Jules Perowne, a London-based luxury travel publicist, has highlighted recurring examples of guest behaviour that disrupt the atmosphere in high-end hotels, citing loud phone calls in public areas, inappropriate dress at meals and the monopolising of poolside space among the most common complaints.
Perowne, writing about etiquette for hotel guests, said front-of-house areas such as lobbies and atriums are frequently disturbed by phones and video calls that are loud enough to affect other patrons. She also described occasions when guests have attempted to dine in bedrooms or sleepwear, prompting staff to intervene.
The publicist gave several concrete examples. In one, a man arriving at a high-end hotel in silk pyjamas and slippers was politely redirected by staff when he tried to enter the dining room, a move that Perowne said led to a loud, public tantrum. She said similar incidents have unfolded in other luxury properties when guests treated restaurants as extensions of their bedrooms.
Perowne also highlighted the increasing frequency of loud, work-related phone calls in visually striking communal spaces, saying the calls can undermine the intended ambience. “Save your theatrical phone performances for somewhere private or, better yet, nowhere at all,” she advised in her comments.
Poolside behaviour is another common flashpoint, according to Perowne. She described scenarios in which guests reserve prime sunbeds by leaving towels early in the morning and then disappear for hours, effectively preventing other guests from using the facilities. Hotels have responded in various ways, from advising guests of unwritten courtesies to instituting time limits on sunbed use during busy periods.
The columnist also noted complaints about children and shared food areas, describing instances in which buffet items were handled directly by young guests in ways that raised hygiene concerns among staff and other patrons. Perowne framed these incidents as examples of lapses in consideration for fellow guests rather than isolated misfortunes.
Hotel operators and staff generally respond to such behaviour with discreet intervention, according to Perowne. Instances of inappropriate dress are typically handled politely at the door; disturbances caused by noise are addressed by staff asking guests to move conversations to private spaces. When poolside reservations by towel placement cause friction, some properties issue reminders to return to reserved spots within a set time or reallocate loungers to waiting guests.
Industry observers say that as travel rebounds and demand for luxury properties remains high, tensions over etiquette may rise in busy periods, prompting hotels to clarify house rules to protect the guest experience. Many luxury properties publish dress codes for restaurants and bars, outline quiet hours for public areas and communicate guidance on pool and spa usage in guest materials.
Perowne’s guidance aligns with longstanding hospitality practices aimed at balancing guest enjoyment with respect for others. Her observations reflect a mix of anecdote and practical advice that hotel staff routinely encounter, and they underscore the role of simple courtesies—keeping phone calls private, dressing appropriately for public dining areas and not monopolising shared amenities—in maintaining the ambience that guests expect at upscale establishments.
The examples offered by Perowne appear in a broader conversation about post-pandemic travel norms and the enforcement of property-specific rules. Hotels seeking to avoid confrontations increasingly rely on clear communication at the point of booking and on arrival, while staff training emphasises tactful interventions to resolve conflicts without escalating incidents.
Perowne’s list serves as a reminder to travellers that expectations inside luxury hotels may differ from private homes or casual settings. Observing posted guidelines and demonstrating consideration for other guests were presented as the simplest ways to ensure a civil stay for everyone involved.