William Hanson is a master of etiquette who has spent decades educating others on the art of British manners.
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In addition to offering etiquette courses at an institute, The English Manner, the etiquette coach is also an author, most recently publishing 2024’s Just Good Manners. Despite his dedication to doing things right, Hanson isn’t uptight—he also hosts The Luxury Podcast, a comedy show that was relaunched last year.
Any travelers heading to England can learn a thing or two about being polite when visiting places like London, Bristol, and beyond. However, Hanson also has specific advice on how to be courteous in a hotel, which he shared as part of a campaign with Hotels.com earlier this summer.
If you’ve ever wondered what hotel etiquette looks like for some of Britain’s most polite and well-mannered travelers, here’s what to know.
A look at how to be courteous at hotels, according to a British etiquette coach
If you want to avoid social faux pas and awkward situations at hotels, consider adopting a few of these tips on how to be courteous as a hotel guest. They’ll help you stay in the good graces of staff and fellow travelers.
According to Hanson, here’s what you need to concentrate on:
- Be confident and courteous when requesting things like a clean towel or a prompt room cleaning. Hanson notes that some guests mistake being polite for being a pushover, but calmly and politely asking for corrections is absolutely normal when staying at a hotel.
- Be warm with staff, and make sure to use their name if they have name cards. Those types of details stick out to staff, who are also making a first impression of each guest. Making a good first impression is the most natural, courteous way to get an upgrade later on down the line.
- Don’t forget to leave positive reviews. They’re helpful for future guests and also reassure staff that they’re doing a great job.
- Be mindful and quiet in hotel corridors—even during the day. You never know why someone else is traveling. They might be working nights at an event and are using the daytime to get some much-needed rest.
- Know the difference between taking home a souvenir and theft. According to Hanson, taking the slippers home is okay—but that’s not the case for robes, bedding, towels, or the hairdryer.
- Don’t be shy about asking for someone to take your luggage down. If you’re staying at a hotel with a porter and/or bellboy, they’re available to help you. In fact, staff and other guests might prefer it when you’re staying at a luxury hotel.
