CPAP and Hotels

[pippincat]

All,

I know there have been lots of posts on CPAP and traveling. I will be traveling and I am concerned about leaving the CPAP out on the night stand in the hotel while I am gone. Do all of you disconnect it and put it up each morning before you leave for the day? Is it OK to leave it out? Have any of you had experiences when the cleaning people have damaged it.

Thanks
pippincat

[papdaddy]

When ever I go to a hotel I allways put my cpap machine back in its storage bag, empty the humidifier chamber, and leave it on the side table. You never know when a cleaning person could accidently knock it over or spill something. At least if it is in the padded case it should not get disturbed. Also keeps prying eyes away too.

Rich

[RAINSUX]

If I'm staying more than one night I just leave it out. Nobody has ever touched it.

Sam

[stevoreno]

I would disconnect my CPAP machine; pack it up and take it with me. I know that's a lot of trouble but I look at it this way; if you had an expensive digital camera with you; would you leave it sitting on the nightstand in your hotel room while you were gone?

The only time I actually left my CPAP machine connected up while I stayed at a hotel was back in September 2005 when I stayed 29 days at a nice Marriott hotel near Houston, Texas right after Hurricane Katrina.

The hotel's manager made it a point to assign a specific member of the housekeeping staff to my room during my 29 day stay; a very nice lady who I wasn't concerned about walking off with my CPAP machine. Now about that expensive digital camera of mine; I always took it with me everytime I left the room.




Stevoreno
Biloxi, Mississippi
09/29/07

[Bearded_One]

I put the hose and mask in the nightstand drawer and leave the CPAP on the nightstand.

[Roadie]

I travel full time, and spend about 325 nights a year on average in hotels. Usually they are mid line to higher end chains like Hyatt, Hilton, Doubletree, and other hotels that compete directly in this segment of the market.

I usually tell houskeeping and put a Do Not Disturb sign on the door since I only want housekeeping once a week. The way I look at it, at home I only replace the sheets once a week, and there are usually plenty of towels to get me through a full week.

I have been traveling with CPAP for better than 5 years now. I have NEVER had a problem with housekeeping doing anthing more than moving the hose. I always leave the entire thing assembled. A CPAP machine is of almost no value to a typical thief, it is more likely that it would be damaged by a clumsy maid, but that has simply not been my experience.

I do carry a locking bank bag for small itmes like my passoport, checkbook, etc... things I have with me but do not need to carry on my person, my digital camera fits in this bag quite nicely.

If you are concerned about the mask and hose, secure them, but only to keep them from getting stepped on, not theft. Don't forget to tip the maid, I usually go for $5 for my once a week cleaning, more if the room is particularly large or dirty.

Roadie

[Slinky]

Except in the south I generally use Red Roofs or Motel 6s. I do carry a surge bar w/me and small extension cord simply because some of the cheaper, older motels don't always have adequate electrical outlets. I just leave my CPAP sitting out, my humidifier tank and distilled water on the bathroom cupboard and my mask and hose back in the carrying case. I've never had a problem. Like Roadie I don't have housekeeping in every day except for towels & washcloths and I generally just pick those up on my way back to my room each evening. I do leave a $5 tip when I leave.

Generally, I'm not using my motel room for much more than a flop house: to shower and sleep in, the rest of the day and evening I am usually OUT and about, doing things.

[DannyB]

I travel more than I care to and don't usually get to stay in high end places. Pur-sleep has really made traveling with my cpap much more pleasant than before--it used to take three days to get some of those smells out of my machine after I got home. It's so much easier to get to sleep on the road. I also agree wtih others that I haven't had any problems with housekeeping issues and my equipment.

Here's a thread with more on pur-sleep and traveling:

viewtopic.php?t=24022

[onecoknower]

I usually store my cpap in a drawer, just to get it out of the way. I also take an extension cord with me, and a scrunchy and safety pin to secure the hose where I want it for the night.
Oneco

[KAZ]

I just leave mine out on the night stand (water out), never a problem. I do carry a surge protector with a 6' cord, and have needed it many times when the close outlet is behind the bed in the center. Regards

[SleepGuy]

Both times I've been to Cancun with my CPAP, the maids would tuck the mask into the nightstand drawer. She must have wondered what on earth that thing was! I don't travel a lot but haven't had any issues on the road. Packing an extension cord or at least a 3 plug prong is a very good idea for travel.

[pippincat]

Thanks all for the advice. I have bought my extension cord and have a surge protection power cord. I think for my peace of mind, I will put it back in the bag and put the hose away.

pippincat

[Lepeu63]

I travel more then a bit for work - usually Marriotts or Hiltons. I leave my machine out but I empty the humidifier tank (I do that anyway every mornining). I've never had a problem. Bring th power strip like someone above mentioned - most rooms have too few plugs and what they do have are usually full.

[Slinky]

Pepe!! LePeu!! I haven't seen you post in AGES! Good to see you posting again!

By the way, I have this cute little white Medicine Hat kitten that just might be your cuppa tea!!! She's a real flirt too. Well, I said kitten but she's not "jail bait" anymore if you're interested.

[Slinky]

Gads!! You don't suppose the CyberCops are gonna be all over me for facilitating, do you? Or soliciting?