Full Moons, Creepy Guests, and Cannabis Shenanigans: A Night at the Front Desk
Every hotel worker knows there are “those nights”—the ones where the universe decides to send a parade of oddballs your way, and you’re left wondering if the moon is full or if you’ve accidentally wandered onto the set of a sitcom. For one night auditor, recently sharing their tale on Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk, that night was a swirling cocktail of stalker vibes, weed-fueled weirdos, and a breakdown in staff communication that would make even the most seasoned hotelier sweat.
Buckle up, because this story is a perfect peek behind the curtain of hotel life when the cosmos—and the clientele—seem just a little off-kilter.
When Guests Get Too Personal: The Creeper Chronicles
The night started like any other, but quickly veered into the Twilight Zone. Our narrator, a seasoned night auditor, is no stranger to repeat guests, but one persistent fellow has become the stuff of front desk legend. No matter how often the staff politely (or not-so-politely) hints that they’re at capacity, this guy always finds his way back, undeterred and, apparently, undeterable.
But this isn’t just an annoyance—things have gotten downright creepy. According to the post, this guest has been asking way too many questions about the staff: who’s related to whom, who works which shifts, even details about the OP’s personal life. The weirdest moment? He waltzes up to the desk and asks how the night auditor’s vacation was—a vacation the OP never told him about. Cue the shivers.
As u/This_Daydreamer_ pointed out in the comments, “Who the hell told him you were on vacation?! Your manager should follow up on that because it's not okay to give that kind of information to any guests, especially guests like this loser.” The OP responded that they’d already flagged it with their GM, and, with any luck, this would be the last weekend they’d see this overly curious guest.
Other commenters echoed the concern. u/TheNiteOwl38 didn’t mince words: “I'd be reporting that first guy for being a stalker…either someone told him or he's been keeping tabs, but either way I'd be asking if a restraining order was possible because that guy deserves to be on the DNR.” (For those not in the biz, that’s the “Do Not Rent” list—every hotel’s secret weapon.)
Weed, Showers, and Hotel Hopping: High Times at the Front Desk
As if the stalker vibes weren’t enough, the night took a turn for the surreal just before sunrise. Enter: a brand-new visitor, apparently high as the International Space Station, who sauntered in and asked the kind of question that makes hotel pros wish for a body double: “Hey, do you smoke weed?”
Sensing trouble, the OP politely deflected, but the guest whipped out a collection of local dispensary goodies and launched into a ramble about not being able to return his haul. Then came the pièce de résistance: Could he, perhaps, borrow a hotel room just to shower? No ID, no payment, just a quick rinse and he’d be on his way. When told no (because, you know, rules), he threatened to ask every hotel on the strip, as if that would strike terror into the heart of the night auditor.
As u/d4sbwitu mused, “Is weed newly legal in your state? When we went legal, and all our neighboring states were still illegal, we had campers camping out in our back lot, because it is next door to the dispensary. They would stay a week, buying up their daily limit and booking a room to shower in (and giving them a claim to their spot in the lot). Then they would drive to their illegal state and sell their goods.” Apparently, when weed laws change, hotels become ground zero for all sorts of creative—and sometimes sketchy—behavior.
Communication Breakdowns: Emails, Group Chats, and the Weakest Link
If you think the weirdness ends with the guests, think again. A key reason the persistent guest got in again was simple: the 3-to-11 shift desk clerk missed an important email from the GM, which specifically said to alert her if this guest tried to book. As u/LeaLou27 pointed out, “GM should make reading work emails like that more of a mandatory thing.” The OP shared that the GM is now looking into better ways for the team to communicate, possibly adopting group chats and requiring staff to confirm they’ve read urgent messages—something several commenters said worked well in their own hotels.
But, as u/RoyallyOakie quipped, it only takes “the weakest link on staff” to let a policy slide and open the door to trouble. It’s a reminder that, in hospitality, teamwork isn’t just about covering shifts—it’s about keeping everyone safe and on the same page.
A Full Moon, or Just Another Night in Hospitality?
Was it a full moon? As one commenter noted, it was just a couple of days past, and the vibes were definitely strange. Maybe it’s the lunar cycle, or maybe it’s just life at the front desk, where every shift could bring a stalker, a shower-seeking stoner, or a communication breakdown worthy of a sitcom.
So next time you check in to a hotel late at night, give a nod to the night auditor. They’re not just checking IDs and printing receipts—they’re gatekeepers, therapists, detectives, and, sometimes, the only thing standing between order and chaos on the night shift.
Have you ever had a night at work where everything went off the rails? Share your own tales in the comments below—just, maybe, don’t ask your front desk clerk about their vacation.
Original Reddit Post: weird night (is there a full moon on the horizon?)