Most people check into a hotel thinking they are being perfectly reasonable. They reuse towels. They leave trash “neatly” stacked. They assume policies are flexible because they paid for the room.
From the other side of the front desk and housekeeping cart, those small choices pile up fast. These are the things hotel staff say guests do all the time that seem harmless but quietly make their jobs much harder.
“From my experience, bad guest behavior has been more common recently because people are arriving at hotels already tired or irritated,” said Leslie K. Harris, the marketing director and purchasing agent at Double Eagle Hotel & Casino, a gaming and hospitality destination in Cripple Creek, Colorado.
“Travel, lines, waiting around, unexpected itinerary changes, long flights, flight delays and cancellations, the stress of travel planning, and an unfamiliar environment all contribute to increased tension. In this situation, even a small delay at the reception or a misunderstanding can trigger an outburst of rudeness.”
While some of these behaviors may not seem super inconsiderate in the moment, they can cause issues or disruptions ― and hotel staff say they see them play out in rooms and lobbies every single day. Here are some of the most common ones, according to hotel staffers. (Full names have been excluded to maintain privacy.)
Automatically assuming your partner or friend can check in for you.
“We hear this every single shift,” said Maria K., a front desk supervisor at a large downtown hotel in Chicago. “Someone walks up to the front desk and says, ‘My husband is parking the car’ or ‘She’s on the way,’ and expects us to hand over the keys.”
Hotels require ID and a credit card that match the reservation for security reasons. Same last names, texts or promises do not count.
“We are not being difficult,” Maria said. “We are following a rule that exists to protect you. If your name is on the reservation, you have to be the one standing in front of me.”
Bringing emotional support animals without checking the hotel’s pet policy.
Emotional support animals are not legally the same as service animals, and hotels are allowed to charge pet fees for ESAs.
“When guests try to argue that their ESA is a service animal, it puts us in a really uncomfortable position,” said Darren L., a front office manager at a resort property in Puerto Rico. “It also makes things harder for guests who actually rely on trained service animals.”
Loitering in the lobby with your phone on speaker.
“You would not believe how many full conversations we hear every day,” said Aisha P., a front desk agent at a boutique hotel in New York. “We know about breakups, job interviews, family drama, all of it.”
Hotel lobbies are shared spaces, and loud speakerphone calls disrupt other guests and staff. “We are trying to help people check in while listening to someone argue about dinner plans on speaker,” Aisha said. “Headphones exist. So does stepping outside.”
Destroying towels.
“Soaked towels are the bane of my existence,” said Luis M., a housekeeping supervisor at a business hotel in Nashville. “They are heavy, they drip everywhere, and half the time they are ruined.”
Towels saturated with makeup, hair dye, or cleaning products often require extra wash cycles or have to be thrown out. “People think they are just leaving a wet towel,” Luis said. “What they are really leaving is extra work and sometimes a towel we cannot save.”
Leaving trash around the room.
“If it is not in the bin, we cannot assume it is trash,” said Jenna R., a housekeeper with eight years of experience. “We are trained not to throw away guests’ belongings.”
Neatly stacked wrappers, bottles, or food containers often get left behind because staff cannot risk tossing something important. “Guests then complain the room was not cleaned,” Jenna said. “But if it looks intentional, we leave it.”
Putting a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door but still expecting service.
“A Do Not Disturb sign is not a suggestion,” said Paul T., an operations manager. “It means we legally cannot enter that room.”
Guests sometimes call down asking for fresh towels or trash pickup while the sign is still on the door. “We cannot do both,” Paul said. “If you want service, the sign has to come off.”
Asking housekeeping staff to let you into your room.
“This puts housekeepers in a terrible position,” said Nina G., a housekeeping manager. “They are not allowed to let anyone into a room, ever.”
This rule exists for security reasons, but guests frequently ask anyway. “People say, ‘I left my key inside’ or ‘I am in a hurry,’” Nina said. “But if my staff break that rule, they could lose their jobs. The front desk is the only option.”
Leaving half-full coffee cups on every surface.
“We find coffee cups everywhere,” said Julie S., a housekeeper at a large convention hotel. “Nightstands, desks, bathroom counters, windowsills.”
Spilled coffee can stain furniture and linens, and dairy or sugar adds sanitation concerns.
Stripping the beds before you leave.
“Guests think they are being helpful, and we appreciate the thought,” said Carlos V., a housekeeping trainer. “But it actually slows us down.”
Stripping beds tangles pillow protectors and duvet covers and makes it harder to inspect for stains. “We have a system for this,” Carlos said. “It works best if the bed is left as is.”
Arguing that you technically still have seconds left before checkout.
“This happens more than you would think,” said Megan D., a front desk manager at a high-volume hotel in San Francisco. “People will literally argue over seconds.”
Housekeeping schedules are built around blocks of time, not stopwatches. “If you are clearly not packed, the clock does not change that,” Megan said. “We are trying to get rooms ready for the next guests, not rush you for fun.”
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