The Most Bizarre Hotel Guest Questions: True Tales From the Front Desk
If you’ve ever worked the front desk at a hotel—or even just stayed in one—you know every guest is unique. But for the staff, “unique” can mean fielding questions that range from the sweetly naïve to the utterly baffling. Recently, Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk featured a viral post by u/vinyljunkie32, sharing a curated list of the most memorable (and sometimes mystifying) guest quotes. The post struck a chord, racking up nearly 200 upvotes and a cascade of hilarious, relatable, and occasionally exasperated comments from hospitality veterans worldwide.
What drives guests to ask, “Does the green light on the trash bin mean there’s a bomb inside?” or to demand a “perfect beach holiday” in a town three hours from the nearest coast? Let’s take a tour of the wild and wonderful world behind the hotel counter, with a little help from the r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk community.
“Is There a Secret to This?”: The Art of the Odd Question
For many hotel employees, the front desk isn’t just a place to check in—it’s a stage for some of life’s strangest improv. The questions roll in fast: “Can I delay my shuttle to the airport that will arrive in 2 minutes? I’ve just ordered a pancake and won’t be able to catch it on time!” (Never mind that the hotel offers neither pancakes nor shuttles.)
Some guest queries are so off the wall they’re almost poetic. “Corridor is too short,” one guest complained, as if the laws of physics could be stretched for their comfort. Another, struggling with the entrance, asked, “Is there a secret to this?”—only to be told, gently, “Just push.”
Yet, as u/CheckYoSelf8224 pointed out in the comments, sometimes guests seem to “leave their common sense at home” when they go on vacation. OP chimed in with the poetic reply: “Head is still in the clouds and they'll collect it on their way back.” And honestly, who among us hasn’t had a brain-fog moment while traveling?
Culture Shock and Caution: When Common Sense Gets Lost in Translation
Not all questions are as silly as they seem. Some reflect genuine confusion or cultural differences. Multiple commenters, like u/brain_over_body and u/KazulsPrincess, leapt to defend the classic, “Are you ALLOWED to drink the tap water in New Zealand?” As it turns out, Americans (and many others) are taught to be wary of non-bottled water abroad—sometimes with good reason, sometimes out of habit. As OP dryly clarified, “We won't arrest you for it.”
Laundry room etiquette, too, is a global minefield. The anxiety over someone dumping your wet clothes on the floor led to the classic, “Somebody is using the dryer I wanted to use… so I have to put my washing on again!” As u/brain_over_body noted, this is a real concern in college dorms and hostels everywhere—though, as u/Physical-Policy1357 countered, “be there to take them out when they’re done washing for heck sakes!!”
Then there are the navigation questions: “We drive on the right, so which side of the stairs do I walk on?” This, surprisingly, drew a nuanced debate in the comments. As u/technos explained, pedestrian “sides” vary from country to country (and even city to city in Japan!). OP, meanwhile, wondered why people don’t just observe and adapt: “It’s a bit like asking ‘Do I push or pull?’ Try one. If it doesn’t work, try the other.”
Reviews, Ratings, and Requests: The Customer is…Confused?
Some guest requests feel like performance art. One wanted to know, “How much is the floating boat?” The answer? “More expensive than the one that sunk.” Another tried to book a “cabin” in a hotel that has never had cabins, insisting, “Oh, I booked 6 in a cabin, as that was all you had left.”
Reviews can be equally bewildering: “The towels should be white and soft on the skin, but they are dark gray, not white. 4/10.” And then there’s the ever-popular, “I asked for a view of the nature but the trees are blocking it.”
As u/kiwipetey (a hotel maintenance worker) quipped, “Guests don’t need an IQ test to stay, but it might sift a few out.” OP added that if you want to test a product’s durability, “pop it in a hostel environment first and see how long it lasts...”
Of course, sometimes it’s the earnestness that gets you: “Do you guys have hot water bottles?” When told no, the guest clarified, “Err no man… I just like hot water bottles.” As u/ShadowDragon8685 said, “It doesn’t hurt to ask, as long as you take a no gracefully.”
The Joy (and Madness) of Hospitality
Despite the head-scratchers, these stories are a reminder of why hospitality is both challenging and endlessly entertaining. For every “Is midnight 12 o’clock?” there’s a guest who just wants to be sure they’re not missing out—or making a cultural faux pas.
And every now and then, you get the perfect closer: “I just wanted to tell you that somebody did not push the button to flush the toilet.” Did they do it themselves? “No, I didn’t want to, because whoever didn’t also didn't wash their hands.” Sometimes, you just can’t win.
As one commenter observed, “When people go on vacation, they tend to leave their common sense at home.” But as the front desk staff know all too well, that’s what makes every day an adventure.
Conclusion: Your Turn—What’s the Weirdest Question You’ve Heard?
The next time you check into a hotel, spare a thought for the folks at the front desk—the unsung heroes of travel chaos and comedy. Have you ever encountered (or asked!) a question that makes you laugh in hindsight? Share your favorite front desk stories in the comments below—because in hospitality, truth really is stranger than fiction.
Original Reddit Post: A list of lovely quotes from our lovely guests.