Why Hotel Staff Won’t Dig Out Your Car (and Other Snowstorm Truths from the Front Desk)
Picture this: you’re cozied up in your hotel room, sipping mediocre coffee, watching the snow fall. Outside, the world is transforming into a winter wonderland… or, for some hotel guests, a winter nightmare. Because when inches (or feet) of snow pile up, some travelers expect more than just a mint on their pillow—they want the hotel staff to shovel out their car. Yes, really.
Recently, an epic saga from Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk made the rounds, highlighting just how quickly “common sense” can freeze when the forecast turns white. The storm was no secret; residents and travelers alike had a week’s warning. Yet, as the snowdrifts grew, so did the expectations—some entirely unreasonable—of what hotel staff should do.
The Great Snowfall and the “Uno Reverse” Guests
The original poster (u/ScenicDrive-at5) set the scene: a major snowstorm, locals checking in to avoid power outages, and the hotel staff hustling to keep walkways and parking lots clear. The hotel made it clear—parking was self-serve, no valet, no vehicle info collected, and a sign that plainly said, “Park at your convenience...hotel assumes no responsibility.”
Despite this, a parade of guests marched to the front desk, apparently shocked that hotel staff wouldn’t be shoveling out their individual cars. The demands ranged from the panicked (“What am I supposed to do?! Wait until Spring?!”) to the accusatory (“Are you keeping us trapped here forever?!”), with a strong dash of entitlement. As the OP quipped, “Take some of the salt out of your personality and use that to melt the snow around your car, perhaps.”
“Common Sense Is a Superpower”: Community Reactions
Reddit’s hospitality veterans and road warriors leapt into the comments with tales and truths that were equal parts exasperated and hilarious. As u/BoredCheese put it, “Common sense is so uncommon it’s actually a superpower.” And if you’ve ever worked the front desk, you know that’s not an exaggeration.
Many commenters agreed: expecting a hotel to dig out your car is…well, a stretch. u/NocturnalMisanthrope exclaimed, “I have NEVER heard of a hotel digging out people’s cars.” A few, like u/dgf0514 and u/Froggypwns, shared rare stories of hotels going above and beyond—sometimes out of Midwestern hospitality, or a staffer simply being a good person. But these were the exception, not the rule. As u/Prestigious-Bluejay5 wisely summarized, “Only the entitlest of the entitled expect it.”
And what about tools? Some guests apparently expect free ice scrapers, too. u/Intelligent-Pie-338 explained why this is a non-starter: “If we had ice scrapers, they’d immediately be thrown in the car of the person we loan them to and never seen again. And I’m definitely not lending you my own ice scraper.” Other hotels tried loaning them out, only to see every last scraper disappear (RIP, hotel-branded snow brushes).
What about plows burying cars with snow? As the OP clarified, this storm was so heavy that most cars were already buried before any plowing began—so you can’t even blame the snow removal crew.
Where Does Hotel Responsibility End?
Here’s the truth, affirmed by both seasoned staff and frequent travelers: hotels are responsible for clearing walkways and parking lots, making sure you can safely move about their property. But your car? That’s your territory.
u/Own_Examination_2771 summed it up: “We have shovels and snow brushes/ice scrapers that we offer to guests and that is at most what I will do for a guest lol our parking lot is huge—if I was shoveling everyone out I’d be out there for hours.” Some hotels will lend you a shovel or broom. Others, like u/oliviagonz10, will help out guests who are elderly or in need—but don’t expect help if you’re young and rude.
And then there’s the liability side. As u/almostmorning (a hotel owner from the Alps) explained, “There is no way in hell I’m touching a guest’s car. Ice is well known for leaving scratches. Not to mention slipping with the shovel and knocking off the side mirror or something. Nope. They get shovels, scratchers and brooms. But no personal assistance.”
A few luxury hotels do offer snow removal as part of their sky-high rates, as u/roloder pointed out, but if you’re not forking out for a five-star experience, pack your own shovel (or at least a credit card to scrape your windshield).
Life Lessons from the Lot: Self-Help and Humor
Ultimately, this snowy saga is about more than just digging out a car. It’s about self-reliance, realistic expectations, and a little empathy for the folks working the desk at 7 a.m. after an all-night blizzard.
As u/Prestigious_Ad_1037, a seasoned traveler, put it, “Making your problem—that really isn’t really a problem—someone else’s problem is … the problem.” Or, as another commenter wryly observed, “The number of times someone has said ‘I need a few of your guys to...’ I don’t know where they think I hide this army of people with nothing to do.”
So, next time you’re snowed in at a hotel, remember: bring a shovel, pack your patience, and don’t expect the front desk to be your personal pit crew. If you’re lucky, you might find a kind soul willing to lend a hand—or at least a broom. But in most cases, as the sign says, “hotel assumes no responsibility.” And that’s just common sense… or is it?
Have your own snowbound hotel adventure (or horror story)? Share it in the comments below—let’s see whose tale takes the cake for “most entitled guest” or “most heroic staffer”!
Original Reddit Post: No, it's NOT the hotel's responsibility to shovel YOUR car