Travel Tips
Travel Tuesday: My Hotel Stay Pet Peeves and Annoyances
When I was a kid, I remember that getting to stay in a hotel was always a fun and exciting prospect. As I got a bit older, I even recall hearing some celeb complaining about living in various hotels and thinking, “Why? Hotels are amazing!” Well, although I do still occasionally get giddy about a hotel stay, I now understand that they aren’t always so enjoyable. In fact, even nice hotels can have some annoying attributes that get on my nerves.
So, today, I thought I’d highlight some of my hotel pet peeves that you may or may not hold as well.
5 Annoying Things That Can Ruin a Hotel Stay
Outrageous Parking Fees
In 2025, I think just about everyone is aware of the “resort fee” trick that many hotels engage in. Yet, while travelers are wise to this one and make it a habit to check before booking, another fee may be even more financially damaging: parking.
Granted, not everyone visiting a hotel is going to need to park a car. Yet, for those of us who are apt to drive to another city or who might rent a car for their stay, parking fees can add up quickly. Over the past few years, I’ve regularly had to pay between $35 and $60 per night for valet!
Speaking of valet, I’ve also encountered instances where a hotel’s site only makes mention of valet but not self-parking. Yet, when I arrive, they ask if I plan on self-parking anyway. I suppose this happens when the hotel doesn’t actually control the parking garage nearest to its property and so this self-parking solution isn’t official… but it sure would be helpful if they at least mentioned the option along with that disclaimer. Heck, that’s what Palmer House by Hilton in Chicago does and I appreciate them for it.
All this is to say that, before I book a room that I think is a good deal, I’m now in the habit of taking these often exorbitant parking fees into consideration. I’d recommend you do the same if you have a vehicle during your stay.
A Front Desk Agent Who Isn’t Here
This weekend, I had an experience that inspired this entire article. When my wife and I got back to our room after picking up some takeout, we found that our room keys refused to work. So, I headed to the front desk, only to find a sign that said the team member was helping another guest and would be back soon. Cut to 20 minutes later (and our food starting to cool), the desk agent returned and was finally able to reprint my key.
While I understand that employees may have other tasks they need to complete once everyone is checked in for the night (in this case, it seemed he was refilling amenities and not directly helping another guest as the sign suggested), there should at least be a way of contacting them. Sure, there was a bell at the desk that could be rung, but I don’t see how that sound was going to carry up to whatever floor he was on. In hindsight, I guess I could have also tried to call the property in case he had a cordless phone on him. Alas, that didn’t occur to me at the time, and I didn’t see any evidence that this would have been successful.
I will point out that, while luxury properties are more likely to have high parking prices, I reckon that it’s the lower-tier hotels with free parking that are more susceptible to having their front desk agents pull double duty. Thus, I guess I need a happy medium where parking is reasonable and staff are accessible!
Slow or Insufficient Elevators
If you’ve read any of my hotel reviews, then you had to see this one coming. As I’ve stated many times before, having “good” elevators is an underrated aspect of a hotel stay. Those who have ever had to wait in a line to get shoved into a cramped car or had multiple full elevators stop on their floor before they were able to board one would surely agree with this.
There are several reasons why I think elevators could be “bad.” First, is that there just aren’t enough shafts servicing the number of rooms. Similarly, even if there are a sufficient number of elevators on paper, having broken cars can severely limit capacity. Lastly, in some cases, elevators may just be slow, which can be a big problem if the hotel is tall.
Ideally, I want to hit an elevator button and be on board within two minutes. When I can do so consistently during my stay, that’s a win in my book. But, when I can’t, I start to get really peaved anytime I choose to venture out of my room — or will opt to stay in as much as possible, which is no fun.
Thin Walls
This one is obvious, but annoying nonetheless. I hate it when I get into a nice room and find that I can hear just about everything around me. That’s why I end up taking my Sleepbuds with me on every trip I take!
Automated Minibar Fridges
Finally, we come to an issue that I’ve really only experienced in Las Vegas, but I suspect happens elsewhere too. In recent years, Strip properties have moved to electronically monitored minibars that will charge guests for items within seconds of their removal. To be clear, you don’t need to actually consume the item to be charged — you just need to move it from its designated spot. Moreover, I’ve seen reports of guests accidentally unplugging the device and being charged a $50 fee as a result!
That’s all annoying enough, but what I really hate is when the minibar occupies a perfectly good minifridge and makes it off-limits. Previously, when this was the case at MGM properties, there was at least a “courtesy shelf” for personal items. However, more recent visits have lacked even this slight concession.
On a related note, I recently encountered something new to me during a stay in Portland. This room didn’t have a minifridge — it had a “beverage cooler.” I guess that’s better than nothing, but the implication is that this wasn’t to be used for food (at least not safely). By the way, they had real minifridges available for a fee, which really gives away the game, doesn’t it?
Whether you’re booking a high-end property or a budget-friendly option, there are several common annoyances that can be a bane to your stay. These may be common (such as thin walls) or more specific — like Vegas’s minibar issues — but all are awful IMHO. So, while I do my best to avoid these pet peeves personally, I sincerely hope you are able to do the same.
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