Canoodling in the spa pool? Stop it, say other travellers

Amorous couples in hotel spa pools were an issue for 22 per cent of respondents to the Expedia survey. Photo / 123RF

An Expedia survey has revealed holidaymakers' biggest bugbears with their fellow tourists.

Often, the holiday quest to truly get away from it all is scuppered by other people.

Whether they're bickering or getting along too well (and loudly) or just not paying enough attention to their children, travellers have revealed the 10 most aggravating behaviours of fellow hotel guests.

In the American study by Expedia, tourists also identified which amenities - such as WiFi - they now consider a top priority on any trip.

The Expedia Hotel Etiquette Study asked 1018 Americans their guest behaviour bugbears and the results were striking.

For the second year running, inattentive parents were singled out as the most annoying hotel guest to encounter, with 72 per cent of Americans who have taken a holiday in the past two years finding this behaviour irksome.

Excess noise was clearly a source of irritation for holidaymakers hoping for peace and respite on their breaks, as 69 per cent named "hallway hellraisers" the second most annoying fellow guest.

This was followed by 'In room revellers' who were a source of irritation for 59 per cent of guests and it's not much better for "poolside partiers" whose antics upset 28 per cent of people surveyed.

The study revealed that 18 per cent of respondents have asked to switch hotel rooms because of "noisy neighbours".

Interestingly, complainers struck a note of annoyance for 53 per cent of guests who would rather not hear any negativity on their holiday. And bickerers disrupting the serenity aggravated 35 per cent of guests.

Honeymooners had better take note too: 29 per cent of people highlighted the "loudly amorous" and 22 per cent the "hot tub canoodlers" to be truly infuriating.

Yet, 31 per cent of respondents admitted they had booked a hotel room with the express purpose of getting intimate with someone.

Socialising with other guests does not seem an important consideration for holidaymakers as 17 per cent found "business bar boozers" annoying, while nine per cent identified the 'elevator chatterbox' as an unpopular guest.

Holidaying seems to bring out the devil in 24 per cent of guests who admitted to hoarding toiletries and 11 per cent who have let multiple guests stay over in their room without notifying the hotel.

Furthermore, 10 per cent have taken items out of their hotel room without permission but only four per cent have enjoyed a sneaky cigarette in their non-smoking room.

While guests were united in their annoyances, the study found that they disagree about the protocol of tipping hotel employees.

Thirty per cent claim they don't tip anyone during a hotel stay. Among those who tip, the most-tipped hotel employee is the housekeeper (46 per cent), followed by the room service attendant (40 per cent). Thirty per cent tip the valet and only 20 per cent tip the porter. Ten per cent tip the concierge.

Respondents agreed on the importance of complimentary WiFi with 73 per cent rating this "very important".

John Morrey, vice president and general manager of Expedia.com said: "The hotel experience is one that many people love. Fresh towels, a comfortable made bed, room service at the ready, it can be a deeply enjoyable experience.

"But it's vital to remember that you're not staying there by yourself, you are surrounded by hundreds of people who have paid to share that space. Conscientiousness makes all the difference."