The Nastiest Hotel Guest Behaviors, Ranked By Industry Insiders and Long-Time Housekeepers

Hotel housekeepers have seen it all, and often more than they ever wanted to. From coast to coast, there's a long list of behaviors that leave hotel staff frustrated, disgusted, or even put in harm's way. Reddit threads and industry message boards are filled with horror stories from the people tasked with cleaning up after strangers, as the worst moments of humanity appear to happen in hotel rooms.

In fact, hotel guests regularly cross the line in ways most people wouldn't believe. Many involve things people don't realize are inconsiderate, but some instances are purposeful and harmful. The impact of these behaviors goes beyond annoyance; they can lead to safety concerns, sanitation hazards, and unnecessary emotional stress for housekeepers already working one of the hardest jobs in hospitality.

247 Tempo reviewed forums like r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk, r/Housekeeping, and other hospitality communities, as well as housekeeping interviews and first-person accounts, to bring you the most offensive hotel guest behaviors. If you've ever questioned your behavior in a hotel, let this post guide you through the worst of the worst.

This post was updated on August 5th, 2025, to reflect additional information.

One hotel housekeeping pet peeve focuses on women who experience a heavy menstrual cycle and bleed through a pad while sleeping. If that blood gets on a hotel's clean white bedding or drips on the carpeting when you're rushing to the bathroom, it's a biohazard. Housekeepers know it happens, but not telling staff is not okay. The same is true of an infant or toddler's diaper leaking overnight. Carry a mattress pad with you to protect sheets if a leaking diaper is a possibility.

What kind of person leaves a hotel room with a bathtub full of dirty water? Bad hotel guests do apparently, as there have been reports of housekeepers having to reach into a tub filled with used bathwater. Even if it's not draining due to a clog, call maintenance. Don't leave it as a surprise for housekeepers.

Housekeepers are busiest from the hotel's checkout time to the afternoon check-in. Most housekeeping staff go home for the day at 4 p.m. They aren't there 24/7. Asking them to clean your room when you head out for dinner and drinks isn't acceptable unless you've checked that it's an available service beforehand.

Apparently, people dye their hair or use fake tan in a hotel room rather than at home before they leave for vacation. Some hair and skin dyes stain tubs, towels, and flooring and require extra effort to remove. If you absolutely must dye your hair or skin when you're away from home, go to a salon.

While common, too much hair in a hotel drain is just gross. If a guest has a lot of body hair or very long hair, it's going to get caught on the drain. Removing the stopper and pulling a mouse-sized hairball from the metal bars on a drain is disgusting, but it's definitely something housekeepers frequently encounter.

Relaxed mornings and sleeping in is normal behavior on vacation. Make sure you put up the "Do Not Disturb" sign before you do. Housekeepers hate guests who fail to put up the sign and then get upset that the housekeeper entered the room while they were still asleep and didn't hear a knock.

Sticky sauces like ketchup, sweet and sour, and barbecue sauce are sticky and cling to the fingers. Runny egg yolks and fresh berries create annoying stains. Wash your hands before you touch a remote, bedding, furniture, or wall. They're very hard to clean off porous surfaces or electrical items. As appealing as breakfast in bed is, don't do it if you don't have a table next to put things on.

Before you leave your hotel room for the final time, make sure the toilet is flushed. Enough said, right?

Hotel room trash cans are small. Not every hotel provides a large enough waste can. If it's overfilling, call the front desk and ask if you can have your can emptied. Leaving trash on the floor, counter, table, or under the bed is the behavior of a bad hotel guest.

If you want your room cleaned, make sure you take your "Do Not Disturb" sign down before you leave your room. If you come back and housekeeping is in your room, it's not a big deal. Give the housekeeper space and take a walk or go have coffee in the lobby for half an hour or so.

Some annoying hotel guests use the electric kettle or even the ice bucket to make canned soup, canned pasta, or ramen. Cleaning tiny herbs and dehydrated vegetables from a narrow electric kettle is a nightmare and something you shouldn't subject housekeepers to.

It's disgusting hearing of housekeepers who've found evidence of people being sick or heavily intoxicated and leaving body fluids on carpets, walls, and even window sills. If you know you'll miss the toilet, at least grab a bag and trash can or bowl to contain waste. If you are sick and don't make it, tell the staff and do what you can to clean up. Cleaning up after guests who've thrown up or not made it to the toilet involves a lot of extra work.

Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for maids and housekeeping cleaners ranges from $11.79 to $21.96 per hour across the U.S. The average wage is $16.66, which isn't a living wage in many states. Tips are essential for housekeepers to afford housing, food, and utilities yet some people don't leave one.

Many hotels welcome pets, but it's not okay to fail to clean up after your pet. If your pet has an accident, don't leave it. Get cleaning supplies and clean up as soon as the mess happens. Also, don't leave your pet in your room when you're out. Anxiety over a new place can lead to destructive behaviors. Plus, it's often against hotel policy and puts the housekeeper at risk of getting bitten or scratched.

When housekeeping comes into your room to freshen things up, they're going to vacuum, dust, make beds, clean surfaces, and check supplies like toilet paper, towels, soap, etc. If your dirty clothes are lying all over the floor or bed, it makes it harder for them to do their job.

Balling up wet towels is helpful to hotel room cleaners. However, leaving them on the carpeting or bedding increases the risk of mildew formation. Mildew is challenging for housekeepers. Put them on the counter instead.

If you book a non-smoking room, don't smoke in it. Go outside to a designated smoking area instead. If you can't go without, see if there are any rooms for smokers. One risk is that you'll set off the fire alarms and extinguishing system. It's also hard to get the smell of stale cigarette smoke out of furniture, walls, carpeting, and curtains.

The items people feel they can take home are frustrating to housekeepers as they must report obvious thefts. Items like paintings, small appliances, cups, bedding, and towels are not free to take. Expect to pay for missing items.

If you need something, ask a housekeeper. Don't take things off a cart. They only have so many items on a cart. That roll of toilet paper you snuck when they weren't looking could impact their job efficiency. They reach the last few rooms and realize they're short on supplies and have to go back to the housekeeping store room.

When you've used the bar of soap during your stay, it's slimy and may even have body hairs stuck to it. If you're not taking it home, toss it into the trash. Housekeepers don't want to touch it.

It shouldn't need to be said, but apparently it's a common occurrence: never yell at housekeeping staff. They're not paid enough. If you're upset, stay calm and ask for a manager. You may not have noticed all of the rules when you checked in. Many things that housekeepers receive blame for are not their fault, which is why practicing patience and understanding during your vacation or trip is a must.