Hotel room not cleaned for three days

[Primrose97]

We recently went on a short three-night break to a 4-star hotel in the UK. They said it was their policy not to clean rooms, this meant our bed wasn’t made, cups washed, etc. It’s a long time since we’ve been on holiday due to Covid etc, just wondered if this is now normal? I thought it was disappointing but need to know AIBU before I write the review.

We have recently returned from the US and found this to be the case in the hotels we stayed in. Servicing alternated between every other day or every third day. If you wanted more often you could pay extra!

just wondered if this is now normal?

I experienced this in a Premier Inn (UK) for a two night stay.

We were fine with beds not being made/changed as we don’t wash our bedding daily at home. But we did have to ask for fresh towels and extra roll of toilet paper at reception. But it was no bother.

It’s definitely to cut costs. Costs of paying for extra laundry and paying the housekeeping staff labour. Nothing to do with Covid.

Abroad it’s different. I’ve always experienced a full clean - fresh sheets, towels and mopped floors when abroad in a holiday resort.

Have you been introduced to the Do Not Disturb sign? Tends to work

Many hotels now say they will only clean the rooms if you ask. On the day when you want it done, I think, or possibly the day before.

Meaning that of course lots of people who would have liked it cleaned forget to ask.

Sounds vile. I use the DND when I need but need a bit of a clean after day two

I would not be expecting that unless it was really clearly told to me in advance.

Surely that's what the "Do not disturb" sign is for?

Definitely not the norm now. Hotels do have a procedure for indicating if you want the towels changed though.

Pretty standard approach, just ask for housekeeping if you want/ need it.

Pretty much the norm now. You can always ask for your room to be serviced.

Not in my experience in a four star hotel. They should at least be washing cups, replenishing supplies, making beds. If you wanted to do all that yourself you might as well get an air b and b.

Unfortunately it doesn't, at least not in my experience (and I have plenty, as somebody who used to spend around half the month in hotels for work). If I had a tenner for every time housekeeping has ignored the sign I could retire, and that's just the occasions when I've been in.

I'm sorry to have spoiled your valiant attempt at condescension. Better luck next time.

I always put the Do Not Disturb on the door for exactly this reason.

What do people do that they need their room cleaned every day?

Wouldn't bother me. Would want tea and coffee topped up though.

Sheets and towels are fine for 3 days.

I wouldn't be happy with this unless it was very clear when booking - and I'd then choose somewhere else.

We stayed at Holiday Inn this weekend. They came in and made the beds, replaced teas/coffee. We hung the towels up, as happy to reuse so these weren't changed.

It's very common in my recent experience, both home and abroad. Only Premier Inn are clear about it and have a ready supply of coffee etc in reception. I really don't mind about fresh towels and the bed not being made up, I do mind about the lack of coffee.

Op had dirty coffee cups!! And a messy bed. Got forbid she has to pull the duvet back herself

I have never experienced that and would not accept it either. I definitely need the bed to be made, bins emptied, clean mugs, tea/coffee satchets added etc.

Premier Inn isn’t a four star hotel though!

Hyatt, Marriott, Malmaison, Hilton and De Vere hotels definitely all service every day which are the ones which come to mind which I’ve stayed in this year. I can’t actually think of a 4 star which I have stayed in which hasn’t!

I don't know sorry, because the first thing I usually do is put up the Do Not Disturb sign and it stays there 🤣. I can't stand the thought of strangers being in a room where my personal belongings are. Not that I don't trust them, I just like my privacy. If I need a fresh towel I usually just nip out in the morning and ask for one and I'm happy to sleep in a bed without it being changed for a week.

Not experienced this myself where I e stayed multiple nights but have seen signs indicating they don't service rooms at the cheaper U.K. chains (it's just I haven't stayed more than one night).

Which is putting them in the bath or shower. Staying alone means I only use one lot of bath towels.

This has become more common since Covid. Most chains say that you need to request cleaning each day (usually after breakfast). To be fair, they do then do it.
But, I agree - part of the whole point of staying in a hotel is to have someone else make your bed, so I always insist on daily cleaning.

Depends on the hotel. I've never had that. Many hotels do a turn down / evening service as well.

I hate the waste of having the room serviced daily

We have lots of 3 night breaks within the UK rather then long holidays, ok so only 3/4* but I dont need housekeeping to come in. One hotel they got so concerned ( 4 night stay I think that was ) that they left a pile of clean towels outside the door

Fact of the matter is, at home we dont have clean towels daily. Me and he have a set each, we use them, hang them on the towel rail to dry to be used again. At home we dont have clean bedding daily, so smoothing the sheet and fluffing the duvet is no hardship

I ask for more tea/coffee/biscuits/loo rolls and bin liners as and when needed