Brits have been cautioned about a common blunder they could be making when checking into a hotel.

Arriving at a hotel you booked weeks in advance is often brimming with anticipation and excitement, whether it's for a weekend city break or a relaxing rural retreat. And while it signals the beginning of a night away, with customer service at the core of hospitality, how you conduct yourself during your stay can make a considerable difference — even if you're completely unaware of it.

"The worst thing to do at a hotel is to treat the staff badly", etiquette expert William Hanson revealed. "No one deserves to be treated with anything but dignity and compassion - it's so basic."

He went on to say: "You don't need to have gone to an etiquette school just to know that everyone needs basic good manners. It's just being nice to each other, and if you don't think that's needed in a hotel environment, or in any environment, then that's quite sad."

Research from Hotels.com revealed that 40% of Brits believe their hotel manners are deteriorating, with 51% admitting to being rude towards staff. Yet behaving in this manner can genuinely affect the quality of your stay.

In a stark warning to Brits, William said: "It starts from the moment you walk in, you have a first impression as a guest, we all have a first impression of a hotel, from walking in, but the service staff are also judging the guests.

"The service staff will have a first impression of the guests, from walking up to the front desk and within that minute, in terms of who they will upgrade or offer a welcome drink to. Some guests don't realise that you are being watched the moment you arrive."

Offering further guidance ahead of a hotel visit, William remarked: "Just be conscious of a hotel. Obviously, you are paying for it, you are going to be looked after and sort of pampered to whatever level of hotel you're in, but it's not your own house.

"You might be fine having things all over the floor in your bedroom, but actually, that's going to make housekeeping service very difficult when they come in to service the room.

"You don't have to make the bed; that's their job, they're going to do that for you, that's part of the bargain. But they've got to be able to get to the bed, and there can't be clothes, items, and your entire life strewn over the bed. That is where it becomes difficult. So, just be conscious of where you put your worldly possessions in life."

Meanwhile, the Hotels.com research revealed that 25% of Brits admitted to leaving their hotel room excessively untidy, while 23% owned up to washing their underwear in the hotel kettle. In an effort to help visitors improve their behaviour for their next hotel visit, William compiled a 'grand etiquette hotel guide'.

He explained: "At the heart of my guide with Hotels.com is the idea that small, thoughtful behaviours add up to big rewards: from a better night's sleep and improved service to savings on future trips."

Check out William's top tips below...

William Hanson's top tips

1. The art of engaging staff with dignity - Treat every member of staff, from the cleaner to the manager, with genuine respect and an open ear. This isn't just about being nice; it's about unlocking personalised service. Staff are far more likely to go the extra mile for a guest who treats them as valued individuals.
2. Halcyon hallways (and the virtue of silence) - Corridors are not thoroughfares for celebration, but shared spaces requiring a degree of restraint. One should move through them quietly, particularly in the later hours, keeping voices low and footsteps gentle.
3. Libationary lessons - A well-enjoyed drink need not become a public performance. Moderation is key, particularly in shared spaces where one’s behaviour is on quiet display. By remaining composed, you retain dignity and control of your surroundings.
4. On burning embers and better judgment - Hotel rooms are designed for comfort, not combustion. Lighting a cigarette indoors undermines both the space and the experience for future guests and inevitably results in penalties that could have been easily avoided.
5. Housekeeping is not an archaeological activity - A hotel room is not one’s private domain to abandon entirely. Keeping your space in reasonable order (not pristine, but certainly not chaotic) ensures that housekeeping can do their job efficiently.
6. Lavation gentility - The kettle, charmingly utilitarian as it is, exists for hot drinks only. Incredulously, some people attempt to use it for laundry, and they deserve to be cut off from society. Repurposing it for this is a step too far.
7. Borrowing, ownership, and other dangerous assumptions - Hotels provide generously, but not without limits. Slippers and toiletries may accompany you home; larger items most certainly may not. Understanding this quiet distinction spares one both awkwardness and unnecessary charges.
8. Marshalling one’s morning repast - The breakfast buffet is not a free-for-all, but a civilised ritual governed by the simple act of queuing. Waiting one’s turn may feel distinctly British, but it ensures order and ease for all.
9. The folly of flag‑planting by towel - Placing a towel on a sun lounger at dawn and vanishing until mid-afternoon is a practice best left unadopted. A lounger is not secured by textile alone, but by presence.
10. Loyalty, and why it gets one further - A surprising number of travellers overlook the simple advantage of loyalty programmes. By consolidating bookings and collecting rewards, one quietly accumulates tangible benefits, like Hotels.com Rewards – earn £100 in Hotels.com cash after 10 eligible nights.

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