Sometimes I find it entertaining to discuss and contrast our different travel routines and annoyances. I recently penned a piece about some of my hotel practices, and in this entry, I thought it would be enjoyable to present a few of my hotel irritations. This actually serves as an update to a list I shared last year, as I’ve got some fresh additions. 😉
Some of these are significant, some are trivial, and this list is certainly not exhaustive, but it captures many of the issues that come to mind. I’ll list mine below (in no particular order), and then I’d love to know how they stack up against those of OMAAT readers.
In this post:
Bathrooms lacking privacy
I realize some hotels aim to be “trendy,” but I just don’t understand how that sometimes impacts bathroom design. Far too frequently, we encounter bathrooms that seem to be set up for voyeurism. Occasionally, there’s a glass partition between the bedroom and bathroom with no chance for complete privacy, and at other times, the toilet is shielded from the rest of the bathroom by a non-frosted glass barrier.
Is a bit of privacy in the bathroom too much to request? And don’t even get me started on bathtubs in bedrooms…
Is bathroom privacy too much to request?
Decorative pillows & other bedding
I’m a bit of a germaphobe, although I manage to be selective about it; otherwise, I’d probably never enjoy staying in hotels again. While I can overlook most things in hotel rooms, decorative pillows and throws are something I find challenging.
They’re clearly not sanitized between each guest, and I feel like most visitors either utilize them or toss them onto the floor. I find that rather off-putting and wish I could simply ask for them to be removed from the rooms.
I’m not fond of decorative bedding
Showers with insufficient water pressure
I can see that many hotels are striving to be more eco-friendly (or reduce costs, or both). However, I wish water pressure wasn’t one of the areas where they’re trying to economize. It ends up taking me much longer to shower, and I can’t see how that benefits anyone.
I value showers with strong water pressure
Showers that are complex and poorly designed
Aside from inadequate water pressure, there are a few other aspects of hotel showers that frustrate me.
For one, it seems that hotel showers have grown more complicated to operate over the years, which baffles me. It should be straightforward to turn on the shower and adjust the temperature without getting wet first. Additionally, it should be clear which handles and buttons control the water flow and temperature.
Along similar lines, I dislike showers that aren’t completely enclosed, and/or where water easily spills into the rest of the bathroom. You shouldn’t have to create a puddle in the whole bathroom just to take a shower. Like, I’m aiming to get clean, not recreate Noah’s Ark.
Some showers lead to bathroom flooding
Gyms that aren’t open 24/7
I enjoy going to the gym, and I also maintain a rather unconventional schedule, especially when I’m traveling. On that note, I get quite frustrated when hotels have gyms that are not accessible 24/7. Sure, I understand that some hotels utilize a third-party fitness center for their guests.
But I’m also surprised by how certain hotels with conventional gyms still limit their hours. If you’re not going to provide a gym open 24/7, at least have it operate at reasonable times. For instance, I recently stayed at a hotel where the gym only opened at 8AM, which I found to be exceedingly late. Unsurprisingly, there was then a rush to use the gym at that time.
I appreciate hotels with 24/7 gyms
An inadequate coffee setup
I probably value coffee more than the average person. Naturally, I absolutely adore when a hotel offers a coffee shop and/or barista-made coffee. However, that’s not something I expect from most budget hotels. I’ll settle for a decent in-room coffee machine, or coffee in the lobby during the early morning hours.
It annoys me when a hotel lacks a respectable in-room coffee setup and also doesn’t provide a good chance to get coffee in the lobby in the early morning.
Some hotels have a poor in-room coffee setup
Destination, resort, and urban fees
I think this frustrates just about everyone, but destination and resort fees are undeniably infuriating. Hotels have traditionally had these to practice drip pricing and to limit the commission they owe on room rates to online travel agencies. But it’s also incredibly vexing to be charged $10-100 per day for what ultimately equates to very little.
Scripted, artificial customer service
There’s professional service, and then there’s cookie-cutter,