🛎️ Hotel Room Etiquette: Because Apparently, We Need to Talk About It

So listen — I love a good luxury stay. A plush robe, room service at midnight, and those crisp white sheets that practically whisper, “You’ve made it.” But after years of traveling, I’ve seen enough hotel hijinks to know we need to establish a few ground rules. Because some of y’all are out here treating five-star hotels like your cousin’s guest room in Gary, Indiana. (Shot out to my GI folks!)

Let’s fix that.

🌍 Step 1: Pick Your Palace Wisely

Before you even book, do your homework.
Check the reviews (not just the stars — read the tea in those comments). If three people mention “roaches,” don’t be out here saying “maybe they cleaned since then.” Spoiler: They didn’t.

Look for hotels with:

• Good location: Close enough to the fun, far enough from the foolishness.

• Amenities: Breakfast buffet? Spa? Free Wi-Fi that actually works? We love to see it.

• Safety: Especially for solo travelers. Because no one wants a “plot twist” vacation.

💸 Step 2: That Minibar Ain’t Your Friend

Now, I get it — you see those tiny Pringles, that little bottle of Hennessy, and your inner child says, “Treat yourself.”
But let’s be clear: those items are not complimentary.

You pop that can of mixed nuts, and boom — $18 added to your bill. You didn’t even like the nuts. You were just bored.

My rule: Touch nothing that isn’t free.
And if you’re unsure, call downstairs. They’ve heard it all before — “Yes ma’am, even the water with the fancy label costs $9.”

🧹 Step 3: Respect the Real MVPs — Housekeeping

The housekeeping staff deserves their flowers. And by flowers, I mean tips.

💵 Etiquette 101:

• Leave $2–$5 per day, per person in the room.

• Leave it daily (different staff clean daily).

• A note that says “Thank you!” goes a long way.

If you trash the room like a toddler on a sugar high, double it.

And please — don’t leave your “unmentionables” lying across the bed. Nobody needs that trauma before lunch.

🤫 Step 4: Volume Control, Please

Your hotel room is not a soundproof recording studio. Keep your phone calls, FaceTime sessions, and Netflix binges at a respectable volume.

If your playlist can be heard through the wall, congratulations — you’re now the hotel DJ, and nobody asked you.

And while we’re here: if you’re traveling with kids, this is your gentle reminder that not everyone finds screaming adorable.

🍽️ Step 5: Room Service is a Luxury, Not a Buffet

Order what you can eat — not what looks good in the moment. I know it’s tempting to get the $45 pancakes and a side of “just because,” but baby, those charges add up faster than you can say “late checkout.”

And yes, tip your server — at least 15–20%. They carried that food up 14 floors while you were still in your robe.

🪞 Step 6: Enjoy the View, Don’t Complain About It

If you booked a “city view” and all you see is a parking lot, that is the city view. It’s giving “technical truth.” You can always ask for an upgrade — politely — but sometimes, the only skyline available is the back of a Waffle House. Embrace it.

🧖🏾♀️ Step 7: Remember, You’re a Guest, Not the Owner

Treat the space like someone else paid for it… because someone did. Don’t dye your hair in the sink, don’t “borrow” towels for the beach, and please, for the love of room deposits — don’t cook noodles in the coffee maker.

If you wouldn’t do it in your own home, don’t do it at the Ritz.

💁🏾♀️ Final Thoughts

Good hotel etiquette isn’t about being fancy — it’s about being respectful. The way you treat your space and the people who make it shine says a lot about your travel style.

And trust me, when you travel clean, kind, and classy — the world remembers your name. (So does the front desk, and they’re the ones who can hook you up with an upgrade.)

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✨ Need help planning your next stay?
Let Nomadic Travels LLC take care of the details — from hotels to excursions. Visit nomadictravelsllc.com.

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