Let’s be real, hotel workers have a tough, and often disgusting, job to do. When it comes to guests and their annoying habits, hotel staff have more than a few pet peeves. One Reddit user invited them to tell-all, and that’s exactly what they did. From horror stories to very awkward situations, we’ve compiled 15 hotel worker pet peeves that may shock you.
1. Public Shaming
This one is especially terrible, but actually happens all the time. A Reddit user shared how they were used as an “example” of what children should never want to grow up to be based on their role as a hotel worker.
RELATED STORIES
“What got to me most was the number of times I was used as an example by parents when their kids were misbehaving. For example, if I was cleaning the windows and a child was being noisy nearby a parent might say ‘if you aren’t good and don’t listen you’ll end up cleaning windows for your whole life like this man’. Completely dehumanizing, demoralizing, and just a bit of a [expletive] thing to do anyway. Happened so many times I lost count.”
2. Nasty Guests
Some people get a hotel to have a nice getaway, others go for work, and then there are those that come for “other reasons.” We don’t know why people do certain disgusting things and we don’t want to know.
One Reddit user wrote, “We had guests open the mini-bar fridge, drink the beer, piss in the empty bottle, screwed/put the cap back on and went on their merry ways. Next client (old gentleman with his daughter) took a swill of piss that day. Thing is, we had no idea which previous clients did this, which sucked).”
We think that old gentlemen should have gotten a trauma kit.
3. Condoms Everywhere
Too often, when people go to hotels, they show very little regard for the actual human beings that have to clean up their “sticky” messes. One Reddit user explained, “Was a hotel room cleaner: when guests put used untied condoms in the toilet, under pillows, under the bed, on the tea and coffee tray… basically anywhere.”
It sounds like that person is overdue for a raise and maybe some therapy.
4. Picky Guests
While it’s perfectly reasonable for people to have standards when they book a hotel, there’s definitely such thing as going overboard with demands. Some people just can’t be pleased.
This Reddit user spoke their truth, saying, “I hate when guests treat every minor inconvenience like it’s the ONE thing that ruined their vacation. I read the feedback we get every single day and people give us horrible reviews because of things like ‘I had to wait a few minutes for the elevator’ and ‘the noise level in the lobby was a bit high’. I don’t get how people are so sensitive to the tiniest things! Like if you are that way at home, I feel bad for your spouse or whoever you live with because it’s horrible to be around such unnecessary negativity.”
5. Rude Talkative Guests
It’s truly a shame that people treat hotel workers like they’re not worthy of respect. This not only makes the job harder, but also makes other guests suffer. A Reddit user explained, “Regular guests that would interrupt you when dealing with other customers like they are more important.” No one wants a hotel diva.
6. Nude Guests
People do like to get comfy at hotels, as they’re supposed to be places to unwind — but they aren’t supposed to get too comfortable . Hotel workers are tired of seeing parts of people they never asked to see. A Reddit user wrote, “I worked in hotels years ago and the amount of people who order room service and answer the door scantily clad is astonishing. It’s your room guy, if you want to lie around with your balls out that’s totally fine, just please, we give you a robe, throw it on before opening the door.”
7. People Parking at Hotels
Parking, in general, can be stressful and hotel parking can be pure chaos — but it’s not the hotel staff’s fault. One Reddit user explained, “Valet here. When guest flat out EXPLODE on me at the front drive when I politely tell them they have to go one level down to get their vehicle as oppose to picking up out front. They are told this when they arrive. I didn’t build the hotel, I didn’t place the office down stairs, I didn’t place the key safe there, you know this!”
8. Guests Complaining About Size
People book cheap rooms, know what they paid for, and then complain about the room being too small. This, of course, isn’t cool. For one Reddit user, it was a nightmare. They explained, “Guests complaining about the size of the rooms and how everything is so basic.You literally booked the cheapest hotel room in the whole city. That’s what you get.”
9. No Parental Supervision
We don’t know how many times this must be reiterated, but people need to watch their kids. Especially, in places like hotels, where children can easily be endangered by strangers, parents and themselves. A Reddit user said, “The [expletive] I saw was unbelievable, from parents dropping their kids off at 9 a.m. and forgetting them to pick up at 6 p.m. (or showing up drunk; which kind of forced me to ask the kid if he/she wanted to play some more until their parents were sober). To kids just throwing stuff and hitting other kids because they lost a game.”
10. Brown-nosing guests
Some people are obsessed with name dropping and then getting everything they want based on who they know, and hotel workers are sick of it. This Reddit user is one person sick of hearing the same tune, writing, “Honestly it’s when the locals boast about knowing the owner. You already got a big discount. Stop asking for everything free you think you deserve.”
11. No-Show Guests
Then, there are people that just don’t bother to call and say they’re no longer in need of a hotel room. One Reddit user explained, “Not showing up for your reservation on a busy, sold out night and not letting us know you’re not making it. I get a lot of walk-ins and phone calls asking if a room is available but normally can’t sell them a room that’s already booked/reserved. Some people are just looking for a place to sleep for the night.”
12. Rebellious Guests
Maybe people think hotels are magical realms in which the normal rules of society no longer apply. News flash, they aren’t. People don’t know how to stop pushing boundaries and driving hotel staff crazy.
A Reddit user wrote, “Reception worker for an international chain of hotels here.
Breaking an obvious rule they have been informed about 10 times and then come to the reception to scream at my face. ‘I will talk to your general manager in the headquarters (another country)!’. Sure! Fill in the complaint form, make that long and expensive call and let me know when they confirm what I have just said.”
13. Guests That Take Pics
Hotels aren’t zoos and hotel workers aren’t circus acts. This sort of thing should go without being said, and yet, some people still treat both of them like their free entertainment. One Reddit user expressed feeling very uncomfortable when working his hotel job.
“Hotel pianist here, I hate being photographed or filmed but I keep a cool head by telling my self that at least I know they like my playing. Some Japanese tourists however… The whole group came to my piano mid-performance and positioned themselves one by one behind me while a designated photographer took pictures of them. I mean come on, at least ask if it’s ok, give a tip. I’m not a rare attraction that need be documented, that [expletive] is distracting.”
14. Guests That Never Tip
It’s understandable not to give a tip when service is poor, but some people just never tip. The hotel workers can, and often do, everything they can to help but get no thanks (or money).
A Reddit user reiterated this, saying, “People who don’t tip when you go out of your way for them doing things you don’t have to do are animals.”
15. Uninvited Guests
People actually have the nerve to wander into a hotel and use the facilities when they’re not staying there. They’re seriously so desperate for perks that they’d try to sneakin or finagle their way in. Sorry, ninja stealth mode won’t work this time.
One Reddit user was so annoyed that they brought out all caps to make a point, “IF YOU’RE NOT STAYING AT THE DAMN HOTEL THEN NO YOU CAN’T JUST DROP IN TO USE OUR POOL/CONCIERGE/WEIGHT ROOM/MASSAGE SERVICE. THIS IS COMMON SENSE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WRITE THIS IN ALL CAPS.”
Let us know what you think of these hotel worker pet peeves in the comments and if any or all of them resonate with your own hotel experiences.
We want to hear from YOU so we can serve you better. Complete this quick survey and you will be entered to win a grand prize of $2,000, or a chance to win one of 10 Diply prize-packs!
