Hotel guests generally have the best intentions, but their ideas of politeness sometimes fall flat or are the exact opposite of helpful. You might think you’re making their lives easier by leaving your room tidy or leaving snacks and drinks, but some of your nicest gestures may be a waste of time, annoying, or even rude. Here are 17 polite habits hotel workers say (in online forums) they secretly wish you’d skip, and what you can do instead to genuinely make their day easier.
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Tidying the bed before housekeeping arrives
It’s natural to think you’re being kind by leaving your room tidy, but what’s actually better for the housekeeper is to leave it as-is. Your nice gesture might actually slow them down. Housekeeping has a specific method, and your half-made bed just adds an extra step.
Stripping the sheets off the bed
Some guests strip the bed thinking it’s helpful, but it can be confusing or unsanitary if linens get mixed up. Just leave the bed untouched. Housekeeping has a system to remove everything hygienically.
Leaving a tip on the last day only
Different people work different shifts, so chances are you won’t see the same person cleaning your room each day. Leave small daily tips with a thank-you note so the person actually doing the work gets it.
Calling the front desk for every little thing
Calling the front desk every time you need to know something simple can frustrate the person on the other end of the line who is trying to juggle your call with others. Use in-room info guides or apps first. If it’s something urgent or unclear, then call.
Standing and chatting with staff while they work
You may be trying to be friendly, but you might make them feel uneasy or distract them. Keep your interaction brief and respectful. Feel free to have a chat, but don’t linger.
Leaving behind opened snacks or drinks as a “gift”
Hotel workers have guidelines that they can’t accept or reuse food or drinks. You’ll just create more garbage or confusion. If you’re feeling generous or appreciative, leave a tip or a kind note instead of leftover food.
Cleaning the bathroom before checking out
Wiping down the bathroom counter or straightening towels before you leave can seem like a polite gesture, but it’s really no help to anyone. In some places, it can actually make it more difficult to tell if the bathroom has been used. Just gather your belongings and leave things as-is.
Holding open the door for staff carrying things
staff members may have already been trained on how to carry items safely while opening doors, and they might even feel embarrassed to have to decline your kind offer. Just a smile or moving out of the way is enough. Let them do their jobs safely and efficiently.
Calling housekeeping directly to ask for extras
This can disrupt their workflow and cause confusion. Most requests are logged in some way via the front desk for a reason. Always go through the front desk and they’ll get your request to housekeeping in the correct way.
Following the cleaning staff into your room
Trying to walk in as soon as they finish, or worse, while they’re still cleaning, can feel intrusive and rushed. Wait until they fully finish and leave the room. Give them space to do their job.
Turning down daily housekeeping “to help”
It sounds nice, but skipping service every day can create more work at checkout. Rooms get extra dirty without daily cleaning. Accept light cleaning every couple of days or request specific services.
Folding dirty towels or putting them back neatly
This can actually lead to a lot of confusion for the housekeeping staff. It can make it nearly impossible to discern which towels have actually been used. Just lay them in the tub or on the floor.
Waiting to report a problem until checkout
Although you may want to avoid creating a fuss during your stay, reporting a broken amenity or other issue at the end of your stay doesn’t benefit the hotel. If you notice a problem or defect during your stay, it’s better to report it early rather than late.
Trying to leave a handwritten review or comment at the hotel
Although a written note or review is always appreciated, they rarely make it to the desk managers or staff at the hotel. If you would like to leave a detailed review for the hotel, you’re better off posting it online, where it can benefit other guests as well as the staff,
Hovering near the front desk to say goodbye
This is such a kind gesture, but in a hotel, it’s especially bad timing. Front desks are usually slammed with people checking out at the same time. If you want to thank the desk staff or the hotel in general, a quick thank you or smile is just as effective.
Asking the staff to “watch” your luggage without checking it
Leaving luggage unclaimed at the front desk without tagging or checking it in creates major liability issues for the hotel. Use the hotel’s luggage storage facilities so they can keep track of it.
Tipping in coins or foreign currency
The gesture is appreciated, but loose change and unfamiliar currency are usually pretty useless to hotel staff. Tip in local paper currency or use an envelope with a short note.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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