Should you throw away yellowed underwear? The "8 most annoying traveler behaviors" in the minds of hotel staff

Reported by You t
ru / Taipei

Various situations that can occur when staying at hotels abroad are something everyone is likely to encounter at some point. But how do you ask hotel staff for help without being seen as a "difficult guest"? ETtoday Dongsen News Cloud interviewed Aman, who works at a well-known five-star hotel in Taipei and has experience at hotels of all star ratings, and compiled a list of 8 "most annoying traveler behaviors," including those who love to haggle at the front desk, constantly change rooms, and misunderstand their bookings—all of which can be quite a headache.

% Squeezed groove arrow design image. (Photo credit: You t
ru)


1. Guests who complain nonstop despite not understanding their booking details
In Asia, one of the most frustrating things for hotel staff is when guests don’t know the difference between a “double” and a “twin” bed, leading many to protest that they’ve been given the wrong room type even though they booked a double. If there’s availability, hotels can usually help with a room change, but if not, it gets awkward. Here’s a reminder: a double generally refers to a room with one large bed, while a twin has two smaller beds. No matter what adjectives describe the bed size, knowing the difference between these two is key.

2. Guests who try to haggle prices after booking online
This happens frequently at five-star hotels—many guests try to negotiate a lower price upon check-in. But please note, front desk staff are bound to charge according to the online booking details, which generally cannot be altered. If guests really want a cheaper room, they might want to look into discount seasons or promotional offers on booking websites.

3. Guests who claim every visit is for a birthday or anniversary
Five-star hotels often provide celebratory items like wine or cake for guests’ birthdays or anniversaries, which tempts many to try and score freebies upon check-in—even though their ID doesn’t list their special dates. But beware: hotel front desk staff have good memories. Celebrating an anniversary every three months is fine, but showing up at the same hotel each time and asking for the same bottle of wine? That’s a bit much.

4. Guests who request extremely late check-outs, confusing AM for PM
Most hotels have a standard check-out time between 10 AM and 12 PM, and many offer the courtesy of a late check-out. However, whether a late check-out is possible largely depends on the hotel’s occupancy for the next day. If you want to stay longer, it’s best to call the front desk first. Making up excuses or overstaying without permission could result in extra charges as stated in most hotel policies.

5. Guests who keep changing rooms, then say the original one was better
Many guests seem to enjoy exploring the hotel. According to Aman, some even drag their luggage, switch two or three rooms, and then ask to go back to their original one. Just a heads-up: if you want to see different rooms, you can always ask the hotel if any are available for you to choose from on the spot.

6. Guests who make unbelievably unusual requests
Some guests seem to think luxury hotels should be able to do anything. Aman recently mentioned being asked to queue up to buy Apple products for a guest—something he really didn’t know how to respond to.

7. Guests who rearrange the room dramatically
Everyone has their own idea of comfort, but if you move items around in the room, it’s best to put them back before checking out to avoid troubling the housekeeping staff. Also, all furnishings in the room are generally not meant to be taken away.

8. Guests who leave worn personal items in the room
This is an awkward situation many hotel employees have faced: a pair of worn, yellowed underwear hanging in the bathroom—do you throw it away or give it back to the guest? To avoid troubling hotel staff, if you want to discard such an item, just put it in the trash bin or nearby, clearly signaling to the staff that you don’t want it anymore. Otherwise, you might come home to find a package containing the very old underwear you left behind...