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Original poster

People looking round our hotel room?

361 replies

Randomchat · 15/07/2026 09:05

Staying in a lovely 5* hotel for 2 nights. Total treat, it's lovely.

Yesterday we went out for the day. Came back around 3pm and there were hotel staff in our room showing people around. They wanted to book the place for a wedding. They were right in the room, the woman was in the bathroom looking around. The man had opened the wardrobe.

I asked them immediately to leave and they did but they took their time about it, actually standing by the door commenting on how the room was a bit small. I nearly had to push them out and close the door.

We spoke to the reception staff later and they said it's common to let people look around occupied hotel rooms.

Really? Is this common? Right in the room opening wardrobes, not just putting their heads round the door for a quick look?

We got offered a free drink to compensate.

It's still bugging me this morning. I want to go to reception and make clear to them that no-one is to go in our room. Dh says I'm making a fuss. Cleaners go in there every day so this is no different.

I'm interested to hear if this is indeed normal and I'm over-reacting by being bothered by it?

I'll be wondering all day if someone is looking round our bedroom.

OP posts:
OneFunBrickNewt · 16/07/2026 18:20

Note to self- always read updates.
Sounds like the hotel did the right. I'd be inclined to believe them, enjoy the freebies and the rest of the stay. The staff won't be sacked.

OneFunBrickNewt · 16/07/2026 18:17

I'd do a Section 75 credit card refund. You paid for private use of a hotel room. You didn't get this.

WhitePudding · 16/07/2026 18:02

Nope. I remember once asking to see a house boat as part of a holiday complex we were staying at (we were in a lodge) and we couldn’t as they were all occupied. It’s not on.

BoredZelda · 16/07/2026 17:54

MajorProcrastination · 15/07/2026 10:00

This is gross, it's an invasion of privacy and a huge security no no.

For a 5* that's outrageous too. Not normal.

Does it matter what * the hotel is. Do people in budget hotels have less of a right to privacy?

Donsyb · 16/07/2026 17:54

Just read all your updates. It’s not unusual
to have very young staff, even in posh hotels. It’s hard to get people to do minimum wage jobs and you take what you can get! We had some very inexperienced and young people where I worked - some were great, some not so much.

Glad the manager seems to be taking it seriously though.

Donsyb · 16/07/2026 17:50

I worked in a hotel and we would never do this. We would only ever show people rooms that were unoccupied.

i would be asking to speak to the manager and put in a formal
complaint .

Tuesdayschild50 · 16/07/2026 17:48

I'd be angry.

KookyPeachScroller · 16/07/2026 17:01

Nope nope nope, I wouldn’t be going to reception now either, go straight for management and if it is part of a hotel chain I’d send my complaint there.
Your husband sounds like he avoids conflict even when necessary - he needs to get on board with this too. Yea the cleaners come in as standard, not some randomers when the room is occupied. 🤯

Gwenhwyfar · 16/07/2026 16:38

KeepPumping · 15/07/2026 22:13

Yes, but they are supposed to access your room if the fire alarm goes off, or if you have not checked out on day of departure etc. and even in a Travelodge they come to the door with two staff and knock, they don"t roam through your room with random twats who are thinking about having a wedding there.

Show quote history

Well, yes, I've argued that I'd be very annoyed at the random visitors, but someone was saying the staff could be stealing.

Northernlassie123 · 16/07/2026 13:51

Randomchat · 15/07/2026 16:03

I'm back. A senior manager was there to speak to us, someone above this morning's guy. Very apologetic.

Their story is that a couple came in without an appointment to see about a wedding. One of the reception staff agreed to show them round the public areas. As they were walking along our corridor the cleaner was just finishing up in our room and they asked if they could have a quick look. They then walked right past the staff member showing them around and walked right into the room. She was shocked and wasn't very forceful in asking them to leave. Then just at that minute we came back.

All of that makes sense to us. The cleaner was indeed in the corridor. Our corridor was on the way to the wedding function space. The girl did look very young and totally our of her depth, the couple were entitled knobs.

The manager wasn't able to explain why we were told it was standard. He said it's absolutely not standard.

He said he has spoken to all the staff involved.

He has offered us one free night and no charge for breakfasts and has left a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates in our room.

All of the staff here seem very young. We actually commented on it when we checked in that the reception staff looked like they should still be in school and we must be getting old. This morning's manager looked about 25. This afternoon's one looked like a proper grown up.

Anyway, we're happy enough I guess. I don't think they're a crime syndicate or anything, just surprisingly young and inexperienced staff for such a nice hotel.

We're going to drink our champagne now. We've got an early dinner booked then a table in a pub to watch the football. Free breakfast in the morning then heading home.

Dh is now worried that the staff will all be sacked. But I'm not going to worry about that. I'm just going to enjoy my champagne.

We'll chew over what kind of public review we might leave. We'll certainly put something in writing to the hotel I think.

The thing that upset me the most actually was that we thought our room was great. Nicer than anything we've ever stayed in before. And that horrible man strolled out of it saying it felt a bit small and were all the rooms that size?

Hey ho. He might be rich but he's also horrible.

All’s well that ends well. I doubt they’ll be sacked just lessons will be learned as they say. It’s a bit hard to stop a rude person that barges past tbf

KeepPumping · 16/07/2026 12:46

outerspacepotato · 16/07/2026 02:10

It was 2 opportunists. There's no guarantee they were checking for a wedding, they gave a flimsy excuse to a young employee to push into an occupied room and look around where people might leave valuables.

You trust, I'll verify.

Show quote history

Yep, sounds plausible, so all the more reason to contact head office and make sure that staff are trained properly for the future, you could be saving them a bigger incident.

BMW58 · 16/07/2026 11:00

Frumpitydoo · 16/07/2026 06:44

It's such a pity your £600 gold necklace went missing from the room and that the hotel will have to replace it.

You are advocating Fraud???

Have you committed many crimes? Done any jail time?

Satisfactory explanation and compensation OP, I doubt there will be a reoccurrence.

JustJugglingCats · 16/07/2026 08:30

Frumpitydoo · 16/07/2026 06:44

It's such a pity your £600 gold necklace went missing from the room and that the hotel will have to replace it.

Please tell me this is some sort of joke?!

Frumpitydoo · 16/07/2026 06:44

It's such a pity your £600 gold necklace went missing from the room and that the hotel will have to replace it.

outerspacepotato · 16/07/2026 02:10

Gwenhwyfar · 15/07/2026 20:20

There's no point worrying about staff stealing from you because many staff members will be able to access your room anyway. You have to have a certain amount of trust just to function in life.

Show quote history

It was 2 opportunists. There's no guarantee they were checking for a wedding, they gave a flimsy excuse to a young employee to push into an occupied room and look around where people might leave valuables.

You trust, I'll verify.

ValcoServesYOuRight · 15/07/2026 23:28

Absolutely not and I was SLT at a hotel and ran weddings too! Stick that on linkedin and tag the hotel group and everyone you can find - Directors, GM, Marketing, Wedding Manager and ask for their policy on this and your privacy as a hotel guest who has paid for the sole use of the bedroom for 2 nights, then get your popcorn out…

MrsBrett20 · 15/07/2026 22:47

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 15/07/2026 09:16

Seems reasonable enough to me. No way I'd get married somewhere without checking what's in the wardrobe. What if it leads to Narnia and half your guests disappear?

I’ve had a really rubbish couple of days, thank you for making me laugh 🤣🤣🤣

KeepPumping · 15/07/2026 22:25

grumpygrape · 15/07/2026 22:24

Gawd, I hope you aren't a Police Officer.

Show quote history

No, I"m a hotel cleaner.

grumpygrape · 15/07/2026 22:24

KeepPumping · 15/07/2026 22:10

Cleaner, working for an agency, and with loads of other cleaners on the floor is my top suspect for a quick lift, other than that another guest, or at a top level hotel a criminal specifically booked in to nick jewelry etc. the last two are pretty improbable because the opportunity is low and the chance of getting caught high, if your job is roaming through rooms all day it is a no brainer that if someone was of a mind to nick things this is the best opportunity.

Show quote history

Gawd, I hope you aren't a Police Officer.

ThatLemonBee · 15/07/2026 22:23

1 star review! That’s shocking

KeepPumping · 15/07/2026 22:13

Gwenhwyfar · 15/07/2026 20:20

There's no point worrying about staff stealing from you because many staff members will be able to access your room anyway. You have to have a certain amount of trust just to function in life.

Show quote history

Yes, but they are supposed to access your room if the fire alarm goes off, or if you have not checked out on day of departure etc. and even in a Travelodge they come to the door with two staff and knock, they don"t roam through your room with random twats who are thinking about having a wedding there.

KeepPumping · 15/07/2026 22:10

grumpygrape · 15/07/2026 17:37

I don't think honest people like it being assumed they are more likely to be dishonest just because they aren't well paid.

Show quote history

Cleaner, working for an agency, and with loads of other cleaners on the floor is my top suspect for a quick lift, other than that another guest, or at a top level hotel a criminal specifically booked in to nick jewelry etc. the last two are pretty improbable because the opportunity is low and the chance of getting caught high, if your job is roaming through rooms all day it is a no brainer that if someone was of a mind to nick things this is the best opportunity.

Hiyaeveryone · 15/07/2026 20:46

I've never ever known this. It isn't common.

extrasushiplease · 15/07/2026 20:26

Raise hell and get a refund for what they're charging you! Outrageous.

Calmdownfolks · 15/07/2026 20:24

Unbelievable. Actually in these times, you don't know if someone has popped in a bit of surveillance too, let alone stolen something. Staff are vetted and usually very considerate of guests' privacy so this is just strange. You wouldn't even expect this in a 2 star establishment, let alone a five star hotel.

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