Consumer Diaries

Last week,in the first part of this article,Hotel Etiquette – Part One, we talked about etiquette at specific establishments,I must admit that the information though helpful, was a little bit too much and I know some people didnt manage to read it till the end 🙂  So in this article I have just compiled the a list of  themes/points that came out in the first article .

We may consider these  themes/points  as  general guidelines that will help you feel better about your stay at any establishment. To help us remember them better, I have put them into two categories; The To Do’s and The Do Not’s!

NOTE: These guideline are applicable at all types of hospitality establishments,i.e. Hotels,Motels,Guest Houses,Lodges,B&Bs,etc. In this article we use the word ‘establishment’ to as an umbrella term which includes all the places mentioned above.

1. When checking in, be patient with the staff. They are doing their best to help you. No matter how late your arrival time, be pleasant and it can bring great returns if you need anything during your stay.
2. Tip your doorman/porter . Good tip etiquette states that you should tip them per bag. Be polite and use your Thank You’s.
3. If there is something wrong with your room, inform the front desk immediately. Be polite about it, they had no idea what was waiting for your there.
4. Keep the noise to a minimum. When you are going to and from your room, remember that there are other people staying in the establishment. During the day it is okay to laugh and have a good time. At night, keep your voice down and your feet quiet. Your television, conversation and play time in your room should be a normal level. The other guests,your ‘neighbors’, do not want to hear what you are watching, talking about or doing.
5. Try to open and close your door quietly. Doors are famous for their loud slams. Everyone can hear when you come and go. Take a few extra seconds to close it softly.
6. Use your ‘do not disturb’ card when you do not want to be disturbed. Housekeeping and other guests will respect this and leave you alone (normally).
7. Keep your room clean. Good room etiquette is shown when you throw away your trash, pick up your clothes, and take care of the bathroom. Show your respect for the room and the housekeeping services by taking care of things as if they were your own.
8. It is okay to reuse your towels and sleep in the same sheets for a few nights. It is quite easy to hang up your towel after you have finished with it. It is just as easy to put the do not change the sheets card on the bed.
9. If there is a pool , use the towels that are designated for the pool . Be mindful of other people using the pool as well.
10. If you order room service, be sure to tip them as well. Take care of the dishes as well.
11. It is okay to inform the front desk if there are guests that are acting inappropriately. Again, be polite about it. Using politeness will get the situation taken care of quicker and more effectively than yelling.

1. Do not be rude to the hotel staff. Good hotel etiquette shows that you recognize that they are there to provide you with a service.
2. You should not help yourself to the towels, robes, pillows as souvenirs. They are not there for you to take home.
3. Calling for every little thing that is wrong with the room is not good hotel etiquette. If there are things that can be dealt with, do that. If they have taken care of issues then work with what they have done.
4. Don’t allow your children to run crazy through the premises. They should be supervised at all times by their parents.
5. Do not use the pool after hours. There is a good reason (people sleeping) that there are designated pool hours.

Hotels, Motels, lodges, Guesthouses and B&Bs can be a fun and magical place for those who are traveling or out on holiday. They can also be a great place to conduct business. Good etiquette is a wonderful way to enhance your stay!!!!