10 ways hotels annoy guests

[Quickstatus]

BATHTUB / SHOWER STALL THAT DOES NOT DRAIN PROPERLY

Sheets too tight or shortsheeted

itty pens - I'm not stealing bath items . I want a good pen FFS

Resort fees

The view is always different to advertised. City view always seems to be car park view.

 

[SYD]

BATHTUB / SHOWER STALL THAT DOES NOT DRAIN PROPERLY

There’s an ugly little secret about those (and basins). An accumulation of other peoples fur…

I was in a place in Athens last year (albeit an AirBnB) and the shower stall was filling up. I removed the flat cover to the drain (popular in Europe) and discovered a massive fur ball….

But at least the drain was working again…

 

[Pushka]

They should at least provide a stick of blu tack on the desk for those who forgot to pack their own . Mrs NM will find any and every source of such light and cover it with blu tack as one of the first activities after entering a hotel room.

Blu tac. Of course. Annoying red, green and blue lights.

 

[elanshin]

Random pet peeve (and I understand why), but the main doors are usually quite heavy and want to close in on you making it always an awkward dance to keep the door open and get your suitcase in. Easier if you have a partner with you but awkward on your own especially if you have more than just a roller suitcase.

TVs that either don't like to be easily casted to or makes it a pain for me to plug in a HDMI/chromecast.

Hotels that have bad elevator priority systems. I've been caught up in elevator traffic jam from higher floors in hotels where it's taken over 15mins to get to the lobby.

Questionable benefits for loyalty benefits. I'm not talking about whether a welcome gift is "good" or not, but rather - "you have X voucher to use with no condition" - I expect to be able to use it with no conditions. If there are conditions, it should be clearly stated.

 

[Quickstatus]

There’s an ugly little secret about those (and basins). An accumulation of other peoples fur…

In some places the DIY furball removal does not fix it. Looking at you CP SIN...

 

[PineappleSkip]

Hotel websites which have the same stock pics for every category of room ... or every room in the whole chain

 

[RooFlyer]

Random pet peeve (and I understand why), but the main doors are usually quite heavy and want to close in on you making it always an awkward dance to keep the door open and get your suitcase in. Easier if you have a partner with you but awkward on your own especially if you have more than just a roller suitcase.

TVs that either don't like to be easily casted to or makes it a pain for me to plug in a HDMI/chromecast.

Hotels that have bad elevator priority systems. I've been caught up in elevator traffic jam from higher floors in hotels where it's taken over 15mins to get to the lobby.

Questionable benefits for loyalty benefits. I'm not talking about whether a welcome gift is "good" or not, but rather - "you have X voucher to use with no condition" - I expect to be able to use it with no conditions. If there are conditions, it should be clearly stated.

Tick to all of those; plus no instructions for aircon or TV or phone (in house numbers)

 

[Larko1]

Random pet peeve (and I understand why), but the main doors are usually quite heavy and want to close in on you making it always an awkward dance to keep the door open and get your suitcase in. Easier if you have a partner with you but awkward on your own especially if you have more than just a roller suitcase.

TVs that either don't like to be easily casted to or makes it a pain for me to plug in a HDMI/chromecast.

Hotels that have bad elevator priority systems. I've been caught up in elevator traffic jam from higher floors in hotels where it's taken over 15mins to get to the lobby.

Questionable benefits for loyalty benefits. I'm not talking about whether a welcome gift is "good" or not, but rather - "you have X voucher to use with no condition" - I expect to be able to use it with no conditions. If there are conditions, it should be clearly stated.

Kmart has wooden door stops for $2.50

 

[VPS]

Doonas wedged between two sheets instead of a cover, they always end up a tangled mess.

My pet hate and I think it’s so unhygienic

 

[SydneySwan]

Beds where the lights and controls and electrical outlets are not symmetrical either side of the bed.

This is a particular bugbear of mine.

 

[VPS]

I’ve just stayed in Apartment for a week that the shower didn’t drain properly and I hate that.

I like this thread and I’m sure there’s going to be lots more things that I write in here as I think of them

 

[Himeno]

Finally finding a hotel that mentions that they have a guest laundry, then don't say where it is.

Hotels saying they have (or don't have) x on their site, then finding the opposite when you get there.

Hotels adding random, undisclosed, temporary fees simply because there is an event room block in the hotel.

Saying the room is a "twin" or "double", then only having 1 pillow on the bed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As said above… resort fees!

Other annoyances… in countries where you really need bottled water… tiny bottles of water. Why not provide litre bottles?

No where to hang towels, poor lighting in bathrooms, or tiny counter tops that you can’t put everything out.

And hotels that don’t provide tea or coffee in the bedroom, or alternatively in the lobby, for free.

 

[flyingfan]

Many of mine have already been said:

+1 to checkin that takes ages - even at very expensive places IME.

Being forced to fill in a registration form even though you've already filled in details - must be punishment for using a third-party website. Lengthening checkin even further.

Lifts taking ages, lengthening the wait to reach your room even further. And out of order lifts!

Keycards that don't work when you finally reach the door, forcing a trek back to reception with luggage. And waiting for the lifts yet again.

Aircon or heating panels that need a PhD to figure out how to work. I just want two buttons - hotter or colder! OK make it three, completely off when I want silence and am happy with the ambient temperature.

Inaccessible power outlets behind beds, TVs, the minibar, or those built into the desk at an odd angle such that I can't plug in my Mac's adapter.

Removal or very infrequent housekeeping "because of Covid."

Rubbish loyalty programs.

The stench of lingering cigarette smoke in a non-smoking room. Admittedly this is partly the fault of smokers.

When it's not clear whether that bottle of water (non Evian) is complimentary or will be charged for like a wounded bull.

(In places without kitchenettes) the bathroom basin configured such that it's impossible to get more than a thimble of water into the kettle. (I don't usually want a bath so there's no tap for that either.)

Combo washer/dryers that are hopeless at drying.

Banged-up irons that drip and spill water all over your clothes.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Hotels where the search results for 2 adults and 1 child include rooms with just one bed.

Those same hotels then wanting to charge for a rollaway bed.

If my search is for 2 adults and 1 child, it’s not unreasonable to expect the displayed price to include sufficient bedding for 3 people.

 

[kyle]

Front desk asking if you've stayed with them before...

 

[MARTINE]

Many of mine have already been said:

+1 to checkin that takes ages - even at very expensive places IME.

Being forced to fill in a registration form even though you've already filled in details - must be punishment for using a third-party website. Lengthening checkin even further.

Lifts taking ages, lengthening the wait to reach your room even further. And out of order lifts!

Keycards that don't work when you finally reach the door, forcing a trek back to reception with luggage. And waiting for the lifts yet again.

Aircon or heating panels that need a PhD to figure out how to work. I just want two buttons - hotter or colder! OK make it three, completely off when I want silence and am happy with the ambient temperature.

Inaccessible power outlets behind beds, TVs, the minibar, or those built into the desk at an odd angle such that I can't plug in my Mac's adapter.

Removal or very infrequent housekeeping "because of Covid."

Rubbish loyalty programs.

The stench of lingering cigarette smoke in a non-smoking room. Admittedly this is partly the fault of smokers.

When it's not clear whether that bottle of water (non Evian) is complimentary or will be charged for like a wounded bull.

(In places without kitchenettes) the bathroom basin configured such that it's impossible to get more than a thimble of water into the kettle. (I don't usually want a bath so there's no tap for that either.)

Combo washer/dryers that are hopeless at drying.

Banged-up irons that drip and spill water all over your clothes.

Yes yes yes to everything everyone has said

A real peeve of mine is all those numbers on the bedside phone (which all end up with reception - if they bother to answer). Often not marked what they are or you cycle through housekeeping, room service and end up back at reception in any case. How about one button only.

cough unimaginative room service offerings - if you can find the room service menu first and they pick up the phone. FFS a burger and Caesar Salad is not something I crave as a luxury treat. How about some healthier options?

Dirty trays of finished room service in the corridor all night and next morning.

Grubby looking remotes which I usually wrap in plastic rather than touch.

Scratchy blankets decoratively draped over the end of the bed… just because.

Items such as water and nibblies not clearly identified as gratis.

Water bottles sitting out at room temperature (that is gratis).

Room cleaning after lunch.

(I have just read this back. I sound like such a Karen! With apologies to any Karens out there)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Reminds me of the time my mother went to the reception to ask for a pen and envelope.

‘Are you a guest of the hotel madam?’

‘Certainly not, I’m paying!’