The Hotel Guests Who Just Kept Giving (and Taking): A Wild Ride in Hospitality
If you think working the front desk at a hotel is all about greeting guests with a smile and handing out key cards, think again. Sometimes, it’s a front-row seat to the greatest show on earth: the “Entitled Guest Circus,” starring performers who seem determined to break every rule and push every boundary—all before noon. Today’s feature? The jaw-dropping saga of the guests who just kept on giving… and giving… and giving.
The Reservation That Started It All
It all began innocently enough. A guest called in to reserve a specific room for Sunday night, and the front desk agent happily obliged. So far, so good, right? But as u/SkwrlTail so astutely put it, “Some people exist to make it very damn clear why policies exist.” That’s about as ominous as foreshadowing gets in the hospitality world.
The guests checked in, but instead of simply enjoying their stay, they decided to spice things up by sneaking not one, but multiple dogs into their room. The kicker? The room they requested wasn’t even one of the dog-friendly options. And while the hotel does accommodate pets, there’s a reason—not all rooms are created equal when it comes to fur, dander, and the mysterious power of mucky paws.
To make matters worse, the couple extended their stay without moving to a pet-approved room, a lapse that, as the original poster (u/urban_mango) admits, could be chalked up to a colleague’s oversight. But this was only the opening act.
The Late Check-Out Tango
The next morning, our guest star returned to the front desk—this time, with a request for late check-out. The answer was a polite but firm “no,” as these requests are supposed to be made in advance. The clock was ticking; check-out time was 11:00 AM.
But if hospitality workers know one thing, it’s that some guests treat “no” as the beginning of negotiations. Five minutes later, the guest was back, insisting it would be “impossible” to leave on time. Still, the front desk stood their ground.
And then, the plot twist: “I was diagnosed with cancer yesterday, so we didn’t sleep much last night. I’m letting my wife sleep in.” Now, empathy is a crucial part of customer service, but when staff saw that same guest enjoying the bar with friends the night before and housekeepers reported the wife had been up all morning, the story didn’t quite add up. As u/fallguy25 and u/MightyManorMan both wondered, were these guests destined for the infamous DNR (Do Not Rent) list? Spoiler alert: They absolutely should be.
When Rules Meet Reality (and Rugs)
By now, the patience of the staff was wearing thin. The guest made a third appearance at the desk, requesting “at least 20 minutes more” for check-out—despite the fact that their dogs’ presence meant the housekeeping team needed extra time for a deep clean. The guest smirked and walked away, seemingly unfazed by policies, allergies, or basic decency.
Finally, at 12:10 PM—over an hour late—the couple checked out. They were promptly charged for the late check-out, the extra cleaning required for the dog-stained linens, and the towels (which, by the way, could have been avoided had they used the dog towels provided in pet-friendly rooms). The room was left in a state that would make even the most seasoned housekeeper shudder. Oh, and about breakfast? They’d helped themselves to the entire pastry basket, because why not take a carb-loading souvenir?
But the show wasn’t over. After checking out, the guests settled into the residents’ lounge—dogs in tow—until 3PM. When they finally departed, they left behind one final “gift”: a doggy deposit right on the rug. As u/MorgainofAvalon quipped, “Please tell me that you charged an extra cleaning fee for the poop.” One can only hope.
Community Wisdom: Why Policies Matter (and Why Some Guests Are Legendary)
Reddit’s hospitality pros and enthusiasts were quick to chime in with their reactions, ranging from disbelief to hilarity. The top comment from u/fallguy25 cut right to the chase: “Did you put them on the DNR list?” Several others agreed, noting that hotels should absolutely track guests who leave chaos in their wake. “Other than DNR, do some hotels keep information about bad guests? That would be very useful,” mused u/MeatofKings, highlighting a hospitality industry secret: many hotels do maintain internal lists of notorious guests.
Then there’s the philosophical commentary. “Tolerance is a very slippery slope,” warned u/MightyManorMan, suggesting that letting one infraction slide often opens the floodgates for more. And as u/SkwrlTail and u/Severe-Hope-9151 agreed, some people seem to exist solely as cautionary tales for the rest of us—a sentiment echoed by hotel staff everywhere.
Of course, not all pet owners are like these infamous guests. As u/CZFangirl lamented, “I love traveling with my dog. He’s a perfect gentleman and woos the staff. I book as traveling with pet and pay the pet fee. The entitlement of AH’s is astounding.” For every horror story, there are dozens of responsible, courteous guests—though those stories don’t tend to go viral.
The Moral of the Story: Don’t Be That Guest
So, what’s the takeaway from this wild ride? For guests: policies exist for a reason, and respecting them isn’t just about rules—it’s about common courtesy for staff and future guests alike (especially those with allergies or a low tolerance for chaos). For staff: stand firm, document everything, and never underestimate the power of a well-placed DNR.
And for everyone else? Savor these cautionary tales from the front desk trenches, and maybe leave a little extra tip for your next hotel housekeeper. They’ve probably seen more than you could ever imagine.
Are you in the hospitality industry or just a fan of outrageous hotel stories? Share your wildest guest encounters or thoughts in the comments below! And if you’ve ever been tempted to sneak a dog into a non-pet-friendly room… just don’t. The rug (and the staff) will thank you.
Original Reddit Post: Guests that just keep on giving