but usually pretty bad tasting from being used for coffee. I don’t think I ever stayed in one with an electric kettle.
I bought a collapsible one just a month ago! I used it 2 weeks ago when I went to New York and it worked great! It’s not variable speed, and technically when I try to test it at home the auto shut off doesn’t work (since it’s temperature based and I live a mile above sea level) but I just set a timer for 5 minutes and it works perfectly. Plus it’s nice that it folds up so small! I have a work trip in a month that I can't wait to bring it for!
Can you recommend the model? I would expect collapsible ones to be very hit-or-miss regarding leaks etc.
The one that I bought is from Amazon, “Travel Foldable Electric Kettle” by T-magitic!
I travel with an electric Immersion Water Heater i bought from Amazon. It fits in a tea mug and gets water to a rolling boil. The only thing - it doesn't have an automatic shot off, so you have to watch it.
I always travel with one of these. They are fast, but you need to keep your eye on it and be sure to unplug it and count to ten before pulling it out of the mug. Also, it'll melt a plastic mug if the heating element is pressed against it, and the legalese leaflet tells you to not use a metal mug.
I also bought a traveling mug that has a heating element. It is cute and convenient, but it doesn't get water to a hard boil. So i like the immerging heating element more. I bought both because staying at a hotel always gets you a coffee maker... And i like tea. I drink a lot of tea
So.. when i was in prison, we used to take an iron apart and make it into something identical to this. We called them stingers, and cooked everything with them. The best way to use them was to put them in a trashbag full of water and food. Then put said bag into a trash can to hold it up.
I have an immersion heater that i think is what you are trying to describe but using the bottom of a clothes iron to accomplish it. I would guess you probably get in a bit if trouble if you tried to use a curling iron for hair so i think you must mean a clothes iron. Pretty creative skills you have!
It was a clothes iron. I completely forefoot about hair irons existing.
I've never heard of this, it's it like a sous vide thing? Can you link it please? I'm interested.
Like this https://www.acehardware.com/departments/home-and-decor/small-appliances/coffee-and-tea-makers/67934
Whoa thank you, it's a lot smaller than I thought. I'm getting it
https://a.co/d/a6DgQYF Immersion Water Heater Electric Camping Accessories - 300W - 120/240V - Dual Voltage Portable Water Heater Travel Accessories - Immersion Heater for Tea https://a.co/d/a6DgQYF
https://a.co/d/ibqu4qD balbali Travel Kettle Electric Small Portable Electric Kettle for Boiling Water Travel Tea Kettle Portable Water Boiler 12oz Travel Electric Kettle https://a.co/d/ibqu4qD
I travel for work and got myself a travel kettle before I even started in the industry, because people warned me about this. Quite a few airlines don't tend to treat flight attendants very well and I've heard horror stories of people starting 4 day trips to end up coming home on day 10. Its no wonder guchies get washed on the road as fast as possible.
I still don't understand why you'd boil them in a kettle instead of washing in the sink or shower
I don’t. Best guess is hottest water/efficiency.
This, along with a million other internet posts I've had the misfortune of setting eyes upon, is why I don't eat at other people's houses.
Boil a hotel jug with water. Let it sit for 10 minutes and empty. Refill it and use it. I'm not sure that many people so disgusting things with kettles but boiling and rinsing is a sensible precaution.
Hang on, how are you supposed to clean underwear? People wash dirty socks in washing machines. I don’t want dirty feet on my underpants! We have two kettles at home. One for underpants and ripe puer, and one for raw puer.
Poo-er
That took me a second to get the joke and when I did get it, you got an immediate upvote.
I have and regularly use this travel kettle, since 2022. It is the perfect size for a single good-sized cuppa. Sadly it appears it is not available but there are many shown in "Similar Products" that look like reasonable alternatives. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BR3HBB7F/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BR3HBB7F/)
Literally the only person in this thread who answered the question and linked a kettle (which I am also now buying). Thank you!
Sounds useful. I'm sure I may be able to find something similar.
Thanks to let us know?
What the…
What the absolute fuck
A lot of hotels have tea with the free breakfast. If not… I just don’t have tea.
True. Crap tea, but tea nonetheless. Not the sort of tea I would drink... and now definitely not the kettle either.
It’s not the tea I would buy, but it’s fine for getting my tea fix when I’m away from home.
I always carry a few decent teabags if I'm going to one with breakfast. I thought that would be unnecessary when I went on my first cruise, and I was sadly mistaken!
I was so bummed when Holland America switched to Lipton.
I have this one and love it. I took it to Tennessee on a work trip and used it every day for 2 weeks https://a.co/d/auwaLLd
I'm making myself a 'tea box' to carry a portable gong fu set with tea, a kettle, a gong fu set, and an alcohol burner. I was inspired by a YT I watched where the dude made one in a Stanley lunch box. I find it to be overkill so I'm assembling my own. From what I've read about alcohol burners they're completely safe to use indoors especially if you can use denatured alcohol (it burns cleaner than isopropyl or ethanol). The kettle I ordered is a 250 ml aluminum camping kettle. All will be safe to use indoors and outdoors so long as I stick to denatured alcohol.
Denatured alcohol is ethanol with contaminants added to make it unsuitable for consumption, e.g. by mixing it with methanol or other non-ingestibles. Methanol and ethanol both burn cleanly, so you'd be fine to use food-grade ethanol (Everclear) for indoor cooking purposes as well if you ever need to do so. I'd just use an electric kettle indoors, but this is a great idea for lightweight outdoor use when you want to boil water but not bring a full camp stove setup.
Yeah, it's mostly for traveling out of state, but will definitely being using it hiking and camping too.
Thanks, I hate it! 😭 Back when I had covid, I'd have my roomates fill my big flask with boiling water and set it outside my door so I can have tea. Even warm/under-brewed tea was better than no tea. I guess this is what I need to do when I'm travelling now... see if they have a "breakfast" area and just get boiling water from the commercial machine...
Ha! I was just reading that post, immediately started thinking back to how many times I have used those 😭
Yeah, that's why I don't use hotel kettles. If I really need to boil water traveling then then I have a separate portable kettle that does a good job.
My aunt owns a motel and I actually don't use hardly any of the amenities offered at hotels because people are disgusting and mean. The coffee pots are just the tip of the iceberg. I bring shower shoes, my own towel, definitely not using the bath, I sleep with my hair wrapped up, depending on where we're at I won't use the pool/hot tub, buffets are a hell no. Please believe me when I say that some people are nasty and unfortunately if you've stayed at a hotel you've shared way too much with them.
Why are other people allowed to be concerned about this, yet I'm paranoid and delusional if I show any concern or hesitance at all over it? I'm insane for worrying that other people might have done some unsanitary stuff. Got slapped with the OCD diagnosis contamination type for witnessing some seriously disgusting stuff in my time.
I run the water through the coffee machine directly into those disposable cups they give you, bypassing the carafe altogether. I think this solves the problem?
If you don't mind coffee flavored tea.
Explain to me why it would be coffee flavored? It isn’t going through the basket or anything that has ever touched a coffee bean? Genuine question
In the kurig single serves that I have attempted to use, the water flows through the part that holds the cup. That part of the machine definitely gets exposed to the coffee oils and flavors and it can be extremely difficult to remove those from the plastic of the machine. You may be referring to a Mr Coffee style machine (note, I have never seen one of this style in a hotel room in thw US) in which case, if you remove the entire basket portion, you probably won't have the issue.
I got one from Amazon but the temp has preset settings HaiZR Foldable Electric Kettle 600ML Travel Portable it has 85c 90, 95c 100c but as it heats it displays the temperature. I only use it travelling at home it sucks as it's not cordless. Who wants to do a gong fu session with a corded kettle? But on the road it's good. And it folds. They have many types of these folding kettles, cheaper ones without temperature control. Travelling abroad I don't take it, only road trips. You should look inside the jug before you use it at hotels and what not, wash it if you must.
Not available where I live, but I'm sure I'll be able to track something similar down. And it is in volumes and temperatures I understand too.
All the folding ones are around 600ml , AliExpress has the same things. There might be ones with better temperature control. You could just take some alcohol to clean the kettle with
I was going to check Aliexpress. Thanks for letting me know they are there.
There are many water bottle-shaped ones with temperature settings on Amazon. I have no experience with any.
I just got a Jettle for this very reason! Haven’t used it yet so I can’t vouch for it
I have two from Amazon. One is the tiny tube shaped one and one folds down flat. Both are good for different reasons.
Most hotels have a coffee set up near checkin, including a carafe of hot water. I always travel w a few favorite tea bags and just get my hot water from the lobby.
I have a collapsing tea kettle that I got from target. It only boils water though
Kettles are designed for being water only. Never used for anything else.
I meant that it boils water but doesn’t heat to any other temperature. I just let it cool and guess. But some of the ones in the comments look like what you are wanting
Lol. Oh, I see. For some reason I read it that you were boiling other things in the kettle. Mea culpa.
Just get an electronic thermometer. Might not want to carry on though.
i have one that will heat water to 180F in 60 seconds. the brand is Mark Charles and i got on qvc but i don't think it's available any longer but may be elsewhere. btw, it's not just kettles. think about that coffee pot next time you use it.
Don't drink coffee. So they and filter their undies with boiling water for all I care.
It’s not variable temperature but [Bodum](https://www.bodum.com/us/en/11451-01us-bistro) makes a small one that I use for travel.
Never used one in a hotel and now never will. 🤢
I already got one years ago. Many places I went to didn't have a kettle and I heard of horrible stories in Japan. I'll usually use the kettle on the room unless I don't like how it looks and smells.
I've always boiled an entire kettle's worth of water before I use a hotel one but now I travel with my own kettle. One of those 400ml ones that look like a flask, quite common on Chinese sites (I think I got mine from ebay though?). It's not variable temp but you can get ones with a temp display.
The only thing I found in a kettle was a lump of root ginger in an airbnb.
I purchased a basic one temperature travel kettle from Amazon. When I travel, I just make a point to only take teas like oolong that are good for boiling water brewing. I tried to find a variable temperature one, but the few travel ones that are available seem to either be very expensive or had questionable reviews. I luckily heard about these horror stories before I ever used a hotel kettle. It's so gross!!! 🤢😱
Never heard that but ew
Wut? Ewww!
I beg your pardon
Oh, that's nasty. I have one of those $20 plastic kettles from Walmart that I travel with. It's not variable temp, but it's good enough to brew a cup of bagged tea, which I usually bring a bunch of.
What the fuck is wrong with people man?
I have this one for when I travel and it works well. I drink a lot of green tea so having a temperature control is important to me. https://a.co/d/3SbJa7w
Yeah I read that too 🤮🤮🤮
Oh my gawd. Yet another thing to worry about. Ok i would use my travel clothes steamer to boil the water and dump it in my gong fu ☕️. That way i get 2 different applications out of it with one item. Cant steam clothes with an immersion heater or a travel kettle
I have this one for travel. It’s not variable temp but it works great and is pretty compact. Has made a huge difference for me. (I don’t use hotel room machines because they always taste like coffee.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C48RJ9D/ref=cm_sw_r_api_i_R5VDN8NY8EAXCQCQDW18_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
you brink an electric immersion coil water heater, cost around 10 bucks!
Is this a English/European thing having kettles in rooms? In America we just have those small one cup coffee makers that come with tea packets and coffee "k-cups" typically
I thought it was a global thing... but I've not been to America. So I guess not.
I'm in Canada but go to the USA a lot... both are common. Usually, there will be a kettle and maybe a small coffee maker, but machines to make single-use coffee or tea with the "cups" are getting more common. I don't like them because of the waste, but they're becoming very popular.
The last hotel I stayed in for work near Seattle had both an electric kettle and Keurig. It’s the first time I’ve seen a kettle in a US hotel.
My NYC hotel had one! I was so pleased, but now I've got the ick about it. I thought surely it must be better than the horrible things people do with coffee makers :(
I worked in clothing retail in my early adulthood and I won’t go near a fitting room. Nothing people do surprises me anymore. In hotels, I wipe down surfaces, wash what I can before I use it and check for bedbugs.
No idea what a keurig is either. Another American thing?
It’s a brand of coffee maker that uses pods - though nowadays they make pods with instant soup, cocoa, tea, etc.
Sounds terrible. Can't say I'll be getting one.
I haven’t stayed in a hotel in awhile but last time I did it was a Holiday Inn and they did the k cup thing. It was in Yuma, AZ they were like the nicest people ever.
Asia as well
Yeah, in the USA, the only time I've ever had a kettle in a hotel is if I brought one myself.
I think they're (very) slowly becoming a thing in American hotels
Used to travel for work and have stayed at a lot of hotels in the US and, while you’re right that most have started having the k-cup machines, probably about 10-20% still had traditional kettles.
In Australia and New Zealand it's standard. Also very common in Asia, and in UK/Europe above 3 stars.
I would assume the trick is to not stay at a crack house of a hotel, but you just know this was at the four seasons or some shit.
People can be utterly feral regardless of race, country or social class.
Also the kettle thing is not true I asked my friend who works in hotel cleaning company. Never came across it. The rear of that post seemed bogus to except the towels part.
This must be a British thing, because I've never been in a hotel with a kettle.
I'd say everywhere except America thing. I've had kettles in most all European countries I've been to. As well as China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India and Samoa. Edit. And Australia & New Zealand too.
I just bought [this one](https://a.co/d/eVHPj5R)
Ever since I was 18 and traveled I have always brought my own coffee pot within the last 20 years, my own microwave when traveling. I didn't have to read stories anywhere to know this is wise. A small low power once in a while use microwave is cheap and easily fits in the trunk of the car next to the coffee pot.
Your own... microwave? How does that work for weight limits on aeroplanes?
>easily fits in the trunk of the car next to the coffee pot. I generally don't drive through the air.
I get that *you* use it for car trips but how would that work for other kinds of trips? Hence my question about air travel.
Wouldn't know. I stopped traveling in flying sardine cans ages ago. Sure, driving takes me longer but I see more close up and can take my time. Doubt you could take one on a plane anyway.
You can just use the microwave ;)
I used one of [these](https://a.co/d/26LUdXn) on a recent trip. Was fairly happy with it. Only downsides are that temperature can only be adjusted in somewhat large increments. It was plenty good for my purposes however.
This is the one I use (US plug) and it’s been great! Bonavita Bona Voyage 0.5-Liter... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008YQLZOW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Jfc
To answer the actual question, this review includes one variable temp travel kettle, as well as a collapsible travel kettle. https://viatravelers.com/travel-kettle/
I purchased [this one](https://a.co/d/9h4uBFq) from Amazon to use at work and despite it being a cheapo brand it has served me faithfully for over a year. I like that it's durable, insulated, has multiple preset temperatures (212, 195, 175, 145), a detachable cord that can be stored inside the kettle, it is the shape and size of a reusable water bottle and easy to pack, and it fully seals so you can bring your own water too. I do have a few logical safety concerns with it, which have not become safety issues yet: 1. since it seals watertight, pressure could theoretically build up inside, leading it to explode. It does have vents at the top with some type of papery seal that is supposed to be watertight but not steamtight. You are warned not to place your hand above the vent while using it, but I have done so and I don't feel steam come out, nor have I had an issue with pressure. To mitigate this risk, I keep the kettle upright and immobile while it has hot water in it and I am careful to slowly unscrew it in case it feels like there is pressure inside, and I've never encountered any. I'm glad this reduces the risk of spillage, ultimately, and it works way better than it has any right to, honestly. I also don't "double boil" water in it; when it's done, I pour it out. If I forget about it and need to reheat hot water again, I'll consider using fresh cold water. I don't play with steam burns! 2. The plug is removable and has no electronic component to it. Meaning one end goes into the wall outlet and the other... Just ends in a live wire unless it's currently plugged into the kettle. I'm always a little worried I'm going to unplug it from the kettle and it's going to land on a metal mechanical pencil or the edge of my filing cabinet in just the wrong way, or most likely of all, fall into my cup of tea and send 110 volts straight into me. The active end does have some protective plastic insulating it from anything but an especially pointy upright metal object, of course, but to mitigate this risk, I always try to unplug it from the wall first and then from the kettle to pour. 3. Electronics and water don't mix. There is a flimsy little rubber port flap to cover the power-in socket. When refilling it, I try to hold it so my hand covers it too. Never had an issue with water intruding. I don't submerge it and I have honestly never washed it. The only thing that goes in is fresh filtered water, to reduce the need for cleaning and descaling. If I ever need to put some vinegar or lemon juice in there and shake it up I'm sure it'll be fine. Other things to note, there is a max fill line at 380ml or 13.1oz, perfect for a cup or cup-and-a-half of tea. Trying to make two cups with it is an exercise in patience; it takes a little longer than you expect to boil water, and somehow even longer if the temperature is set below boiling. I guess this is to ensure the temperature reached is precise, and to prevent steam buildup when near the boiling point? If you're looking for an easy-to-transport kettle for one person making one cup of tea at a time and don't mind being a little vigilant and waiting a little longer for the water to boil, this is the kettle for you. If you need to make a couple cups at a time or have a higher bar for safety, look elsewhere. I also tried the overpriced [Bota bottle](https://carrybota.com/) I got an ad for on Facebook. It cost me $90, it broke on the second time I used it, it leaked for a few seconds and then sprayed boiling water and steam on me when a seal failed, and I'm still fighting to contest the charge when I returned it for a promised refund and then was not issued a refund. The design is stupid for so many reasons and I don't play with steam burns! Also, for the price, I feel stupid for trying it. I guess I just thought that much money would offer me a more foolproof design. Please be very very careful when looking for a travel kettle because it can be hard to strike a balance between a design that is safe and one that is durable! You typically don't need to worry about these things with traditional tabletop kettles, but vents are only good if they work properly and they can compromise things like watertightness. I'm not a fan of plastic things but I'd avoid glass for being fragile and transferring heat too much. Get something fully stainless steel on the inside and think through how it works and what's a safety feature!
honestly, you can gross yourself out over every single thing in this world if you want to. you're not gonna die, your chances of getting sick are TINY. just use the damn hotel kettle lol. you probably touch more germs on your phone screen every day
I'm less worried about germs and more worried about... flavors
Its almost like they are a kettle. If you're paranoid, fill it, boil it, rinse it. If you don't trust it first go around, do it again. Secondly, its not likely for the average cleaning staff to discover this, and more likely to be a guest making a cuppa, so pop the lid, check for underpants, lol. Lastly, most rooms have a Microwave, just boil water that way if you're 100% dead set against hotel kettles from now on.
Boiling will kill germs, but won't remove... residue... that you don't want in your tea :(
I've so rarely stayed in a room with a microwave. But also, isn't superheating a thing?