Avoid These 8 Hotel Room Mistakes for a Perfect Stay

Staying in a beautiful hotel room was one of the most enjoyable parts of my trip. It provided a home away from home with all the comforts and amenities you could request. Yes, it can be pricey sometimes, but I would say that it’s worth it, especially if you are living the entire experience with someone you love. However, no matter the purpose of your travel, knowing how to behave in a hotel room is essential for a smooth and enjoyable stay.

One of my hobbies is traveling with my husband. Over the years, I’ve experienced many hotel stays, and I’ve learned many dos and don’ts that can make a significant difference in anyone’s hotel experience.

The tips you’ll discover in this article are not just about following rules, they are also about being respectful to the hotel staff and other guests, ensuring your safety and comfort, and most importantly, avoiding unnecessary charges or complications. From respecting the property to safeguarding your belongings, here are some essential tips for being the ideal hotel guest.

8 Things You Should Never Do in a Hotel Room

1. Don’t lie about breaking something!

Accidents happen. You might accidentally break a lamp, a piece of furniture, or even a coffee maker. What’s important is how you handle it afterward. Lying about it shouldn’t be an option because hiding the damage can lead to bigger problems, including legal trouble if the hotel decides to press change for property damage.

Make sure that you inform the hotel staff as soon as something breaks. If you apologize and offer to pay for the damage, the hotel will appreciate your honesty and will often handle the situation easily if you’re upfront about it.

2. Don’t cook!

Can you believe that some people illegally cook in their hotel rooms? Cooking in a hotel room using unauthorized appliances like hot plates, coffee makers, or even irons can be a serious fire hazard. It not only puts your safety at risk, but it also endangers other guests and can result in significant damage to the property.

If you need to cook, make sure to request a room with a kitchenette. As you already know, many hotels offer kitchen facilities for this purpose. Alternatively, you can also ask the front desk about local restaurants and food delivery services. Keep in mind that cooking in non-kitchen areas is not a wise option!

3. Don’t leave your cash or jewelry unsecured!

Leaving valuable items like cash, jewelry, or expensive electronics out in the open can make you a target for theft. Even though the most popular hotel chains are usually very safe and professional, accidents can still happen. So, the best way is to prevent any kind of inconvenience. I kindly advise you to secure your belongings and always lock your suitcase when you’re out of your room.

Use the room safe to store your valuables. In case you need extra space, consider asking the front desk if they have a more secure location, such as the hotel’s main safe, for storing larger items.

4. Put a shoe in the room safe!

Have you heard about this method before? Many travelers tend to forget to check their room’s safe before they leave and end up forgetting their valuables. A clever trick to avoid this is to put one of your shoes in the safe along with the other items. This way, you’ll remember to check the safe before you leave because you’ll need your shoes.

Make it a habit! It’s a very simple trick, but a very effective one. The chances for you to leave without one of your shoes are very low. I really hope it will not happen.

Additionally, you can create a checklist of things to do before you check out. I find this very helpful and I do it every time I travel. The method also works great for me while I pack. I like to make sure that I bring all the items I may need and not forget anything at home. Considering how lazy my husband is, I can’t really count on him. So, I always end up packing everything for both of us. Doing it without a list would be really impossible, especially now, as a retiree. It’s hard to admit, but I keep forgetting things, which is extremely annoying!

5. Inspect the bed!

Bedbugs are a nightmare for any traveler. They can easily arrive on your clothes and luggage, making their way into your home and causing infestation. Inspecting the bed for bedbugs as soon as you arrive can save you a lot of trouble later.

Pull back the sheets and mattress covers to check for those small and annoying bugs. Remember that, most of the time, they can be found around the seams and corners. If you find any signs of bedbugs, notify the hotel staff immediately and request a different room far from the infested one.

6. Don’t smoke in the hotel room!

Smoking in a non-smoking room is not only against hotel policy but also inconsiderate to future guests who may have allergies or respiratory issues. As an asthmatic patient, I can honestly say that I hate the people who don’t respect this simple rule and try to do anything to break it. It can also lead to hefty fines as the hotel will have to deep clean the room to remove the smoke odor.

If you are a smoker, make sure to always book a smoking room or use the specially designated smoking areas. If these options aren’t available, consider stepping outside the hotel to smoke, but don’t try to break the rules!

7. Stop using throw pillows!

Throw pillows and decorative bedspreads are often NOT washed as frequently as the sheets and pillowcases. They can harbor dust, germs, and allergens, which could seriously affect your health.

Before using the bed, make sure to remove the throw pillows and decorative bedspreads and place them aside when you arrive. Stick to using the washed sheets and pillowcases provided by the hotel.

8. Never steal from the hotels!

Hotels often provide luxurious towels for your use during your stay, but stealing these items is not normal. Hotels keep inventory of these items and if they go missing, they will charge you for them. Moreover, you’ll be seen as having bad manners.

If you fall in love with the hotel’s bathrobes or towels, remember that many hotels offer them for sale. You can ask the front desk if they sell anything you like. This way, you’ll be able to take home a piece of your stay legally and without any guilt.

Speaking of robes, I recently discovered a great model that can be found on Amazon. It’s very comfortable, lightweight, and can keep you warm during the colder months. I bought it last month and I couldn’t be more satisfied. I like the material, the color, and everything. I sincerely think that it can also be a great Christmas gift for a loved one. I purchased it in pink color, but the robe can be also found in red, black, green, blue, grey, and lilac. Basically, it’s impossible not to find one that suits your style!

Before leaving, write us about your experience as a traveler. Have you ever done anything found on this list?

Also, if you are interested in learning more about traveling, you should also read: 9 Things Flight Attendants NEVER Do as Passengers.