British etiquette expert William Hanson has made a career out of teaching good manners. He runs courses through his institute, The English Manner, wrote this year's book Just Good Manners, and even co-hosts a comedy show, The Luxury Podcast. This summer he teamed up with Hotels.com to share his advice on something every traveller deals with: how to behave in a hotel.
His first point is one nervous guests often get wrong. Politeness doesn't mean putting up with problems. If your towel is missing or your room hasn't been cleaned, ask for it to be fixed — calmly and courteously. Hanson says some people confuse being polite with being a pushover, but requesting corrections is completely normal and expected.
When it comes to staff, warmth pays off. If someone wears a name badge, use their name. Staff form their own first impressions of guests, and Hanson suggests that the guests who stand out as courteous are the most natural candidates for upgrades later on. Leaving a positive review after your stay also counts as good manners — it helps future travellers and reassures the team that their work is appreciated.
Corridors deserve more thought than most of us give them. Hanson recommends keeping quiet in hallways at all hours, not just at night. You never know why a fellow guest is staying — they might work nights and need daytime sleep.
The souvenir question gets a clear ruling too: slippers are fair game to take home, but robes, bedding, towels and the hairdryer are not. Crossing that line isn't forgetfulness, it's theft.
Finally, drop the guilt about using hotel services. If there's a porter or bellboy, letting them handle your luggage is exactly what they're there for — and at a luxury property, staff and other guests may actually prefer it.
None of this is fussy or complicated. Hanson's overall message is that hotel etiquette boils down to common courtesy with a bit of confidence: be kind to staff, considerate of other guests, and don't be embarrassed to ask for what you've paid for. For travellers heading to the UK — or anywhere else — following these habits is a low-effort way to make stays smoother and might even earn a freebie or two along the way.