These Hotels Deserve A Double Take
For all the lovely experiences we’ve had away from home, we’ve all had that one hotel that just left us with the shudders. As long as you’ve had to stay in a hotel at one time or the other – we’re sure you’ve come across a hotel fail that left you stunned. Some of them are so ridiculous, you’ll wonder what got into the minds of the people who entered these hotels in the first place. If you’ve stayed in hotels before, then you’ll surely understand the struggle. Sometimes you expect pristine amenities and other times your expectations don’t live up. Looking for a good laugh or a cringe moment? You ended up in the right place. These hotel fails will reveal that we’re not alone in the world of hotel mishaps.
Leaking Endlessly
Yes, this Helsinki hotel is considered top-tier. However, the unfortunate layout of the sink in their washroom must be giving guests a headache. You’ll wonder how the sink was allowed to be installed without someone putting a stop to it.
Think about all the processes that happened behind the scenes to get to this point. There were an architect, handyman, contractor, and plumber who worked on the sink and somehow no one proposed a longer faucet. One thing is for sure: the countertop will always be clean.
No Privacy
Most people cherish their time on the throne and the privacy that comes with it. Well, this isn’t the case with this bathroom’s designer. They believe that time should be shared with your roommates, your friends, whoever you’re splitting that room with.
But we just can’t seem to come up with another instance where anyone would be okay using the bathroom in plain sight. Imagine the horror of sharing the hotel room with someone from work, and you’re faced with this bathroom? Your working relationship is about to be taken to new heights.
Scary Shower Curtain
No matter how many or how few hotels you’ve stayed in, you’re bound to have come across some bizarre ‘modern’ decor decisions. It’s hard to say which annoys us the most in this situation: the design fail on the shower curtain or the man jokingly clutching his throat.
The horror of hearing a cry for help in the other room then seeing your husband holding his neck with bloodstains on the curtain. His wife would probably have had a heart attack from the sight of it. He’s definitely not getting away with it.
Exceeding Expectations
When you requested room service after the hunger kicked in, this was definitely not what you expected, right? Although the meal must have come cheap, the hassle in making breakfast while hungry isn’t. What we expected were well-prepared scrambled eggs and maybe some waffles, but not this.
Some assembly required? They didn’t even bother toasting the bread. So much for room service. At least the food was nicely arranged on a cafeteria tray and they cared enough to add an apple to eat while toasting the bread. Part of this complete breakfast!
Blocked Or Not
When you take a closer look at this door we found in a hotel in San Francisco, you’ll know something does not sit right. At first glance, it looks like the railing blocked off the room and it’s off-limits to everybody.
Now, look closer, you’ll notice the hinge on the railing – this means you can actually reach the door. The only conclusion we could come up with is that there’s something behind that door or it’s just another hotel fail. We will never truly know.
No Hot Shower
After spending the entire day in the sun, tanning, talking to friends, taking in the sights, and enjoying your vacation – you’ll be looking forward to taking that warm shower that you’ve been dreaming of all day. But it turns out, joke’s on you.
As you open the bathroom and you’re about to run the shower, you’re faced with this. We think the hotel intentionally did this to ensure their hot water bill doesn’t skyrocket. Ingenious, isn’t it? Well, they wouldn’t be getting a good review for it.
Wrong Translation?
Here’s a laugh while you step into the shower to get clean. We really hope this is a mistranslation and the hotel owners don’t mean it literally. This could be as a result of asking the receptionist to translate the statement for non-English speakers.
As most of her peers would do, she simply used Google Translate to get the job done. Technically, it’s correct but scary nonetheless. Well, they did their best to warn you. Keep in mind that no matter how carefully you slip, you’ll still land on the floor.
New Word?
Some hotels are renowned for hospitality and they try to live up to the billing. This hotel had everything mapped out. They planned to etch this night in the memory of this couple for eternity and they succeeded in doing just that – albeit for different reasons though.
The concierge tried to use rose petals to write ‘congratulations’ but ended up failing miserably at it. On second thought, we probably are the ones missing the point completely. What if the person lodging at this hotel is named Tulation and he just got promoted at his job? Let’s just try to keep an open mind before we consider it a hotel fail.
The Hilton Public Library
There’s this misconception where people sometimes think most things in the hotel are already paid for and can be used by them. If the items in your room are complimentary, then why wouldn’t these books be free for patrons to use?
From the look of things, Hilton put the books there to give the room a scholarly feel. If you’re looking at things from the management’s perspective, there’s the possibility that most of their customers take the books without returning them. So you can’t really blame them if that was the case.
Art Or Hair
Art appeals to different people on different levels. What some people call art may actually be trash to another person. Yet even with that in mind, we’re not sure what to qualify for the piece we came across in this hotel room.
Should we call it a piece of artistic genius? Or instead, is it just a bunch of methodically arranged and framed clumps of hair? Regardless of our opinion, someone liked it enough and decided to share it with the hotel’s paying customers.
Getting In The Mood
Hotel owners go the extra mile to ensure the comfort of their guests. Knowing full well that you may be patronizing them for certain reasons, they try to set you in the mood in different ways, to get you to unwind, to feel comfortable.
Thanks to the strategic placements of these lights, it’ll be hard to miss the picture it paints in any person’s mind. Whether it gets you all hot and bothered or not, we give them an A for effort. The only problem is that most people prefer the lights off for things like that.
Cinema Room
We’re sure one of the key features this hotel used to attract customers is the fact that they have a movie room. Usually, the purpose of one in an establishment is for people to relax and unwind, but with the size of this screen, we sincerely doubt it is likely to happen.
We can’t begin to imagine the disappointment people feel when it was movie night and they saw this. We wonder how those at the back would enjoy the movie because it doesn’t seem like they will be getting a bigger screen anytime soon.
Horror Steps
These steps would be a horror for some people especially since those that had a wild night involved lots of drinks. With the design used on the steps, it is hard to make out the individual steps and the possibility of slipping has never been higher.
It’ll take extra effort from clear-headed people to climb up or down the stairs – so we’re trying to imagine how hard it’ll be for intoxicated people. On the other hand, maybe it’s the hotel’s way of trying to keep their customers sober. What do you think?
Right Or Left?
Confusing tourists and visitors has never been this fun, and this hotel is taking it to a whole new level. This sign is like a puzzle, and you can’t wait to find out if you’re in the right place or not.
Are rooms 201 to 216 on the right or on the left? You can never tell until you try. If they have a sign like this to find the rooms, we wonder what other puzzles they have to task the brains of their guests. With this hotel, we’re sure there will never be a dull moment.
Blocked View
Lodge with us, they said. We have a wonderful room with an amazing view, they said. We wonder about the logic behind the placement of this curtain. Is there a secret passageway or door around there somewhere that we aren’t aware of?
Are they hiding something sinister behind those walls – which could be the reason for the curtains? We hope the customer didn’t have to shell out some extra cash to pay for this bare bones room, because he’ll definitely be requesting a refund.
Joke Or Insult
Customer satisfaction is the number one priority for most businesses and they drill it into the ears of their staff every chance they get. We’re standing on the bridge with this one, because it could be seen as a terrible insult or a well-crafted joke.
Even if it’s a joke, they took it a little too far. Customer suggestions are one of the things that make businesses succeed. Whoever had the idea of using a shredder as a customer suggestion box would definitely be having a field day, as the shredder is full.
Wisdom Nuggets
There’s a saying that goes: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” This hotel took it to another level as they had some words of advice for their customers. Knowing some of their customers would be coming from different parts of the world, management dished out some nuggets of wisdom that would make their stay pleasurable.
From the translation provided, it’s apparent the management of the esteemed Star Hotel warmly want to express to their customers that they expect them to be on their best behavior. We wonder what the punishment would be if anyone is found wanting.
To Smoke Or Not To Smoke
If you’re looking for the graphical depiction of mixed signals, here you have it. This guest was given a hotel room where you aren’t allowed to smoke. But then again, there’s an ashtray in the room with a no-smoking sign on it.
We wonder if there are other uses for ashtrays apart from smoking. Well, it could come in handy if you have earrings and rings you don’t want to lose during your stay. If there are other uses for it, we’d like to know.
Smiling Terror
There’s nothing as welcoming as this photo of a red-haired man grinning at you. If you didn’t notice, he’s carrying a phone with the hopes of taking your picture to make you remember your stay at their esteemed hotel. Don’t you feel all warm and cozy?
We wonder how imposing this picture would be at night when you’re trying to sleep or when you wake up to pee only for you to see this picture staring at you. We’re also curious as to how many chins there are outside of frame.
Surprise Surprise
There’s this sense of joy you feel as a customer when you notice your hotel went the extra mile just to put a smile on your face. It was pure joy for this customer when he found a large gift box waiting for him as he arrived in his room.
He couldn’t hide the disappointment on his face when he discovered that the box was empty except for two bars of soap. What other reminder do you need to stay clean? Yet another example of using a package that’s way too big for the ‘present’ concealed therein.
Salt And Pepper
We know it’s not easy to manage a hotel. There are so many things to be done and the task can be overwhelming if they are understaffed. All it would have taken was to assign someone without too much on his hands to remove the pepper and salts from their packets.
Honestly, were they that lazy that they couldn’t take a minute to tear open those packets? It’s not exactly labor-intensive! We’re sure most guests would not be too happy to remove them from the pots as they’ll have to remove the packets themselves before use.
Unique Username
Everyone loves free Wi-Fi with fast download speeds. This hotel pays premium prices to ensure its guests have one of the best internet access options to make their stay memorable and allow them to work and surf as they please.
However, something caught the guest’s attention when he looked at his personal ticket and discovered his unique username. The username is something he wouldn’t be forgetting anytime soon. If you separate the word in two, you’ll have another name for a dog and a toy.
Name Fail
The name of your establishment is very important, as it’ll be on the lips of your customers every now and then. A rule of thumb is to always check the meaning of your proposed name in other languages before you make a decision.
This hotel name must have sounded cool in Vietnamese, even if the proprietors didn’t know just how much the meaning changes when pronounced in English. Although it’s not spelled the same way, if you say the name of this hotel on live TV, it’ll definitely be bleeped.
Elevator Button
We’ve seen several things on this list that would leave you astounded, but this elevator button stands out. We have several questions that need answers – was it a misspelling or do they mean it in the literal sense? We’re feeling rather attacked.
Out of curiosity, a number of visitors must have gone to that floor after hours to see if they’ll keep to their word. They probably may be disappointed to find out the button meant to say: “Please push for after-hours assistance.”
Awkward Bathroom Time
The story behind this picture is that two people from the same office decided to share a hotel room, only to discover their room’s toilet looked like this. Even for couples that have been together for years, it can be more than a bit awkward having to do your business in the full view of your partner.
Oftentimes, bathroom time is a private time that most people cherish as they have time to think of several things – from the relevant to the mundane. It would have been better if the bathroom had blinds or if the glass had been translucent.
In The Spotlight
Sometimes we take some things for granted and never seem to appreciate them as much as we should. This hotel had to remind us about the sheer importance of that humble roll of toilet paper by putting it in the spotlight.
They had to remind us how diligent toilet paper has been and how faithful they’ve been serving us over the years. For the first time, toilet paper finally came center-stage and does not have to share the spotlight with anyone. It has finally gotten the recognition it deserves.
Inaccessible Seating Area
Having a seating area that no one can access is an intriguing idea. We believe several guests must have asked questions about this particular architectural anomaly. The reason is not farfetched; there’s a certain appeal for things that are off-limits, as it gives a feeling of exclusivity.
We’ll consider this a fail, because they could have filled the space with several things, like beautiful artworks, paintings, plants and everything that’s visually appealing. Instead, they’ve just constructed this oddity, certain to tempt and puzzle hotel patrons for a long time.
Bed And Bathroom
Some hotel designs are absurd, to say the least. We know that space is a premium but there are better ways to have designed this room. We can’t even imagine a situation where there’s a plumbing problem or a leaking pipe – that would be the nightmare of any guest.
Having a visitor over could also be a problem as they would be wary of using the bathroom while you’re lounging on the bed. Honestly, we know sometimes you want to watch your wallet when seeking accommodation, but maybe aim a little higher than this?
Wide Gulf
The inconvenience of not being able to reach for the toilet paper when it’s located miles away can be very frustrating. Unlike some wacky hotel rooms where space was a premium, this hotel seems to have it in abundance and they don’t know what to do with it.
From the look of things, there are several productive things you can achieve in this bathroom. On second thought, think of the walk from the toilet seat to get the toilet paper a form of exercise. Just imagine how delightful that waddle with your pants at your ankles will be.
Totally Rude
There are some things you’ll encounter in your hotel that would give you bad vibes from the get-go, and this is certainly one of them. The fact that they didn’t replace the toilet paper is annoying, to say the least, not to mention just downright lazy.
What’s worse is the fact that they had to use the closest thing they could find to hold it in place, which happens to be a toothbrush. Personal hygiene is definitely not one of the strong points of this hotel.
Lovely Painting
Paintings go a long way in beautifying a room, and for hotels, adding a sense of comfort and tranquility for the patron. This hotel loves these paintings so much that they want their guests to see it from any angle, so they hung in two places in the same room.
Maybe the hotel had a history of patrons seriously needing to calm down, so they took this rather ordinary and dull (yet peaceful) image of a river and doubled it in order to ensure that whoever stays in this room will surely come out of it as zen as possible.
Time To Run
Although cleaning services try their best, we’ve seen instances where they cut corners with towels and bedsheets. So beyond bringing a blacklight along with you wherever you travel, how are you to know what’s really going on? One person who stayed in this hotel wanted to pay it forward.
Upon throwing back the covers on his hotel bed, this customer found this waiting for him between the sheets and the note says it all. It’s safe to assume the next couple or family that stayed in the room made a dash for the door.
Oddly Shaped Towel
You are about to have your bath after a long day of toiling and sweating. You run the shower anticipating a long hot bath. Next, you try to get the towel only to see it wrapped in this shape, what will be your first reaction?
We’re just as surprised as you are to know someone took out time to fold a towel this way. For the fact that some people may find this offensive, we’ll classify this move as a fail. But we’re still laughing regardless.