Dragoncon Livejournal Community Archive

The recent post about etiquette at restaurants reminded me of something that I wanted to mention. People may get all cranky with me about it, but I thought I'd take a moment to point it out anyway.

Here's the thing: I know that many of you cram lots of folks into a hotel room that's meant for 4 people (or less). I understand this and have no issue with it. However, last year there were huge issues with getting new towels and bedding in the hotel.  When the hotel isn't just 'at capacity' but is actually quite a bit over due to people cramming more than expected bodies in a room, it puts a pretty heavy strain on the hotel. Yes, some of it is the hotel's fault, but not all of it.

If you are taking a 'floor space' in a room with 10 people when it's meant for 4, please consider bringing your own towels and definitely your own bedding. There are only 3 of us in our room, two adults and a child, and I bring towels from home because I hate fighting to get more. (We do ask them not to take them, but they don't listen.) I actually witnessed a few folks taking sheets from the rack of bedding when housekeeping wasn't watching. I can't help but assume this happens more often than that one time.

Last year, my daughter woke up sick at 3:00 in the morning, and made a complete mess of the bed. The blankets, the sheets, it all had to go. We called down to housekeeping and the manager apologized, said it could be a while, because they had a shortage on bedding. Good thing I'd brought extra towels, because that's what she slept on/under for 4+ hours.  This year, I'll be bringing a back-up set of sheets as well, just in case.

As I said before, I don't blame this completely on overcapacity rooms, I also blame the hotel. Still, if your room is going to help create that laundry strain, please consider asking the 'extras' in your room to come with their own towels and bedding. I'll be bringing my own, just to be safe!

ETA: Don't forget to tip! (Especially if you let your room get all grungy and not touched for the entire weekend. Think of the poor housekeeper having to clean up that mess!)