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Original poster

Hotel room won’t be serviced…

219 replies

ShamedBySiri · 05/05/2025 20:14

I’ve booked a short stay away next week for DH’s birthday. Beautiful country area that we have visited many times before and we have stayed at this hotel before but it changed hands a little while ago.
I’ve just received a confirmation of booking email:

ROOM KEYS and SERVICING

A member of staff will be here to check you in from 3.30pm to 11pm. Your key will be placed in your room on arrival and you should keep it with you until your departure, the key will get you through the front door and into your room whilst the hotel is closed.
*please note the hotel will be closed during the day after breakfast and re-open at 3.30pm. We close at 11pm each night. Take your key with you during your stay as it will give you access to the front door and your room.

The rooms will NOT be serviced during your stay unless you are staying for 5 nights or more, in which case we will offer to service the room halfway through your stay. If you require a top up or replacement of any items, ie towels, tea, coffee, etc inform a member of staff at breakfast and they will be left outside your room.

It sounds like they are on the bones of economising on staff costs. The room won’t be serviced - so not even making the bed and tidying the bathroom then. And no one around all day - it’s reminiscent of those old fashioned B&Bs where you were kicked out after breakfast and not allowed back until the evening.

It’s not that we leave things in a terrible mess but one of the joys of a hotel stay is coming back to a nice tidy room and bathroom.

I’m not sharing the email with DH - he’ll go off the idea of staying there and be on the look out for things to moan about from the minute we arrive and I don’t want to cancel and try to find something else. It’s a lovely location and we have plans for the walks we will be doing each day.

Is this the way the hospitality industry is going now?

OP posts:
DisplayPurposesOnly · 05/05/2025 20:26

Why does your bathroom need tidying? Surely you can hang your own towels up after use? I can see that having the bed made is a treat but I'm not sure what else there is.

I'd be fine with that. I tidy as I go and make the bed as a reflex anyway. I wouldn't need any cleaning done in five days.

Maverickess · 05/05/2025 20:29

Unfortunately I think the cost rises in just about everything that is used in hospitality to provide the service over the past couple of years, and the recent min wage and employers nic rises, are really testing hospitality because there's only so much people can or will pay, so putting up prices has to be limited, the only other option, apart from shutting the doors is to downscale what is offered.
Housekeeping is an obvious one, along with closing for periods of the day or for days that are quiet all together, to keep staff costs as low as possible.

Honestly if people want hospitality at all, they're going to need to realise that it costs and either be willing to pay more, or be willing to accept a lower offering, because the next stage is much less choice as places have to close because they run at a loss.

GreatJehosephat · 05/05/2025 20:29

I’d be fine with that personally. I know plenty who would cancel their stay for that.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
BassesAreBest · 05/05/2025 20:30

I actively prefer rooms not being serviced for a short stay - feels much more private.

Iloveeverycat · 05/05/2025 20:31

I don't want my room serviced when I go away. If you need anything it says just to ask.

Ponderingwindow · 05/05/2025 20:33

It wouldn’t really bother me. I prefer not to have my room serviced and to just ask the front desk for refreshed supplies.

I always keep my key with me. doesn’t everyone? I’m not clear why they felt the need to even mention that part.

JustFeedMeCake · 05/05/2025 20:34

Is this the way the hospitality industry is going now?

No, definitely not from my experience. I wouldn’t stay there.

GreenShadow · 05/05/2025 20:34

Agree with the last two posters - hate having to tidy my room / put stuff away before going out so the cleaner can come in. I'd much rather we had the room to ourselves for a few days with no threat of someone lese coming in.

Blackcountrychik83 · 05/05/2025 20:35

I do hate how late some of these hotels let you check in . 3.30pm would be a bit of a pisstake really if you’ve got suitcases etc most of your day is spent waiting about to check in especially if you’ve gone on public transport .

ChompandaGrazia · 05/05/2025 20:35

I’d say this sounds more B&B than hotel. I’d be happy with housekeeping every other day.

Icebreakhell · 05/05/2025 20:37

It would bother me.

I bet they charge the same nightly rate for 1day and 4 days. But if you stay for just 1 you’d get a room clean, bedding and towel change.

The luxury of staying in a hotel vs home is clean towels, your bed made and new sheets every couple of days.

LlynTegid · 05/05/2025 20:38

You should have been told before booking. And now, having only just been told, be able to cancel free of charge if you wish.

If something is not offered and it is made clear, that is reasonable, otherwise not.

I wonder if getting staff is the issue.

parietal · 05/05/2025 20:41

I’ve seen this more often recently, sometimes billed as an eco friendly thing. They should tell you at booking and give you the option to ask for the room made up.

MustDust · 05/05/2025 20:42

That sounds heavenly! All I really want is someone to top up the loo roll and brew stuff and swap my towels if need be, not have to worry about someone coming in, I would actively choose that option! The sustainability benefits of not wasting energy on electricity cleaning or people travelling in to work has got to have additional benefits on top of unnecessary laundry too.

EndlesslyDecluttering · 05/05/2025 20:44

Really? I wouldn't mind this in the least, quite happy to turn my own bed back and keep my bathroom tidy, I don't like it when they come in and move things and most are only changing towels on request now for eco reasons. And it's not as if you have no access during the day, you can still come and go as you please.

FloraBotticelli · 05/05/2025 20:46

Seems to be standard to not have daily housekeeping now in the places I’ve stayed since the pandemic - Center Parcs, b&bs, hotels. It’s a shame as it does make you feel like you’re being looked after, but it’s really not necessary.

RawBloomers · 05/05/2025 20:46

I would rather go on fewer holidays and have better service (like having someone hang up the towels in the bathroom and tidy the room). So I would be disappointed too.

But with the massive increases in costs, especially staff costs, that have happened over the last decade in the hospitality industry, I think you're probably going to see more of this sort of thing. At least, you are if people keep staying even though they are aware that the servicing is going to be bare bones.

BendingSpoons · 05/05/2025 20:47

We booked a week in Spain and on arrival found you had to pay quite a lot for the room to be serviced or for a change of towels. We had stayed a few years before and this wasn't the case. We had bad weather and it was tricky getting the towels dry, so could have done with a change, plus it's nice to have the floors wiped or they get a bit grimy. It put me off going back, which was a shame, as we liked the place otherwise.

Arlanymor · 05/05/2025 20:48

Iloveeverycat · 05/05/2025 20:31

I don't want my room serviced when I go away. If you need anything it says just to ask.

Exactly how I feel. You can make your own bed can’t you?

yeesh · 05/05/2025 20:48

Unless it was very cheap I would cancel tbh.

JustRollIt · 05/05/2025 20:49

Having done housekeeping as a job the best rooms to clean are the ones where the guests have left. Much more difficult to clean around belongings especially bathrooms where there are a lot of personal items out on the counter tops or round the sink.

If you want clean towels they will provide them, same with more toilet roll and soaps etc should be full before your stay. At home how often do you change your bedding? Not every couple of days. It is a complete waste to launder relatively clean bedding. They boil wash it for obvious reasons.

I do feel that the hotel should communicate this before you book so that you know what you are getting.

RubyRubyRubyRubyAhAhAhAhAhAaaah · 05/05/2025 20:49

I'm not fussy but I also wouldn't want to stay there. Sounds really inhospitable and unwelcoming - a bit youth hostelly (just the vibe I get personally). I'd rather stay at home and go out for a really nice meal or theatre or something, but I'm a homebody

Cynic17 · 05/05/2025 20:52

It's awful. Part of of the point of going away is not having to make the bed, fresh towels every day etc. To not do it for 5 nights is unacceptable. Even if I still went this time, I would definitely not be re-booking.

LasVegass · 05/05/2025 20:53

We stayed in a hotel like this, I think in Brussels. It gave us a discount in the form of drinks at the bar. It was OK for a long weekend.

Glitterbaby17 · 05/05/2025 20:53

I think only servicing alternate days is becoming the norm but 6 days is a bit much - it’s not like you have your hoover and spray like at home