Travelodge for Dummies
A Travelodge study has revealed the most bizarre questions asked of hotel staff in the past 12 months.
Receiving over 200,000 oddly shaped queries each year, the budget hotel chain is battling through the bonkers. Believing a hotel can cater to any request, guests have been known to ask for a change in the weather forecast, the silencing of nearby ducks and a change of date for the changing of the guard.
Uncovering a pattern in guests’ affection for animals, some have asked whether leaving sheep in the car park or Shetland ponies in their room is permitted. At the Manchester Ancoats hotel, a guest required an outside power supply with which he was hoping to use to power his refrigerator van which housed his seven penguins, whilst pushing the boundaries a tad too far, another guest asked the Stafford hotel: ‘Can my cat stay?’ He was referring to his jaguar. The Cardiff Atlantic Wharf even considered allowing a Boa Constrictor – without the tank – while the Thurrock M25 Travelodge accommodated a baby alligator.
Not only do staff get asked what can stay at the hotel, but also how much. The Hilsea in Portsmouth was propositioned by three dogs, nine cats, two budgies and a tortoise. The Saltash in Plymouth was asked how much a parrot’s stay would cost and a woman in Dumbarton, Glasgow, wondered how much it was per mouse. Still, it’s better to be honest than sneaky, unlike the occasional guest at the Wakefield hotel, where four dwarfs requested a family room because they’re ‘only small’.
At the beck and call of their guests, hotel staff have been asked to lend shirts to forgetful wedding guests and read them bedtime stories to help them nod off.
A little confused in their new surroundings, one guest asked where the wifi was as he couldn’t ‘see’ it, while another in Swindon enquired: ‘Does water come from the tap?’
If that wasn’t enough to get the staff giggling, an elderly guest in Fulham, London, asked for a bikini shaving kit, and a rather free-spirited Voodoo priest asked for a room that faced the sunset for his nightly naked prayers.
Travelodge spokeswoman Shakila Ahmed said: “Our teams try their upmost to accommodate all customer requests but there are some requests that we just can’t help with, such as telling a guest when the Loch Ness monster has his dinner!”
Share and Enjoy
Category: Travel Latest
About the Author (Author Profile)
She’s lived in 15 houses in 21 years, been bowled over by a silverback in Rwanda, attacked by horses in Cheltenham, skied up trees in Bavaria, crashed a moped in Thailand and buried alive in South Africa - this army-brat is made of strong stuff. The newest member of the creatively crafty content team, Laura has work published with Lonely Planet and ABTA magazine, the ASTA Network and The Sunday Times. With a bucket list to die for (excuse the pun) and a gob that won’t stop gabbing, she hopes to become a travel writer, gossiping her way around the globe.Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
This is actually a big problem at many hotels. I’ve lost three of my ten endangered tiger cubs because hotels wouldn’t give me a separate enclosure for my boa constrictor. Obviously, I’m going to sue.
I agree, Daniel. It’s a serious concern of mine, actually. I’ll be making a formal complaint to Head Office in the morning. Shall I add you to the petition?