Hotels mean so much more than places to sleep while traveling. They can be one of the most interesting and memorable aspects of a trip.
Just like in your own home, there is a list of acceptable and unacceptable things you can do while staying in a hotel. Understanding and following these general etiquette tips will make you have a pleasant and untroubled break from your home environment.
■Housekeeping Habits
Bed linen, bath towels and any other kind of frequently used item will quite likely be replaced everyday. Staff will be present and available to clean up after you. However, do not always make use of this. Place all rubbish in the bin and try to treat your hotel room like it is your own home. This contains keeping your own dirty clothes isolated from the hotel’s linen. Some hotels provide a laundering service and will list the adequate action to take, in the guest handbook, if you wish to use this facility.
Whilst it is not your obligation to give tips to the person who changes your towels and makes your bed, it is always welcome. However, do not wait to give a tip on the last day of your stay, as you may well end up tipping a waiter who hasn’t actually been in your room before—as staff will probably work on a shift pattern basis. It is therefore best to give a small tip each day.
■Be a Gracious Guest
Just because you are paying to stay at the hotel it does not mean you have to make requests. Unless your room is unclean, untidy or unsuitable for your needs, being a gracious guest means you can enjoy your break without getting distressed. If you ask for room service or additional pillows etc, do permit staff sufficient time to satisfy your request before making further requests.
■The Company of Strangers
Many business travelers spend a large amount of their time traveling from one hotel to another. Many businesses will frequently choose one hotel to cater for all the company’s accommodation booking requirements. If staying in a hotel for business purposes it is not recommended that you have business meetings in your own room—many hotels will have conference or business facilities that provide a far more suitable alternative.
Sharing your room with a member of the opposite sex—regardless of whether this person is a colleague or not—will ruin your business credibility, so you should try to avoid it.
■Room Service
If you want to enjoy having breakfast in bed ensure you make your request the evening before. Most hotels will supply you with a breakfast order card. You can fill in and hang it on the outside of your hotel room door. When your breakfast does arrive it can be accepted to greet the waiter in your robe, and to allow him to serve the meal for you.
■Tips for Tips
It is conventional to tip the porter who takes your luggage to your hotel room. It is also polite to tip other members of staff who satisfy your requests. A tip shows appreciation for the service you have received so it is suggested that you show gratitude. However, as a verbal thank-you can also sometimes be adequate, it is important to make sure you give a tip to a staff member who has run more than one errand for you, or who has been especially helpful.
◇Housekeeping changes everyday so tip on a daily basis. If you wait until the last day, you might be giving a week’s worth of tips to a person who only worked in your room one day.
◇Service-employees at hotels regard tips as part of their salary, so be polite and courteous when requesting their services. If you have only one bag to take, ask the bellman for help.
◇Don’t use up cash. It’s likely that once you leave the hotel for ever, you won’t go back to tip your servicers. Most hotels provide a check cashing service, and if you need change, ask for it from the front desk. Ask the concierge for envelopes so you can distribute tips to the appropriate people, or ask your concierge to hand out the tips.
◇If you’re traveling to a foreign country, remember that different cultures and customs constitute part of the traveling process. What may appear discourteous might be merely a simple language barrier. Don’t refuse to leave a tip, but do pay attention to the level of service you receive during your stay. If you’re truly disappointed at the end of your stay, speak to the hotel manager.
Your hotel stay has been a large part of your travel. A dirty room or a rude staff member can certainly damage your travel-vibe, but don’t be frustrated. Talk to the hotel manager and find a solution to the problem—then don’t forget to offer tips and say “thank you” to those hotel workers who helped make your stay a enjoyable one.