Servicing of rooms

[Pushka]

Just curious to know what time, in a good establishment, is a reasonable time to expect the room to be serviced.
Currently 4.35pm here, our room has been available since 9am and the staff just say our room is next. I'm not impressed but is this reasonable to others?

 

[trixydoza]

I usually call, offer a one-hour window when I'd like it done, and that tends to work. If it doesn't, I express my displeasure.

 

[Pushka]

I usually call, offer a one-hour window when I'd like it done, and that tends to work. If it doesn't, I express my displeasure.

Ok. Might try that. I have asked that it be done earlier tomorrow. Hope she doesnt spit in my water glass now. :eek

 

[amaroo]

Thank you note with tip should assist in avoiding the odd spit or toothbrush incident.

The turndown service normally requires a call to ensure it's completed with maximum convenience.

 

[opusman]

Definitely should be done by 4pm I reckon.

 

[snabbu]

Stay overs are always serviced last so if there were 90% departures on the day then it wouldn't be unusual for housekeeping to get to your room after 4pm.

 

[RooFlyer]

Seems to be the thread for asking this question:

A few years ago, especially in the USA there was a trend to offering the option of 'no room servicing' in exchange for a lower room rate for stays > 1 night. This occasionally appealed to me and was good value.

However I haven't seen it for about 2 years, but maybe I haven't stayed in the right places. Does it still occur or maybe the practice is retreating?

 

[opusman]

Does it still occur or maybe the practice is retreating?

Starwood WP have the option of passing on room service for 2 out of every 3 days in exchange for some bonus points, IIRC.

 

[Anna]

Just curious to know what time, in a good establishment, is a reasonable time to expect the room to be serviced.
Currently 4.35pm here, our room has been available since 9am and the staff just say our room is next. I'm not impressed but is this reasonable to others?

I wouldn't be happy if the room hadn't been serviced by 4.30pm. In fact I would probably assume that housekeeping had made a mistake and had missed it.

My expectation of the hotel's attention to my convenience depends on how much I am paying for the room. If I'm paying <$200 per night then my expectations are much lower than if I'm paying >$500 per night. If the latter, and I leave the room at 9am leaving the sign on the door that I want the room serviced, then I would expect it to be done before lunch time. The quicker they do it, the more impressed I will be by the service. Going to breakfast and coming back to a clean room always feels good but it's rare.

I find it amusing/frustrating that some swanky hotels have electronic buttons you can press to indicate you want your room serviced, but then they pay no more attention to them than to the cardboard signs on the doorhandle

 

[Denali]

I find it amusing/frustrating that some swanky hotels have electronic buttons you can press to indicate you want your room serviced, but then they pay no more attention to them than to the cardboard signs on the doorhandle

Marina Bay Sands comes to mind. We had a club room so I think rack rate was about $800+ per night, would leave in the morning approx. 7am and hit the "clean my room" button, come back about 3-4pm and still not done. I understand they have hundreds of rooms but I doubt every person in a "exec" level wanted their room cleaned from 7am onwards.

 

[significance]

At big hotels, I'd expect they'd have their cleaning staff working full time, 9am-5pm. So it would seem reasonable to me if some rooms and cleaned at 9am, and others just before 5pm. I was quite startled to have a knock on the door just after 8am recently on a Sunday morning in a Las Vegas strip hotel, though! Lucky we happened to be up.

 

[significance]

A few years ago, especially in the USA there was a trend to offering the option of 'no room servicing' in exchange for a lower room rate for stays > 1 night. This occasionally appealed to me and was good value.

However I haven't seen it for about 2 years, but maybe I haven't stayed in the right places. Does it still occur or maybe the practice is retreating?

I stayed at a hotel in San Diego last year that offered $5 vouchers to be used in their restaurant for each day that you didn't need your room cleaned. It was especially handy because I came down with a (pharyngitus and fever) virus while I was there and spent a couple of whole days in my room, not wanting to be disturbed.

 

[Timtammi]

If I come back to my room at any time in the mid to late afternoon and it's not been made up I am not happy. I would immediately call and ask that it be done or say I think they may have missed it. When travelling for work I'm always gone by 8 at the latest and I don't think its unreasonable to expect that if you do happen to come back in the later afternoon for a quick change before drinks and dinner that your room be done. If it happened more than once on any stay I probably wouldn't go back to that hotel as I see it as one of those core essentials that should just "happen" and that you shouldn't have to follow up.

 

[Flyer 777]

Had a stay at 5 star Adelaide hotel recently with my wife and 3yr old, called at 10am and asked for room to be serviced as we were leaving so it was ready when we returned so our little one could have a sleep. Returned at 3.30 room not serviced, went to reception, the wonderful young lady on reception apologised and called house keeping supervisor to have it done immediately and apologised and said it was not acceptable. Went back to room 45 mins later still not done, back to Reception and same wonderful lady was in shock and disbelief, her comment was if I cant get it done what hope do you have!!!
She disappeared returned and said it is being done now, she apologised over and over made no excuses which was impressive. Room was done, when we returned from dinner the was a bottle wine with a hand written card again apologising and saying she was embarrassed and it was totally unacceptable, but the big surprise was that she was giving us the night complimentary. Thats what I call service recovery and greatly appreciated.

 

[Pushka]

Ok. Good to hear I am not being unreasonable. The front desk said they were full - I shrugged and said that isn't my problem. We are paying around 212 euros a night so not a real cheapie. Finally got into the room around 5pm. Better not happen today or will be asking for the manager.
There is only a coffee maker in the room and no kettle for tea. We asked for one two days ago and they said all their kettles were being used.

 

[mel-world]

There is only a coffee maker in the room and no kettle for tea. We asked for one two days ago and they said all their kettles were being used.

Kettles getting to be very rare beasts (almost extinct) - you are expected to use the coffee maker, especially in the US and Europe - but not in the UK generally. Just love the taste of coffee with my early morning tea - NOT. Similarly with real milk versus creamer.

But I am OT.

I would expect the room to be cleaned by 1400 in a 4 or 5 star property although I agree with earlier poster that it can depend on the turnover of rooms. If a convention finishes or a big group is leaving, do those rooms first so I can have an early check in. I often see the cleaner working in the corridor, so I say when I will be back. If staying for several days we usually ask for the room to be cleaned only every 2/3 days but have never been offered a voucher or points. I do get annoyed though when working in the room and the 'Do not Disturb' is on and there is a knock at the door or a phone call to check on why you don't want your room cleaned. Happens everytime at one property despite having it on my profile. Maybe they think at my age I might have expired overnight!!

 

[get me outta here]

In LAS in The Carriage House, I put the sign out DND. Twice I did that and both times the phone rang disturbing me with some guy gabbling on really quickly as if he'd done this a million times before.

 

[Pushka]

Yay. Got my kettle. So nice to make a cup of tea in a room serviced by 10.30 am.

 

[cmon0005]

I stayed at a Westin few years ago overseas in an exec level room there was one day where my room wasn't cleaned till 7pm!! and only after I complained about the breakfast cart from the morning still being there!!

 

[Denali]

In LAS in The Carriage House, I put the sign out DND. Twice I did that and both times the phone rang disturbing me with some guy gabbling on really quickly as if he'd done this a million times before.

Happened to me in NY. Put DND on the door for a nap and they phoned to tell me that I had DND on the door but my laundry was ready.

I think I dispelled the general belief that aussies are "nice people" that day.