Annoyed at cleaning lady on holiday

[helloworld88]

On holiday at the moment in Spain, we've just wanted a really relaxing holiday so have been getting up late and not really leaving the room for the day until about 12. Weekdays have been fine but yesterday (Saturday) we had the do not disturb sign on the door and the cleaner still knocked and tried coming in! This was about half 11. She didn't speak much English and we don't speak any Spanish but asked her to come back later and got the impression it was I do it now or not at all. So she gave us some towels etc. Now today (Sunday), DH and I had a late night last night and wanted a lie in but she's knocking the door at 8:55!! Granted we didn't have the do not disturb sign on the door but hadn't needed it at that time the rest of the week. I suspect the cleaning lady during the weekday is different to that on the weekend. AIBU to be really annoyed at this!

Also what's the point of a do not disturb sign if they'll just come in anyway?

you didn't even hang it up so wtf are you moaning about?

I used to work as a chambermaid in a big US hotel, and it was ferociously pressured. We worked from 8.30 am till 4.30, and each had a set number of rooms (some check-outs and needing a full clean and restock, some rooms of people staying over, which sometimes took almost as long as the checkouts, as you were cleaning around people's belongings) to clean each day. This was years ago, but I think we had a half hour to clean a check out (and these were occasionally left in a disgusting state), and twenty minutes to clean a stay-over., and the schedule gave no wiggle room at all for not being able to get into people's rooms. Because of course check-in time was at 3, when a whole new slew of guests would arrive. so you had the front desk getting irate with Housekeeping if rooms weren't ready -- so yes, you started knocking on any doors that didn't have a DND sign on from 8.30.

There's a disconnect between the needs of people on holiday and the pressurised scheduling of hotel cleaners.

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Perhaps you would be better off in self-catering on holiday? Then no one would bother you - but you would not get your room cleaned, bed made every day either!

Not leaving the room until 12 noon each day, without telling the hotel your intentions, is a bit U.

@MiggeldyHiggins think you need to read the post again as I did the first day. Don't really think there's need for the attitude tbh bit ridiculous

but you didn't the second day, and you are still moaning about them coming in then.

I think it's fair enough that she does it now or not at all, she probably finished around midday so couldn't possibly clean everyone's rooms if people are still there at 12. It's slightly annoying for her to come in when the do not disturb sign is on not a massive deal I would just speak with reception.

These responses are bizarre! Who wants to be up and out of bed before 9am on Sunday on holiday? Fair enough if they saw you leave got breakfast, but I would have thought it would be more normal for guests still to be in bed.

Get a villa next time then you have all the time in the world

Staff should respect your wishes. If the sign is on the door they should leave you alone, that is what the sign is for. Of course you might have to accept you won't get your room cleaned that day but that is that.

Didn't put the sign out the second day - YABU. The woman has to make a living, she's not psychic. I expect her pay depends on how many rooms cleaned in a certain amount of hours. I'd probably have invited her in so at least she can tick off clean towels, clean sheets.

I remember my first holiday abroad aged 17, no parents, just me and a friend and we thought we'd been the opposite of burgled - someone has come in, folded our manky clothes, sorted the washing, made the beds... wow - who knew?!

Just remember to leave your sign out - and maybe leave her a tip too. Ask her name and leave it in an envelope. She's probably got kids at home that she's working hard for.

Absolutely reasonable that they can’t come back later, if they can’t do it when it fits their schedule then it doesn’t get done. So fine for her to explain that to you.

Yanbu that they shouldn’t be knocking when you have the Do Not Disturb sign up

but YABVU to expect her to be psychic and realise that even though you’ve not bothered to put the sign up today, you don’t want to be disturbed. Putting the sign out takes five seconds!

I’ve worked as housekeeping in a hotel, you’ve literally no idea how pressured the job is. You must get the work done in a certain amount of time and the manager would tell you to ignore do not disturb signs past 11am. there would be penalties for not doing all your rooms by a certain time.
It’s not the poor cleaners fault, just tell reception you don’t want your room cleaned.

Use Google translate like everyone else

@Livingsymbol how do I use google translate when speaking to the lady? Not having a go it's a genuine question.

Come back from a lovely day at the beach and room has been done

Everyone may not want to be up and out by 9am on holiday on a Sunday, but really would it be world ending if you just didn't have your room cleaned??

Who said anything about world ending?

Before 9am is definitely uncalled for, but if you're not out of the room by by midday then she has a job to do so you were in the wrong that time.

11.30am is a bit late - if you want your room cleaned and you can't vacate by then, I think you have to accept that it won't be done.

If the DND is on then YANBU. If I am in the room all morning then I would expect to be able to call reception when I leave and ask for the room to be cleaned then, never had an issue doing this. I imagine they have at least one cleaner on call for this.
No DND, then fair enough for them to knock.

11.30 is late to be getting up TBH, especially on holiday. You might be better off going self catering next time or stating on check in that you don't want your room cleaned.