From The BBC


Having spent a decade running a hotel, I can very much see some of what he gets at.   But yet we seem to have had a charmed time for the most part.  People and guests are typically lovely - especially people who visited us on business, be that as delegate for our own business or people working elsewhere it town.

I have (!!) some experience at staying in hotels too - respect the place, treat the team running the place (and other guests) humanely / as people, and if there are significant issues perhaps point them out gently.  The article refers to a Faulty Towers sketch where everything goes wrong with a meal, but when Basil asks them they give a "very good, thank you" British answer.

 
Stayed in many Travelodge hotels over the years,so these are my comments.

I think televisions MIGHT be on a timer(not sure if they are and how long it is)so the telly switches its self off after a certain time that it has been on.

Plastic water cups,glad they don't have these any more or even glass tumblers,we can use the china cups to have a drink.

Always put the kettle on the floor to have a hot drink which reduces the noise  level during the early hours of the morning.
Always take our own coffee,and what benefit do guests  get from taking the milk tumblers and also the sleeves of coffee and tea?

When hotels are being built and fitted out,13 amp plug sockets should be fitted to an outside wall,which reduces the "smack" from those 13 amp plugs next door.
Don't like carpets in the rooms,it can stink of literally any thing

If you are staying for a long time,how often should you have the sheets changed? how often do you change your sheets at home.

Do you change your towels at home every day

Rubbish bins,always take our rubbish into the reception area for disposal.

What I don't like is they allows dogs in any of their hotels.

Smoking can be an issue

Finally, toothpaste we always remember to take our tooth brush but forget the paste.,
just wish they would supply those small toothpaste tubes,but without those small temporary tooth brushes 

 
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13 amp sockets are often installed on the party wall separating rooms because it is cheaper, the same cable can serve outlets on both sides of the wall.
I change sheets once a week at home, and would expect the same in an hotel. In all but the very cheapest hotels sheets should be white, 100% cotton, and generously sized. NOT containing ANY poly-anything.
No i do not change towels every day at home.

 
Don't get me going (today - I've not got time!) on hotel design. Interesting topic having done it, and learned from the experience.   

The article was more about guest behaviour.   Should you scoop up the freebies?  Should you take the towels home with you?  Should you notify the hotel of your expected arrival time?  What should you do with your rubbish?  Should you ignore staff, chat with them, ignore them?   Should you walk around in the public areas with bare feet?  In your jammies? In your Birthday suite?  If something's wrong, what should you do?

 

I was recently staying in an upmarket hotel by the Thames on the outskirts of London for a conference.   Apparently during the night someone got up for the loo and took a wrong turn and ended up locking themselves out of their room while naked.

He then had to make his way down two floors to reception to get assistance.

The bit I didn't understand was - he told everyone the next morning!

 

This reminded me of an experience that my late brother recalled to us on his return from a short driving tour in Spain when he stopped at a small roadside hotel for the night some years back.  After an evening meal and (he assured us) just a small beer, he felt quite weary and had himself an early night.
The next thing he knew, he found himself waking up having sleep walked, stark naked, two floors down in the laundry room of the hotel at silly o'clock in the morning with a rather unamused night porter glowering and him.
He checked out quite early that morning.

 
Is it only men who do this?   Asking for a friend. 

 
Calling hotel staff by name?  Positively creepy, and puts me in mind of TV/radio news where presenter and reporter feel the need to repeat each others' names, or an overenthusiastic estate agent or car sales person. I wouldn't do it in any other conversation.

Don't think I'd be comfortable staying at a hotel so posh that phoning reception to get my luggage carried when leaving is normal, unless I actually couldn't manage it myself for some reason.

I have a lifetime's supply (at least!) of free mini-toiletries thanks to my parents who always took them on principle even if they didn't need them. Unless I'm travelling very light I therefore tend to take some with me so I can leave unopened any small complimentary stuff supplied by the hotel to be used for the next guest.

 

..................and politicians !

 

You'll also find that people call each other by name at the start of films / new TV shows too.

As (former) hotel staff, it can be welcome to be acknowledged by name from time to time / as a person and to help you do so was suggested as a reason for name badges.  We typically had only one or two people on duty, and tended to introduce ourselves by name when we checked people in to help us be more approachable, and we used names in continuity - "I'm around until 9 O'clock this evening and [name] will be in tomorrow morning at breakfast".

I am staying tonight at the Giardino Del Geco in Brindisi. When I checked in Alessio and Cristina introduced themselves by name, and the information folder has a "meet you hosts" page with their names and picture too.  In talking with them, I would / do feel comfortable using their names in natural conversation.