Whether you’re from another country or right down the street leaving behind a hotel room that looks like a mini landfill is not a good representation of yourself.
A janitor for a hotel in Japan went viral on social media after posting images of what their team found after two foreign travelers checked out. Instead of the typical quick tidy up, the cleaner walked into a complete disaster.
Images posted on social media show garbage everywhere. Empty instant noodle packages are on the desk, bottles are rolling around on the floor in front of the bed, and random wrappers and packaging materials were left behind as if the guests had suddenly gotten up in the middle of eating junk.
The bathroom also didn’t escape the wreck. Used tissue papers, wet towels, disposable drink ware, and even toothbrushes were strewn all over with no attempt whatsoever to put anything back in order. The toilet seat was inexplicably wrapped in plastic, which only added to the confusion.
The hotel staff did not hold back their frustration, as they openly questioned how any person could sleep in a room that looked like this.
People on the internet reacted immediately. Many reacted with anger and called the individual’s behaviour disrespectful. Others reminded the public not to judge a particular nationality by one dirty hotel room as a legitimate reason to be upset—and while that is a valid argument, there was clearly an actual mess made here.
It’s important to remember that this incident isn’t really about nationality. This really comes down to common sense and civility when travelling. The hotel is a common space and someone must take care to clean up after you.
Sure, you paid for the room; however, this does not give you the right to treat your room like a dumpster with a bed.
When you leave food and other garbage inside your room, you are staining the sheets, ruining the towels and creating odours that will not go away. Therefore, the hotel has the legal right to charge you the appropriate additional fee/penalty for that. You will be surprised how expensive those fees/penalties can be.
Most hotel rooms have a wastebasket, cleaning services, and written rules posted on the wall. Using them is not that difficult and will save everyone some headaches.
Being a tourist should not be about causing discomfort to those who make our experiences possible. Part of being a respectful guest is understanding the effort put into cleaning your room and treating your space with the same respect as you would treat your home.
To show appreciation for those who have worked hard to provide a positive experience for you during your stay, take two minutes before check-out to pick up after yourself. Doing so will make the next guest happier, the hotel staff relieved, and you will avoid the potential of being the subject of a viral post for the wrong reasons.
