Are You the Hotel Guest from Hell?

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

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Ever had an otherwise pleasant hotel stay ruined by another guest’s misbehavior? Probably. And if you haven’t yet, you almost certainly will.

According to a new survey by Expedia, the 10 most aggravating types of hotel guest, ranked from most to least bothersome, are as follows:

Inattentive Parents – 67%

The Hallway Hellraisers – 64%

The Complainers – 54%

The In-Room Revelers (noisemakers nearby) – 52%

The Bickerers – 26%

The Poolside Partiers – 22%

The Loudly Amorous (indiscreet lovemakers) – 21%

The Hot Tub Canoodlers (amorous couples in a public hot tub) – 20%

The Business Bar Boozer (sloshed business travelers) – 12%

The Elevator Chatterbox – 6%

I’ve had my sensibilities assaulted by several of the listed miscreants. But I find Expedia’s list inexplicably short by at least one character type: the Non-Specific Noisemaker. By that I mean to call out my fellow traveler in the room above or beside mine, who, during my would-be sleeping hours, stomps on the floor (my ceiling); keeps the TV volume up; engages in long, loud phone or person-to-person conversations; showers (with or without singing); and otherwise interferes with my ability to get a solid night’s sleep.

While I make a conscious effort not to engage in Non-Specific Noisemaker behavior myself, I have to confess to having once been a dreaded Poolside Partier. It was a family reunion at a Courtyard by Marriott in Del Mar, California. We ordered pizzas from a local Italian eatery and camped out around the pool. We carried on loudly, and late.

Although no one complained, I have no doubt that we disturbed the hotel guests in the rooms closest to our group.

Sorry, sorry, sorry.

Reader Reality Check

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This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.

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