Hotel Turn Down Service... Who needs it?
 

This in my opinion is one of the most useless services provided by the hotel. We always put the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door to keep them out. How about you?

I only let people in if they bring me chocolate, so I vote yes. I like that little bit o'sweet before beddybye.

useless. unless they do more than just a turn down service, ya know, happy endings......just kidding.<BR>Only had turn down service twice, once at Waldorf in NYC which was my first time. seemed a little high brow for me...

My kids. When we were at the Swan in WDW last March they were so disappointed that they weren't left any chocolates. My nine year old left a note for housekeeping, it read "I like this hotel, but could you please leave us the complimentary chocolates on our pillows?" They didn't.

Turn down service means some chocolate goody on your pillow, so we have no objections. It also means clean towels, and a nicely folded back duvet, plus robes laid out on the bed if the hotel has them. Nice touch IMHO, but mostly, it's the chocolate I'm after. :&gt;

My kids love that service. Just this summer when we stayed at a condo in Mammoth the daily maid service included turn down service and the kids always wanted to be out so they would return for the chocolates!!!! I like it because it means fresh towels if you've taken a mid day shower. We may not change out towels like that at home but being on vacation is not anything like home.

I would be extremely disappointed if turndown service was not provided at most of the hotels we stay at.<BR>Courtyard by Marriott? Wouldn't be worthwhile.<BR>But when we're splurging at a great 5 star resort, we want fresh towels, room straightened up, and like the actual turndown, since there are usually umpteen pillows, bedspread and such that need to be moved and arranged off the bed.<BR>Chocolates?<BR>We never eat them. That makes me feel badly because they just accumulate in a pile on the nightstand. The last place we stayed put actual 4 by 4 inch boxes of Godiva chocolates on each side of the bed each night. We had 10 boxes there to throw away at departure. Too bad they can't go to someone else.

I loooooove turn down service!<BR>A favorite hotel we go to in Montreal, and in Las Vegas, always leaves a dim light burning, with the radio playing softly, fresh towels, and chocolates.<BR>So inviting when you return to your room after a long day having fun!

I agree - what a waste of time

Ah, the turndown service at the Mandarin on Oahu ... they clean the bathrooom up from our beach showers, fresh towels, etc. They filled up the ice bucket, turned some soft Hawaiian music onto the stereo, laid out the robes and slippers, folded down the bedspread and removed all those extraneous pillows. And put a sweet smelling orchid on the pillow. I loved returning to such a lovely room after dinner.

Once when we were staying at a four-star in Chicago, we came back to our room late and drunk. We were in such a hurry to get to bed (nudge,nudge-wink,wink) we didn't notice the turn down service.<BR><BR>The next morning we awoke to find dark brown stains under the covers. At first we wondered who had crapped the bed but then realized that a "sweet" odor was eminating from under the covers. Apparently, when we got into bed, we knocked the pillow chocolates under the covers. They proceded to melt from the heat of our...bodies and make suspicious "skid" marks on the sheets.<BR><BR>I know this "sounds" gross but we still laugh about it to this day!

To all those who think turndown is a downer, just turn to the telephone and call down to the front desk to turndown the turndown, making sure you first turndown the TV so they can hear. Of course, if you were in Australia this would all be done downunder.

To Evan: You THREW AWAY 10 boxes of Godiva?! Next time, please send them to me.

"a waste of time"<BR>for whom? are you worried about the maids working too much?<BR>I love turndown service, one of the small pleasures of staying in a better hotel.

Do hotels charge extra for the turndown service, especially since it includes sweets?

With the prices that four- or 5-star hotels charge these days, you're darn right I'm going to get my chocolate, fresh towels, ice, and any other service I can get. At any rate, its worthwhile just to let the maid take that dirty bedspread off and put it in the closet.

It is STUPID -- and a waste of time! Next time, bring your own candy! The ones "they" supply are usually STALE anyway!!

The only time I favored turn-down service was on a short cruise - they did it while we were at dinner, so there was no chance we would be bothered. Fresh towels and neatening of small cabin was worthwhile. Other than that, just leave me alone.

We love turndown service. It adds to the ambiance(sp). We shower after being at the pool so we need fresh towels anyway. It's part of what being on vacation is all about. I love finding a fresh flower on my pillow and a card with that day's affirmation printed on it. It's there and it doesn't cost anything extra, so why not?

Waste of time? Again, whose time? I love it, and also appreciate clean towels before dressing for dinner and the comforter folded down. <BR><BR>I don't know where you stay Tom, but I've never gotten a stale chocolate, nor would I bring any from home. That's not the point, no one would bother to bring their own candy, it's just a nice treat to find one on your pillow.