TravelJAN 29, 2025

“Showers Only”: 30 Netizens Share Their Personal Unwritten Hotel Stay Rules

“Staying in a hotel” is such a spectrum of experiences, ranging from “a motel where the sirens outside never stop” to excellent, all inclusives, where your every need is catered to. However, it’s not at all strange or unusual to have some personal predilections towards what to do and avoid.

A netizen asked “What are some unspoken rules that you automatically follow when staying in a hotel?” and people shared their personal preferences. We also got in touch with the person who made the thread to learn more. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and list your own hotel rules in the comments section below.

#1

“Showers Only”: 30 Netizens Share Their Personal Unwritten Hotel Stay Rules

Be quiet in the hallways.

Any_Context1, Frank Eiffert/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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76points

#2

Treat the staff like princes/princesses. Good manners often get you extra attention and perks.

vocabulazy, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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61points

#3

I open and look in EVERYTHING. I’m not sure what I’m looking for exactly but I do it anyway.

Numerous-Ad4715, Michel Stockman/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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53points

Bored Panda got in touch with the netizen who posed the question online and they were kind enough to answer some of our questions. Naturally, we were curious to hear why they asked this question in the first place. “I was just staying in a hotel for my birthday and wanted to make sure I wasn't breaking any rules that others put in place.”

The post they made ended up with thousands of upvotes and comments, so we wanted to know how they felt about it. “I was super surprised it was so popular, definitely my biggest post. I think that annoying guests in a hotel is a very relatable experience for a lot of people, so of course they would want to share how to not be one.”

#4

I like to autograph the Bible “With love, Jesus”.

markjamesmurphy, Simon Maage/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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50points

#5

Dont let the door slam behind you when leaving your room. Seems simple enough.

thorstad, Point3D Commercial Imaging Ltd./Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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49points

#6

Peel the sheets back and check for evidence of bed bugs.

Mr_Lumbergh, CHUTTERSNAP/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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43points

“One of my favorite answers was to leave a key card on the floor in your room close to the door, so if you had to leave in the middle of the night for whatever reason, you'd be able to grab it quickly on your way out and have less of a hassle getting back in,” they shared with Bored Panda.

#7

This is for when it’s time to check out. Before you leave, make sure to give the sheets a good shake to ensure you didn’t accidentally leave anything on the bed. Also check every single drawer or storage space in the room, even if you didn’t use it. I’ve never actually left anything behind, but my anxious a*s always feels like I’m forgetting something, so I check everything to make sure I didn’t actually do so. 😅.

Niknak003, Jonathan Mueller/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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43points

#8

The floor is lava, not to be touched with bare feet. .

toby_wan_kenoby, Kateryna Hliznitsova/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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41points

#9

Leave a decent tip for the housekeeper. They do an awful job for low wages, and they have access to your stuff. Be nice to them! :) I've gotten lovely thank-you notes and extra goodies left in my room by leaving a decent tip.

BodybuilderClean2480, Lala Azizli/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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39points

“I was definitely surprised how many answers involved bedbugs. It did make me happy that so many people go out of their way to help the employees and just be good people,” they added, when we asked if they had any personal favorites from the thread.

#10

Immediately untuck those tight a*s sheets.

iviviv_alt, Blake Cheek/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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36points

#11

I make sure all trash is placed in trash can before leaving, and I put back ironing board, hangers, and luggage rack, and ensure towels are n a neat pile in the bathroom, or right outside the hotel door.

Chemical-Section7895, Moksha Jain/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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36points

#12

I always check that everything is working as soon as I arrive in the room. That way if it's not and they have to move me, it's a lot easier to move all my stuff and nothing accidentally gets left behind.

Hippy_Lynne, Hans Isaacson/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

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35points

#13

I spent half the year last year in hotels. Most of it one specific hotel for 1-2 weeks at a time.

My only rule is to put the “Do not disturb” sign on the door as soon as I get there. I don’t want anyone, including housekeeping, touching my stuff.

doom1701, LightFieldStudios/Envato (not the actual photo)

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34points

#14

When I was a kid, my family stayed in hotels on vacation only once every other year or so. My parents took one of the drawers in the room and filled it with all kinds of snacks. That was 40 years ago, and I always have stuff to set up a snack drawer whenever I get a room even if it's for one night. It's just feels right.

StromboliOctopus, P C/Flickr (not the actual photo)

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33points