Is hotel housekeeping a lost art?

[drron]

Housekeeping back to "normal"in the last 3 5 star places we have stayed at in Spain including nightly turn downs.

 

[Berlin]

US has been the worst with this. I even hate the “No new bed linens” nonsense and ALWAYS place a note on the bed asking for it.

Yea, I know the polar bears (i.e. money) but if I want the same sweaty sheets night after night, I can stay at an AirBnb or hostel. All that hotels are doing, is forgoing the few little benefits they had over those which is just plain silly and sure fire way to get themselves out of business longer term.

Saying all this- as a high tier member I’ve managed to “fight it out” even in the US, albeit having a very sour taste in my mouth because I shouldn’t have to. Luckily, in Australia or Asia it hasn’t happened since then but I’m always staying where I’m highest membership tier. We’ll see about Europe next month- expect a Germalian fury leashing out at any hotel that dares to use some lame Covid excuse to not do my room!

 

[OZDUCK]

Haha, we have probably seen you there. We have been regular stayers since it was a rat infested dump in the 1980’s, “gentile decline” was kind. You can see a video we took of it then on YouTube. We go nearly every year,sometimes twice. We adore the place. It was renewed in the late 90’s and the old wing was done up again about four years ago. As you are probably aware, it was founded by the Sarkies brothers who also set up Raffles and the Strand in Rangoon. So the latest ‘reno’ has been tasteful and age appropriate. As very long term long staying customers (six weeks this trip) they give us a really good price. Customer satisfaction here! You should come back, I recommend it.

Nice to hear that the refurbishment has been done sympathetically. We have only been there once when we went with my Father - In law who was born there and lived in Butterworth, or more properly the Sungei Nyok shipyard, for the first 18 years of his life. We definitely want to return - especially for the food.

 

[Anna]

In late July at Moana Surfrider Waikiki, I had an experience with housekeeping I hadn't had before.

I came back to my room in the middle of the day, to find that the door was propped open and that the housekeeping cart was right in front of the door, blocking my way into the room. So I moved it slightly out of the way and went in and greeted the attendant, who was very polite, but firmly requested to not only see my room card but also that I had to prove to her that it worked for my room!

A good security measure, and interesting that she was prepared to be so assertive when face to face with a guest.

 

[MARTINE]

I hate house keep coming into my room. I don't want them to

• touch my pyjamas after toucing about a million things from a million people;
• touch and move my things around so they could wipe the surface;
• Replace a glass / cup I have washed rinsed and disinfected with boiling water, just so I would need to disinfect another one (more work for me)

I actually like and feel more comfortable without housekeeping during the duration of my stay.

It's my room. I know my hygiene standard, I can clean it myself the way I want it. I don't want strangers touching my belongings. If I want people to touch my stuffs, they would need to pay me because they would be my flatmate / invading my personal space.

If I need something, I just call reception or housekeep myself.

I am a clean freak so get where you are coming from. I always wipe down all surfaces when I arrive and never use their glasses etc unless boiled or my own water bottle.
I want clean towels every day / and not the miserly one towel per pax (wash hair anyone?). On my prearrival info - I always ask for extra towels. I do like change of sheets every 3-4 days. I stay 5 star so when the really good toiletries are available - I find ringing up at various times of day when I spot the trolley on my floor results in greater quantities delivered than waiting for housekeeping to replenish.
I also take that awful bed runner off as I hate them and question their cleanliness. I never leave bags open to avoid ‘interest’.
That said - and I acknowledge its a whiny privileged rant - I truly appreciate the hard work that housekeeping do and they must breathe a sigh of relief when they come to my room which looks spotless. I always stop, say good morning and thank them for their work. Its a thankless low paid job.


I dont want turn down service and put DND on as soon as back in room. Although in Russia they come bye regularly and check .
I awoke one morning to the card under door with hourly visits documented and a that if no response after a certain time they may come in for welfare check..!! 4 Seasons on Red Square Moscow three years ago. I cant imagine what things may have occured in that hotel…

 

[Chicken]

I awoke one morning to the card under door with hourly visits documented and a that if no response after a certain time they may come in for welfare check..!! 4 Seasons on Red Square Moscow three years ago. I cant imagine what things may have occured in that hotel…

Four Seasons, too high class, attracts too many media and politicians and powerful people, and life expectancy of this demographic is probably the lowest in Russia when Putin is in charge ......

 

[lahlee]

Haha, we have probably seen you there. We have been regular stayers since it was a rat infested dump in the 1980’s, “gentile decline” was kind. You can see a video we took of it then on YouTube. We go nearly every year,sometimes twice. We adore the place. It was renewed in the late 90’s and the old wing was done up again about four years ago. As you are probably aware, it was founded by the Sarkies brothers who also set up Raffles and the Strand in Rangoon. So the latest ‘reno’ has been tasteful and age appropriate. As very long term long staying customers (six weeks this trip) they give us a really good price. Customer satisfaction here! You should come back, I recommend it.

I must have passed you at the breakfast! We arrived on 8th August, and just arrived in Singapore last night after a stay of ten days at the E&O. It was my third visit, I also love the hotel. I've stayed in the Victory Annexe all 3 times. I was surprised to see online that the annexe building (as it stands) was done in 2018, so my first visit was when it was very new. I can see it is getting slightly tired in places, but the charm of the more original parts of the hotel will carry it well into the future. I think a bit of wear is such a big part of Penang's charm. I found it a bit disappointing that Victory Annexe customers cannot use the ground floor, older pool (it's fenced off now with plants), and they have discontinued the happy hour food and drink at the lounge, it's now only for Heritage Wing Guests. I still love the E&O vibe though.

Back on topic, the service at the E&O is wonderful, smiling staff, especially at breakfast and the pool! And I'm happy to NOT have the sheets changed everyday, but having a bed made nicely is a treat, and the daily delivery of a few pieces of fruit is a lovely gesture. Now in Singapore I'm reminded how many hotels don't provide a face washer. Now that is a pet peeve of mine...

 

[Lynnelanne]

Hi @lahlee. We possibly did pass by each other. We are actually still here, in the heritage wing but leave on Monday after six weeks away from Melbourne’s winter. It is a fabulous hotel. We never cared whether it was a bit ragged around the edges, even when it was definitely ragged in the 90’s. It’s one of the few hotels in the world that really has ‘fans’, people like us who regularly spend weeks at a time and know the staff well. The staff are what makes the place, aren’t they?

 

[Yearlylonghaul]

What gives me the coughs is checking into a room and only getting a 1/4 roll of toilet paper, and no spare rolls

 

[MARTINE]

What gives me the coughs is checking into a room and only getting a 1/4 roll of toilet paper, and no spare rolls

Eeewh! All I can think of are the pooey fingers that handled the 3/4 of the roll

 

[kyle]

Eeewh! All I can think of are the pooey fingers that handled the 3/4 of the roll

I always wonder what housekeeping does with the half used rolls

 

[Port Power]

I always wonder what housekeeping does with the half used rolls

Haven’t you seen the waste of paper in the rubbish bags? Less than half rolls are just tossed!

 

[MARTINE]

Haven’t you seen the waste of paper in the rubbish bags? Less than half rolls are just tossed!

Or saved for @Yearlylonghaul

 

[blackcat20]

Haven’t you seen the waste of paper in the rubbish bags? Less than half rolls are just tossed!

At my work they definitely get tossed in the bin which I find very wasteful

 

[FishFood]

Eeewh! All I can think of are the pooey fingers that handled the 3/4 of the roll

I don't expect a new roll when I use public toilets, so it doesn't bother me in a hotel

 

[RooFlyer]

A related article: The Sad State Of “Daily Housekeeping” At Hotels That Pretend To Still Offer It

 

[MARTINE]

A related article: The Sad State Of “Daily Housekeeping” At Hotels That Pretend To Still Offer It

Yes
This reinforces what we already know
I always carried sanitiser wipes even preCovid and assume the same gloves and rag cleaned the toilet and cups
I dont use the latter accordingly

 

[UP4014]

I will have to remember to ask when booking next time what the multi day policy is and what is the appropriate nightly reduction in charge to the accommodated the reduction in room servicing is.

 

[jastel]

A mate was manager of a decent hotel once...going to his personal house there was a big basket of less than half full toilet rolls from "work"...staff were allowed to take them home as customers "expected" a full roll.

 

[gaz0303]

Crikey! I feel guilty leaving my towel on the floor and not hanging it to reuse.