Being asked to strip beds in holiday cottage

[librarian55]

We have just returned from a long weekend in the Lake District which was organised by my DD. We stayed in a very nice cottage. The day before we left, the letting agent texted my DD asking us to leave the place clean and tidy (fair enough, we would do that anyway) but they also asked us to strip the beds. AIBU in thinking this was very cheeky? The cost of cleaning would be included in the rental price and since we were expected to vacate by 10am, we didn't have that much time in the morning. I know it doesn't take much time, but I go on holiday to get away from such chores.

It’s a nice treat in a hotel when they
do daily turn downs to come back to a beautifully made bed. It’s part of what you pay for. Of course we can all make our own beds and empty the bins and scrub the bathroom. But I wouldn’t spend £££ to go on holiday and do this.

If you spend time in a Kyle making your own bed then it will be just redone anyway so completely pointless.

Good god - I’m not talking about McDonald’s here…!

@mydogisthebest yep I am too lazy to make my own bed because I am on holiday having a rest from all the hard work I did to earn the money to pay someone else to do it for me!

I'm perfectly capable of cooking a very high-quality meal myself. That doesn't mean I should never go to a restaurant and pay someone to cook one for me.

All of this. Some people don’t seem to get it…

@Delatron I think that some people have it indoctrinated into them from childhood that not making your bed is similar to not brushing your teeth, or dropping litter on the floor. It is seen as shameful not to do it and they probably get all jittery walking out and leaving it unmade.

I mean, the language of "you're too lazy to do it" comes straight from parents talking to children doesn't it?

Stayed somewhere more than 10 years ago that wasn’t cheap yet they asked us to strip beds, sweep and mop floors on departure plus took electricity and gas meter readings on arrival and departure so they could charge us for usage! Owners weren’t particularly helpful with various small faults in property either (lights not working etc). Definitely took the piss and left a review making it very clear how ridiculous it all was

Generally I don’t mind stripping beds but the earlier check out and later check ins after Covid for the ‘deep clean’ makes me resent the extra few mins spent running around doing it

Because a hotel is serviced accommodation. Its different to self catering. Why book a hotel if you dont see the point of someone servicing the room.

stripping the beds is pretty standard. I always do it. Always have cos it literally takes 2 minutes to do

I own a 4-bed holiday let in France that I move out of for the summer months. For the first few years, DH and I did the changeovers and it was mad how long it took us, simply because EVERYTHING needs to be cleaned, and we both grew up doing plenty of chores as children, so we're quite good! We use a local lady now who is amazing, check-out is 10 am and check-in is 4 pm but I always text guests if the place is ready earlier, but it rarely is unless the previous guests leave things as they found them.

I do think most people don't realise how much work it is and far too many people think it's fine to leave the place really gross, really messy, move furniture around during their holiday (why is the downstairs lamp that's taller than me in the upstairs bathroom when there are already 5 lights available to you in the bathroom...?!), leave dirty plates/cups lying around outside, not put the dishwasher on or take the rubbish out for the duration of their stay, etc.

The only thing I ask of guests before they leave is to run the dishwasher if they've used stuff that morning and to put the bins out the night before the bin men come (twice a week) during the stay. Then the cleaner can put the dishwasher stuff away and empty the bin for pick up the next day. I never ask about removing bedding and I'd say it's about 50/50 if people do it by choice or not, but neither us nor the cleaner has a preference.

My biggest pet peeve is guests not wiping up spills. As in at all, throughout their whole stay. We're in the South of France, reaching 40+ degrees in summer and things get sticky and attract ants/bugs/wasps. The worst was walking in and seeing red wine stains on the floor in every single room and about 5 full bin bags of rubbish chucked in a room! The wheelie bin is next to the front door!

P.S, the Airbnb "service fee" is their commission, not cleaning.

I think so too.

It’s not a lazy thing it’s an ‘I’ve paid money for the service thing’. In hotels anyway.

I do it. Strip one bed, stuff in pillow case so it's all together, then do next bed.
Used towels in bath.

Takes seconds.

A made bed is a made bed. Not sure what "a beautifully made bed" is unless it means loads of pointless cushions on it.

Of course I don't scrub the bathroom in a hotel and you are just being silly to even mention that. I do though make sure I keep the bathroom clean and if I got toothpaste on the basin I would wipe it off.

No matter how much I had paid for a hotel I would make my own bed.

If staying more than one night I always tell reception I don't need the bed making nor do I need clean towels every day or for some to come and clean the room/bathroom.

Why would any hotel remake a bed that was made? That is pointless and such a waste of time and energy for the cleaners

We don't often use hotels. Much prefer airbnb. We don't like set times for breakfast, only having the hotel room to relax in etc.

We would only book a hotel if there was no airbnb in the right area.

It will depend on the hotel. But yes the cleaners will remake your bed even if you’ve made it as that is what they’re being paid to do. And empty bins and clean. It’s why hotels can be expensive and it’s part of the experience- it’s nice to come back to a clean room and bed made much better than I can do.

You are obviously well within your rights to tell the hotel not to do all that and do it yourself (who knows why - but you have paid for it).

There’s normally a system for towels as that is an environmental issue - so towels in the bath change etc.

Same here, usually not asked, have always done it as did my parents when I was a child.

I know you are not talking about McDonalds so no need to get so high and mighty.

All I am saying is some lazy entitled people cannot even be bothered to clear up in McDonalds where you are actually meant to.

People that just leave all their mess over a table (and often over the floor) disgust me.

I would hate to see some people's houses although DH works in customer's houses and quite a large amount of them he says are filthy

I always do it. I suppose if you are in a cottage with more beds than occupants it is easier to tell which beds have been slept in. Always pile up the dirty towels too.

Just how do they make the bed better than you can? I can make a bed. Maybe because I have had the misfortune to be a chambermaid I can make them properly.

I would have loved a hotel guest that made their own bed. Also would have been nice if most guests had not been pretty disgusting slobs

Yes people do but that’s an entirely different point and completely irrelevant to the thread!

All work can be broken down into 2 min tasks.

The point regarding stripping beds is you are paying for a service and then willing to take on some of the work the service provides yourself.

The analogy of taking plates to the kitchen in a restaurant is a good one.

@mydogisthebest literally every hotel has a sign in the bathroom saying that they will not change the towels daily unless you leave them in the bath. And you tell them not to clean the room by placing the "do not disturb" sign on the door. They really don't need you wasting their time at reception regaling then with how selfless and low-maintenance you are.

My whole family always strips beds takes 2 minutes and also shows cleaner what beds were used and what weren't. Clearly for those who have never cleaned holiday houses before you have no idea what work goes into cleaning every single time for the next person. A simple stripped bed means we can get the washing in straight away and get on. Oh and we also strip Premier,travelodge or wherever we go weekends and leave in a pile for cleaners. Doesn't bother us and never will.

So we’re getting to the crux of it. You think you are better than those other lazy sods who can’t be bothered to make their beds in a hotel (when they are paying for it to be made). Yes I guess being a chambermaid would completely change your opinion on this. An unmade bed = disgusting lazy slob.

To be honest I do think they make the bed nicer than I could! And again - it’s part of the service you pay for in a hotel. If it offends you then tell them you will do it all yourself

Since covid, it's a new rule almost everywhere.
We go to centre parcs alot and they ask that you do this.