The Curious Case of the Hotel Sex Swing and the 'Dad': A Front Desk Fable
When you work the hotel front desk, you never know what’s coming next. Is it a late-night guest seeking extra towels, a misplaced room key, or—if you’re particularly “lucky”—a phone call that leaves you questioning reality, your career choices, and perhaps the entire concept of “family vacation”?
Recently, a Redditor from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk shared one such unforgettable encounter, and the internet did not disappoint with its blend of wisdom, wit, and side-eye. Buckle up, because you’re about to enter the wild world of “Him and his ‘Dad’”—a tale that’ll make you laugh, cringe, and maybe Google “hotel room dimensions” out of sheer curiosity.
When Dad (Apparently) Wants a Sex Swing
Picture this: you’re at work, fielding the usual calls for room rates and reservation requests. Then, a man inquires about a single-bed room for himself and his “Dad.” Not unusual—families travel together, times are tough, and hotel rooms don’t grow on trees.
But suddenly, the conversation veers hard into “wait, what?” territory. The caller asks, “Can we fit a swing into the room?” The front desk agent, ever the professional, clarifies, “A swing like a playground swing?”—already sensing the storm on the horizon. The answer: “No, a sex swing.”
Cue the sound of a thousand eyebrows hitting the ceiling.
To the agent’s credit, they keep their cool, noting that sex swings usually require ceiling mounts—something hotels (for reasons both obvious and insurance-related) do not appreciate. But the caller isn’t done. He ups the ante, inviting the agent to come out to his vehicle to “see if [they] can make it work.”
The agent’s response—equal parts boundary-setting and survival instinct: “No, that’s not something I'm going to do.”
The Community Reacts: Between Shock, Laughter, and...Expertise?
Reddit loves a good hotel horror story, but this one had commenters both bewildered and, oddly enough, ready to educate. As u/DaneAlaskaCruz—clearly the most knowledgeable swinger in the thread—explained, “There are sex swings that do not need to be mounted to a ceiling.” Apparently, portable, freestanding sex swings exist, complete with metal frames and all the discretion of an IKEA furniture delivery. “It takes up a lot of room, but no attachments to the wall or ceiling,” they noted, adding, “It is also surprisingly quiet and no annoying creaking springs or metal creaks.”
Another commenter, u/random_name_245, chimed in with the (unsettling) observation that such contraptions have made appearances in certain “videos” filmed in hotel rooms—no ceiling hardware required.
But as thoroughly as the logistics were dissected, the community’s consensus was clear: no front desk agent should be asked to inspect a stranger’s “swing” in a parking lot. As u/DaneAlaskaCruz dryly put it, “Good for you OP on not entertaining their request to go out to the car... They might have had some other nefarious motives by asking you to come out to the car.” Others, like u/grmrsan, speculated it could have been a prank call or even a setup for something more sinister.
“His Dad”? Or “His Daddy”? The Plot (And Eyebrows) Thicken
Of course, the oddest part for many was the caller’s insistence that the room was for him and his “Dad.” Cue a chorus of Redditors raising both moral and linguistic eyebrows. u/Martin_y1 slyly suggested, “I think he meant ‘his daddy’!”—a sentiment echoed (and winked at) throughout the thread. u/NorahGretz added, “You heard pappy, he meant papi.”
Some found it squicky; u/Rick_B_9446 summed up the collective shudder: “Saying he wants to put a sex swing in a room with his ‘dad?’ Yuck! I want to go take a shower.” Others were more pragmatic—after all, what consenting adults do is their business, as long as it’s not, you know, a literal family affair.
Prank or Not? The Great Reddit Debate
Was it all just a prank? The community was divided. u/4Shroeder and u/berrygirl890 called “prank call” from the jump, while the OP [u/bloodyriz] admitted, “Never doubted it was. Of course, I also won't assume it was either. People can be pretty gross.”
But even among the skeptics, there was agreement that, prank or not, the request was a new level of “nope” for the front desk playbook. As u/No-Surround-1225 grumbled, “Prank phone calls involving the sexual nature is just lazy.” If you’re going to prank, at least bring some creativity to the table (or the swing, as it were).
Lessons From the Front Desk: Boundaries, Curiosity, and Why You Never Go to the Parking Lot
So what’s the takeaway? For one, hotel workers deserve hazard pay for the sheer volume of weirdness they field—sometimes before noon. Secondly, if you’re planning to bring unconventional “furniture” into your hotel room, maybe just check the room dimensions online (and keep the details to yourself).
And finally: If a stranger invites you to inspect their vehicle for “swing compatibility,” just say no.
Have you ever worked hotel front desk, or had a guest request that left you speechless? Share your stories below! And if you’re reading this from the lobby—may your shifts be weird in only the best ways.
Original Reddit Post: Him and his 'Dad'