20 Hotel Room Don'ts: What to Avoid During Your Stay

Making a mess in a hotel room during your stay not only affects the space's comfort and cleanliness but also reflects negatively on your consideration of hotel workers and other visitors. Leaving dispersed belongings and spilling food and beverages without cleaning up can result in extra work for hotel staff.

If you've ordered room service or partied in your room, at the very least, arrange your dinnerware and empties in order. It not only contributes to a more pleasant experience for yourself but also upholds the standards of hospitality of any accommodations.

Breaking hotel amenities during a mishap and not telling staff about it can be an unfair burden on hotel staff and future guests. Such actions also tarnish the reputation of guests, as hotels keep records of incidents and may take disciplinary measures against repeat offenders.

Guests must accept responsibility for their activities and be truthful about any accidental damages that occur during their stay. By admitting faults and working with hotel staff to resolve the situation, guests follow the ideals of integrity and accountability.

Before you settle into your hotel room, you should do a proper inspection to ensure that everything is in order and matches your standards. Neglecting this step may result in unpleasant surprises or discomfort throughout your stay.

Start by inspecting the cleanliness of the room, and taking note of the common areas, bathroom, and bedding. Look for any indications of mold, vermin, or strange smells that can point to hygienic problems, this will guarantee a relaxing and trouble-free stay while traveling.

Stealing bathrobes from hotels is not only unethical but also illegal. When guests take bathrobes without permission, they are essentially stealing property belonging to the hotel.

The same goes for towels, artwork, electronics, and other items. If you are unsure whether you are permitted to take a specific item, leave it at the hotel. They may file legal action against guests who are detected stealing, ruining their reputation and potentially resulting in legal consequences.

Ignoring hotel policies during your stay can lead to a range of consequences that not only affect your experience but also impact the hotel's operations and other guests.  These policies are in place to provide safety and comfort.

Respecting these rules helps guests create a harmonious and pleasurable atmosphere for themselves and others. It will prompt a culture of mutual respect between you and the hotel staff.

Smoking in a nonsmoking room poses major safety risks. Cigarettes, when improperly disposed of, can create fires, endanger lives, and cause extensive property damage.

If you are unable to book a room where smoking is permitted, please follow the hotel's policies and smoke outside in designated areas. If found doing such activities, it can result in fines or penalties imposed by the hotel.

The do-not-disturb sign is an excellent technique to keep hotel staff from disturbing you. However, it is not just for privacy, it also lowers unneeded housekeeping services, promoting sustainability. Tossing aside or ignoring these signs not only disregards the guest's wishes but also inconveniences hotel staff who rely on them to plan their work schedules efficiently.

You'd also be reducing the housekeepers' burden, which is something you can be proud of. So the next time you are staying in a hotel try using the do not disturb sign properly as per your needs.

Dyeing your hair in a hotel room is a formula for disaster because the chemicals in hair dye can stain and damage surfaces including carpets, mattresses, and furniture.

Furthermore, hotel rooms lack sufficient ventilation and hair-dying equipment, which increases the danger of accidents or damage. The best option to retouch your hair is to schedule an appointment at a local salon and bring your own towel to wrap around it till it dries.

Stomping around in a hotel room during your stay can disrupt the neighbors all around you as the walls and floors may be thin. This lack of consideration for others can lead to complaints from other guests about the hotel's reputation for providing a peaceful environment.

If the hotel has uncarpeted floors, remove your high-heeled shoes or heavy boots before strolling to and from. Furthermore, excessive stomping can cause damage to the hotel's infrastructure. Floors and ceilings may suffer structural wear and tear, resulting in costly repairs and maintenance for the establishment.

Sneaking pets into a hotel room violates the establishment's pet policy and can cause a variety of problems for both visitors and the hotel. Pets can harm hotel property by clawing furniture and soiling carpets which can result in costly repairs.

Moreover, sneaking in pets endangers the animals themselves. Hotel rooms are often not designed to safeguard the safety and comfort of pets, potentially exposing them to hazards or stress during their visit.

Leaving the bathroom door open allows extra moisture to spread throughout the room. Also, the steam from your shower could be dense enough to set off the room's fire alarm.

Keeping the door open also compromises the guest's privacy because housekeeping may knock while you're showering and presume the room is empty if you don't answer. A locked restroom door prevents uncomfortable encounters with anyone.

If you want to save money and cook on your own in your hotel room, think twice.  It’s better to make it a cold sandwich or grab some takeout ramen that is already cooked because hotel rooms are not equipped with the necessary appliances, ventilation, or safety measures required for cooking.

Also, forget about bringing your cooking equipment as hot pots and other cooking devices do not contribute to a safe and enjoyable hotel stay for you or the other guests. It can cause unpleasant aromas and lingering smells to penetrate furnishings and materials, reducing the room's comfort and cleanliness.

These pillows are difficult to clean as frequently as other bedding items, raising the risk of exposure to allergies, germs, and other contaminants. When someone drools or smears makeup on these pillows, they must be thoroughly cleaned or, in the worst-case scenario, discarded.

Furthermore, throw pillows are rarely designed for comfort or support, and lack enough cushioning or ergonomic design. They are decorative and are not designed for everyday use, and excessive handling or sitting on them can cause wear and tear.

Most hotels are safe, and you won't have to worry about someone stealing your items. It is unusual for someone to enter another person's hotel room unobserved, and even more unusual for hotel workers to steal from a guest's room.

However, if your belongings are stolen or misplaced, it can destroy your holiday. If you can't leave expensive jewelry at home or need to travel with a big sum of money, keep it in your hotel safe.

Even the most proficient housecleaning crew cannot transform a room from filthy to clean in an instant. A decent rule of thumb is to give cleaning professionals at least three to four hours to clean your space.

This could include lingering for lunch or calling the hotel to inquire about the status of your reservation before returning. If you'd like to be allowed to walk in and out of your room without having to deal with housekeeping, hang the do not disturb sign on the door.

Using hotel WiFi to send sensitive information poses significant security risks due to the potential for interception and unauthorized access. Hotel networks are often less secure than business or home networks, making them vulnerable to hacking and data leaks.

When used by hundreds of hotel guests at the same time, the WiFi signal grants a higher success rate for hackers who wish to break into the network and steal important information. Even if the hotel network is password-protected, it may still be vulnerable to attacks such as man-in-the-middle attacks.

Fire sprinklers and the hotel's fire suppression system are life-saving technology that is designed to automatically activate in the event of a fire. If you hang clothing, a bag, or any item from a fire sprinkler you could obstruct the flow of water to a sprinkler head. This could prevent it from working properly in an emergency.

Moreover, tampering with fire sprinklers is not only a violation of hotel policies but also illegal in many jurisdictions. Intentionally damaging or blocking any safety equipment will result in fines, evacuation, and possibly being escorted out of the hotel by the police. 

Leaving tips for housekeeping workers in a hotel room expresses gratitude for their hard work and attention to ensuring customers' comfort and pleasure. Housekeepers frequently labor long hours executing physically difficult activities to keep hotel rooms clean and organized.

It promotes service excellence and encourages employees to go above and beyond to meet visitors' demands. It fosters an appreciation and recognition culture within the hotel, which boosts employee morale and job satisfaction.

Loud noises can take many forms, including loud conversations, music, television volume, and slamming doors which can disturb other guests in the hotel.

Excessive noise disrupts tranquility and impacts others' ability to rest or sleep. Just like you shouldn’t stomp on the floor, you shouldn’t do other things loudly in your hotel room either. Why risk the embarrassing side-eye at the breakfast buffet.

Checking out late can disrupt a hotel crew's entire schedule, and you may be charged extra for your room. During busy periods, housekeeping staff are under increased pressure to turn guest rooms around before new check-ins. Guests who leave their rooms even 10 minutes later than scheduled can cause incoming guests to be delayed during check-in.

This may lead hotels to rearrange their cleaning schedules or make last-minute adjustments to accommodate late departures, potentially affecting the quality of service provided to other guests.