To ask for the room to be turned down?

[holibobs3]

Currently on a uk holiday with DH and young DC. Staying in a 4* well known chain hotel. We are here for 5 nights total. Obviously it's common now to be told that your room will not be made up daily as it used to be in the past and I completely understand that is to do with environmental issues re towels, they did say that if we would like the rooms to be done then we just need to ask. However I do like the beds to be made etc when staying away from home. We are currently on day 4, so far I've asked twice if the room can be done. I said that I don't actually want the towels changed as we hadn't used them all anyway but I would like the beds to be done, we've run out of toilet roll, run out of clean mugs and would it be possible to have a couple more sachets of coffee.
The first time I asked it just wasn't don't at all. The second time I asked I came back to the room and new towels had been put in the room (which I specifically had said we didn't need) but none of the other stuff had been done.

We've saved really hard for this little holiday as we can't afford to go abroad at the moment, not that it's relevant but we are paying over £100 a night and that's just for accommodation not including parking or breakfast, so are we really being that unreasonable to request new toilet rolls, mugs etc?

Perhaps in future we should all send a quick email to ask about a reduction in price versus the reduction in service and amenities.
Then we'd know what to expect and have it in writing for when things aren't up to scratch.

Whereabouts in the US was that? We were in California last summer and it was mostly excellent room servicing in the cities (especially if you tip!). The quieter country type places were a bit more “if you need your room servicing please ask”.

I too would have complained after the first request was ignored. I’d be extremely unhappy at being left with no toilet roll, especially after two requests.

Fuck this for a game of soldiers. If they are "experiencing staff shortages" then they are paying less out in wages, and they can reduce the rates they charge. This is all such utter, utter bullshit. The families and corporations that own these chains have literally billions. Do you think any of their senior people make their own beds or put their bins out in the corridor? No.

Because she booked a hotel room and not a caravan or Airbnb.

I used to work in housekeeping. Not in that chain but another major one. If you're not getting anywhere with reception, ask the housekeeping team if you see them. Or even leave a note on your door, wedge it in as you shut the door so HK can see as they pass. Even if they're too busy to make your bed, they should have coffees/sheets etc on the trolley with them.

It's a long time since we've stayed in a hotel but after our last experience we now always try to make sure we're near a convenience store or garage. Next time I reckon I'll take my travel kettle, folding coffee cup, and buy my own loo roll, coffee, and teabags at aforesaid convenience store...I'm sorry you didn't have a better experience, it doesn't seem that long since Radisson was so good, I can recall a long weekend on Jersey that was truly fabulous. Then a couple of years later we stayed in Bristol for a couple of nights and it was obvious it was starting to head downhill. (This was pre-pandemic.)

To be honest, I'd rather pay no frills Travelodge/Premier Inn (depending on location) these days, at least you know what you're going to get OR go for a B and B with good ratings on ALL of Tripadvisor/Bookings.com/Hotels.com etc.

But that would mean you’d never go to a restaurant because you’re uncomfortable with the thought of someone bringing you food and drink when you could get your own.

I live abroad and when I come back to the UK I stay in hotels from the south coast of England to The Highlands and back down again via Wales to see friends and family. The service has been so bad for the past couple of years. Covid, Brexit, I don't know what it is but just seems to be a lot of inexperienced and unmotivated staff who don't make sure the basics are covered. You are not being unreasonable for wanting your bathroom bin emptied and having sufficient loo paper at the very least.

Hi opwe stayed in a radisson last week and used those signs you put on the door handles saying please make up our room... can you see any of those in your room? Ours were on hooks by the door to our rooms.

That’s not great. I used to clean hotel rooms and it was clean everything for new guests but those with longer stays would leave their towels on the rail (or in the bath if they wanted them changed) and we gave the room a tickle - bed made, brew stuff/loo roll replenished and a hoover round each day. We’d always work around the guest a bit, so expect things like toothpaste/toothbrush/makeup left on the side but we would leave it nice for them every day.

Did you miss the bit where I said in my experience this is common since COVID?? Or just ignore it so you could brag about your jetsetting lifestyle? I have experienced this in multiple hotels in the last couple of years so yes, it is clearly fairly common. Many hotels now have it in their booking conditions I find, so it seems to be a COVID necessity that’s here to stay. I have however found reception/housekeeping very responsive to requests to service the room and replenish supplies. So that is definitely a fault of this hotel and as I said, OP should complain.

YANBU in any hotel I would expect the beds to be made daily along with wipe of bathroom and bins emptied at a minimum.

Although not nessassarily clean towels daily I'd definitely want the bathroom/toilet cleaned.

Coffee/tea/sugar replaced.
While a quick rinse under the tap is ok after having one or two drinks during the day I'd want the mugs changed daily for clean ones.

YANBU at all to expect this in a Radisson hotel - quite bizarre that they haven't made the beds/emptied bins & replenished items especially as you've asked. I get this as standard in even cheaper hotels/b&b's. I'm guess they're short staffed but it's not on at all.

Tweet them publicly op.

Is there not 'Please make up this room' wording on the back of the 'do not disturb' sign that you hook on the door handle?

Ooops, should have read to the end. I was beaten to it.

I used to work as a chambermaid in a hotel and you mention a turn down service in your opening line though and that is the evening service usually done while you are at dinner. Involves a general tidy round,closing the curtains, emptying bins, putting soft side lights on, straightening but loosening bed covers and folding out sheet so it is ready to get into. Often also a mat by your feet to wipe days dust off feet before getting into bed, a chocolate on the pillow. This evening service only found in very very good hotels.

A four star I would expect a daily spruce up. Open curtains, fold or hang towels, make the bed, hoover, wipe around the bathroom, general tidy and quick hoover.

YANBU. We stayed in a £50 per night Travelodge for most of last week and had the offer of basic room clean, towels, toilet rolls, mugs and refreshments replenished daily - only took it up a couple of times but the service was there.

@Youdoyoubabe I agree about turn down. It’s usually an evening thing - big light off, sheet folded back and made cosy for bedtime. I do it myself at night! But general housekeeping should be done daily, even if it’s not a complete changeover.

YANBU. Premier Inn are doing this too now. Totally pisses me off. Last time we went to one we requested the room cleaned and it wasn’t. Ended up getting some money back after complaining on Twitter.

Using the environment as an excuse to cut back on staff and cleaning is a joke, I didn’t want fresh towels, just beds made and a tidy, it’s horrible coming back to an unmade room. Being there any longer than a couple of days makes the whole experience feel very grotty.

@holibobs3 ask to speak to the duty manager in the morning and explain you require a daily housekeeping service (no need to list out what you do/don't need, just let them clean and replenish). The housekeepers will have a list of rooms to service, and yours won't be on it because of the policy.

It is increasingly common in UK hotels - started during Covid to reduce contamination and carried on due to the difficulty in recruiting staff post Brexit. Now claiming eco and sustainability credentials but essentially cost saving / problem solving.

I'd expect this service in any but the most basic hotel.

I did stay in a 5* hotel for work recently and loved the actual turn down service as well, alongside the chocolate left for me on my return to the room!

Wow that is shocking.
Considering how much you’re paying and the area I’d want for the beds to be made, bins emptied, new mugs etc.

I travel to NW for work and always stay in a travelodge for £25-£35 per night and I get new towels, freshly made bed (if I ask), emptied bins, new cups and refill on tea coffe and sugar.
Wouldn’t accept anything less.

I would contact HQ and inform of the experience you had and the fact that you asked reception a few times.
Do pull at the heart strings about your special holiday.
Given it’s already the end of your stay I’d expect some compensation like a free meal or refund on something.