I spent a summer between my first and second years of college living above a barbecue joint by the Intracoastal Waterway with three of my closest friends. We were soaking up the sun, enjoying some drinks, and working at the most upscale hotel in the state’s top resort town. As a cash-strapped student, I was thrilled to have the job. But oh boy, working at a high-end resort can be a real headache.
The Expectations of Guests
Guests traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles from places like the Midwest and Canada come to our hotel, ready to spend big bucks on their vacations. They expect nothing short of perfection, which is quite the burden for a team made up largely of teens and minimum-wage workers.
Reservations: A Special Kind of Torture
I worked at both the front desk and in reservations, and let me tell you, reservations was a special kind of torture. Picture this: it’s just before Memorial Day Weekend, and calls are pouring in. Everyone wants a room, but we’re fully booked. Guests would scream at me, demanding I find them a spot, while I politely explained that I couldn’t magically create a vacancy. Resort rules meant I couldn’t hang up on you either. I had to keep my cool while you erupted.
Then there were the folks who showed up with no reservations at all, claiming they had one, and throwing tantrums when they didn’t get their way. Just a little tip: don’t be like those guests.
Memorable Guests and Their Demands
My friend Sarah was the granddaughter of the hotel’s owner, who lived in the penthouse suite—off-limits to guests. One woman called, insisting she wanted to stay in that suite, despite Sarah’s calm explanations that it was occupied. The woman just couldn’t grasp why that was an issue.
There were also the schemers who tried to score discounts by any means necessary. I have no problem with valid military or teacher discounts, but some people had no shame in lying to squeeze a few extra bucks off their bill. One memorable guest was so obnoxious we had to pay her to leave—not a proud moment for us.
The Chaos of Resort Life
Guests would harass us about everything from towels and pool conditions to the quality of the furniture and even the pillows. Our town had a reputation for its party scene, and people would start drinking at breakfast, which often led to chaos. We’d hear all kinds of antics over the walkie-talkies, and once, someone even pooped in the lazy river! Naturally, we had to shut it down, which led to a flood of complaints. Sorry, folks, but we were trying to keep you safe from disease, not ruin your fun.
One recurring issue involved a woman who couldn’t figure out how to use her key card, so we had to escort her to her room every single time she left. And don’t even get me started on the wedding party that had the wrong plates—total disaster.
Guests and Their Ridiculous Complaints
The path to the ocean required guests to walk through the pool area and cross a sand dune, which they complained about endlessly. It was as if they wanted a private slide from their balconies right to the beach, completely disregarding the ocean view they already had.
And just when you think it can’t get worse, we had guests doing ridiculous things like flushing lettuce down the toilet and demanding discounts. This is how we learned that “vegetables in toilets always go to maintenance.”
A little word of advice: don’t put food in the toilet.
A Small Revenge
But here’s the kicker: if you annoyed us enough, we might just give you an oceanfront room with a view blocked by some ugly statue. You’d still be able to see a bit of the ocean, but it was our way of finding some small revenge for the abuse we took.
Managing Expectations
People often expect a level of perfection that’s simply unattainable. So take a deep breath and remember that things can go wrong—don’t expect the staff to control the weather or provide a refund because it rained.
More Stories and Resources
For more stories about the wild side of hospitality, check out this other blog post, and if you’re interested in pregnancy resources, you might find this link helpful. For insights on cross-eyed babies, visit this page.
Conclusion
In summary, working at a resort can be a total nightmare with guests expecting the impossible. From tantrums over fully booked rooms to ridiculous demands, the job can be quite the challenge.